Should I get to the 12th temple as I initially planed, or leave it to next day, I was wavering while walking. Recovering the delay from the first day, I had to get to the 11th temple as early as I could, from there to the 12th temple is the first tough mountain road.
11.03.2016
9-12 30km
すだち館
I reached the 11th temple before noon, but I did not have any food with me.
Going to the shop near by was 40 minutes of loss.
Lesson: Do things in advance, not to leave it until last moment.
Decision made. Getting to the 12th temple before 5pm, I did not have anytime to stop.
Around the point, where climbing gradually turns to ridge walk, there is a statue of the Kobodaishi. At the bottom of its feet, water paddle was completely frozen. I was sweating and thirsty. Walking further ahead it started snowing, then almost blizzard. Feeling of time and space are getting vague, I was walking somewhere sky high, up in the mountain forever.
十二番焼山寺まで行くか。初日の遅れを挽回し当初の予定か次の日に回すか、迷いながら平坦な川沿いを歩き続ける、どれだけ早く山の手前の十一番藤井寺にたどり着けるかにかかっていた。 昼前に十一番藤井寺についたものの食べ物を持っていないため、山に入る前に店に行く、往復40分を失う。
教訓、安易に考えず物事を後回しにしない。
決心し山を歩き始めてから、午後五時前に十二番焼山寺に着くには一時も足を止めることができないことに気づく。登りから、縦走に変わるあたり、弘法大師の足元の水溜りは汗と喉の渇きとは裏腹にすっかりと凍っていた。その先徐々に雪が降り始め吹雪に変わる、どこかはるか高い山の一本道を永遠と歩いているような気がした。