Tengu Rock

ROUVY - Horton Plains NP | Sri Lanka

500 strokes

v1:00/2:00r...9 row

This was my neighbourhood hike when we lived in Kobe from 2001 to 2006. I can't tell you how many times I've done it but I enjoyed it every time. After walking through some crazy steep residential roads you reach an even steeper trail straight up the spine of the mountain that takes you to Tengu Rock, with a beautiful view of Osaka across the inland sea. Carry a  spare top because the one you wore on the way up will be soaked and the walk to the trail down will be much more pleasant in a dry shirt (especially in the winter). Most of the downward trail is fairly easy, until you take the branch to Uzumoridai, when you'll encounter some fairly treacherous sections. I only slipped twice this time, because of the dry leaves. My Leki trail poles were a huge help on the way up and the way down.

There was a time when I thought I might not be able to do this hike again, and it has been something I've wanted to do ever since my knee replacement 15 months ago. Our visit to Kobe last December was only three months after the surgery and I knew that would be too soon, but this year we arrived in Japan late on December 28 and it was the first thing I did on the 29th. Many thanks to Dr Anand at St Joseph's, and of course to Amr Elmaraghy for the consultation and referral.

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Mike Podolsky

Tengu Rock

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Tengu Rock

ROUVY - Horton Plains NP | Sri Lanka

Joy

500 strokes

v1:00/2:00r...9 row

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