The pilgrim's way

0 degrees today! Only stopping to buy lunch (sandwiches and a donut) and very well rugged up we set off through the town for about a 1.5 k to the beginning of the Women Pilgrimage Route. Women were originally forbidden from entering Koyasan but devout women could traverse the mountainside trail and gaze down into the holy town. This embargo ended in the 1800's but the trail is now popular with walkers.  The first incline is steep and narrow and long stepping over tree roots and up steps - really a challenging climb to reach the shrine at the top - then an equally challenging climb down to the road.

The trail continues, rising and falling through the dense forest, passing small shrines and the occasional statue guarding a stream.  In wet weather this trail would be unsafe and even today was slippery and muddy in places.

Bears had recently been seen in the area, as the signs informed us but we saw no sign of life - no.bird sound, really quiet in the trees except for the sound of water running.


Marg and Lesley at the half way point.

We stopped for lunch beside a river where a river God kept a stern eye over us!



By now the temperature had risen to 3.5 but it was very cold and we kept moving. The final descent was very steep and slippery and we arrived on flat ground with some relief and aching knees but full of satisfaction for completing the Women's Pilgrim's trail.


I was truly thrilled to complete the walk!


Happy hikers!  Now for the coffee shop after another 2k back to our monastery inn sounded wonderful so we walked back through he cemetery admiring the tombstones seen dimly last night.


We loved these tiny figures wearing beanies and jackets in memory of children. We're pretty stiff and tired but happy and ebullient with our day.

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