Senjyokei
July,
2004
| Senjyokei is a valley and gorge
that descends into the Yato river that runs into the Gono river
at Kawado. In the space of 5 kilometres ther are 9 major waterfalls,
the highest of which is 40 metres, and numerous side falls. Sakurae
town has put in a good trail with facilities. Starting at the parking
lot, we go up what looks like any other steep mountain valley in
this area. After passing the first falls and crossing the stream
by a stone bridge the valley becomes a gorge and now we have to
use the steel staircases put in to get through the really narrow
and vertical sections. |
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| The roar of whitewater is ever
present, and the steel stairway affords a view straight down to
a rushing torrent as the stream is forced through a crack in the
rocks only 1 matere across. Even in the heat of summer it is cool
here. At one point, to round a bend we have to climb up and then
down over one hundred steps. The bigger falls have deep pools at
their base, and the water looks awfully inviting, but the local
people say its not safe to swim in as the stream is poluted at its
source up in the mountains. I intend to take a sample of the water
and have it tested, as Im sure most of the water has entered the
stream since leaving thevillages at the top. Inmy several hikes
up Senjyokei I have never seen another human. The main reason seems
to be fear of snakes, as Senjyokei is renowned as a haunt of Mamushi,
a poisonous snake. In fact one of my neighbors comes here once a
year to catch and collect the Mamushi. It is added to Sake to produce
a "health" drink, which is actually a traditional version
of Viagra. We do see a few snakes, but as is usual, they slither
away at the approach of humans. |
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| At one point the trail goes
underneath a huge boulder and its necessary to crawl through the
opening on all fours, then we cross a brightly painted red steel
bridge which affords a view up and down the valley. A little further
and the trail climbs out and connect with an old gravel road that
runs up and down the valley partway up the side of the mountain.
The final set of falls are another 2 kilometres up, but we decide
to head back down along the road as we have no food or water with
us. |
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