(白菊の瀧休憩所/稲荷山の大岩大神道)
暗黒の行者道を青木の瀧に向かい同瀧から白菊の瀧に向かう。白菊の瀧休憩所で暫し休憩した後に大岩大神道を稲荷山山頂方面に上がり大岩大神に向かった。そうして目的地の大岩大神に参拝しそこからは暗黒の稲荷山中を踏破して稲荷山一ノ峯に向かうこととする。全くの暗黒と夏季の草木深き山道に難儀しながらも一ノ峯に到着、一ノ峯からニノ峰方向に四ツ辻に向かう。ニノ峰から間ノ峯の区間は二年前からイノシシが多数出没するポイントだ。案の定、ニノ峰から間ノ峯に数歩踏み出すや鳥居回廊の左右から夥しいイノシシの気配がした。危険を感じた私は足速にその区間を通り抜けた。三ノ峯を過ぎた辺りで若者たちのグループに出会したのでイノシシに関する情報を伝えて注意を喚起した。その後何とか四ツ辻に辿り着き大休止する。暫く休憩していると先程出逢った若者たちが血相を変えて舞い戻ってきた。聞けば大量のイノシシが現れ先に進めなかったらしい。またその時、四ツ辻から眼力社方向を見やるとイノシシが数匹散見せられた。まさに当夜の稲荷山はイノシシの山であった。
その間、四ツ辻にて待機していると別の若者が登ってきた。聞けばイノシシの他に木の上から猿にも威嚇されたとのことだった。
稲荷山下山後、件の警備員と再度話す。恐らく稲荷山の麓がかなり暑いので涼をとるためにイノシシが四ツ辻より上方の山頂近くに集結しているのではとのことだった。いずれにせよイノシシについては登山者が自己責任で注意してもらうしか対処がないようだ。とにかく稲荷山へ登山する方は匂いを放つ食べ物を持参しない、いたずらに野良猫への餌を放置しない、イノシシに遭遇したら相手を興奮させずにやり過ごす、サルに出逢ったらその顔を注視したりカメラを向けない等の注意が必要だ。
終わり。
Wild boars' mountain(Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine)
In the summer of 2022, there were many rainy days and I didn't have the opportunity to climb Mt. Inari at night. Tonight, August 10th, although it was not sunny for the first time in a long time, it did not look like it would rain, so I decided to climb Mt. Inari at night. It is possible to climb the mountain even in light rain, but it is not easy to climb the mountain path.
By the way, when I arrived at Fushimi Inari Taisha around 22:00 and prayed for safety at the main shrine, I asked the guard on duty about the appearance of wild boars. According to the security guard, I was glad to hear that they had not seen a wild boar recently, so I happily started climbing. A few meters after passing through Senbon Torii and entering the trailhead of Mt. Inari, there is an entrance to Gyojado/Practitioner Path (also called Takenoshitamichi, Otakimichi, and Oiwaokanido,etc.)opposite Neagarinomatsu pine. A few dozen meters after entering from the entrance, you will arrive at Fushimi Kandakard Shrine on your right, and from there you will be on the full-fledged ascetic trail. After Fushimi Kandakara Shrine, we head to Kobogataki Falls first. However, I could not see it because it was a dark night, but I was threatened by a wild boar that suddenly called out from the darkness on the left side of Mt. Inari on the way. Thinking that the story might be different, I crossed Kobogataki Falls and proceeded along the path of darkness, and was threatened by a wild boar from the darkness of Mt. Inari. There is a 1.5-meter iron fence between Mt. Inari and the path, so if it weren't for this fence, there is a possibility that the wild boars would have physically threatened us.
(Shiragiku no Taki Rest Area/Inariyama Oiwaokamishrine-do path)
Follow the path of darkness to Aoki-no-taki, and from there head to Shiragiku-no-taki. After resting for a while at Shiragiku no Taki resting place, I went up Oiwaotaki Shrine path toward the summit of Mt. Inari and headed for Oiwa Okami Shrine. Then, we will visit Oiwa Ookami, our destination, and from there we will traverse the dark Inariyama and head for Inariyama Ichinomine Peak. Arriving at Ichinomine Peak, despite the complete darkness and hardships on the mountain path in summer, headed towards Yotsutsuji Crossing in the direction of Ninomine Peak. The section from Ninomine Peak to kan-nomine Peak has been a point where many wild boars have appeared for the past two years. Sure enough, as soon as I took a few steps from Ninomine Peak to Kan-nomie Peak, I sensed a large number of wild boars from both sides of the torii corridor. Sensing danger, I passed through the section at a brisk pace. After passing Sannomine Peak, I met a group of young people, so I gave them information about wild boars to warn them. After that, I managed to reach Yotsutsuji Crossing and take a big break. After taking a break for a while, the young people I met earlier came back. They said that a large number of wild boars appeared and they couldn't go ahead. At that time, when I looked in the direction of Ganrikisha Shrine from Yotsutsuji Crossing, I saw several wild boars. Inariyama mountain at this night was a mountain of wild boars.
Meanwhile, another young group climbed up while waiting at Yotsutsuji Crossing. They said that in addition to wild boars, monkeys were also threatened from the top of the tree.
After descending Inariyama, talk to the security guard again. I heard that the wild boars gather near the summit above Yotsutsuji Crossing to cool off because the foot of Mt. Inari is very hot. In any case, it seems that the only way to deal with wild boars is for climbers to be careful at their own risk. Anyway, if you climb Mt. Inari, do not bring food that emits a smell, do not leave food for stray cats unnecessarily, do not excite the other person if you encounter a wild boar, and if you encounter a monkey, pay attention not to watch their faces or take picture of them. Please be carefully.
end.