2011 07 24: JAPAN : Echigo Yuzawa: Yamatonokuratani:
Headed out towards the Kedozawa area. Left the car as far up as I could. Put the hiking boots on and waders + fishing boots in the backpack. Rod was on the side of the pack. Went towards the mountain hut, crossed the suspended bridge then took the trail heading right towards Tairappyo. There was 1 steepish section but there is a rope to help out. I saw some trouts in the tiny little stream by the side of the trail, you have to keep a lookout for them as they dart away as soon as they see you. I also had the chance to see some small salamanders with their exposed gills. I had to take the rod off the pack as the vegetation was too dense and I was getting stuck. I finally reached a section where the trail crosses the larger stream. Beautiful rocky pools with crystal clear water everywhere. I had a lunch break there then proceeded to down-climbing the river bed. The first pool where I put my fly saw a decent sized Iwana rise on it right away. It was a good start. There is a lot of fish but most of them are small. On the way down I almost stepped on a yamakagashi. It coiled with its head raised and eventually slithered away. Lots of bugs & snakes in this area and this was the 2nd snake of the day. Last year I saw a Mamushi in the area. The Yamakagashi are not very agressive and have their fangs in the back of the mouth. They feed on frogs and other batracians from whom they steal the venom when they ingest them. They prefer to slither away rather than strike (hopefully). After a few hundred meters downclimbing it was getting late in the day and I had to get out of the river bed and bush-whack to reach the trail back down. A full day down-climbing and fishing instead of a half day would have been perfect as you can reach the road back towards the mountain hut. It avoids a brutal bush-whack across some evil thick vegetation back to the trail.
2011 08: FRANCE : Briancon: Various:
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