The Tale of the Tape
8.7 km of hiking
960 meters of climbing
Climbed to 1709 meters

We are now taking a must well deserved break at sector 6.
The children are doing so well but are starting to complain about the very long descent. But, they are all smiles and laughs at this break after a very quiet way down.

Our way down from Mt Daisen was less rigorous, but still tough as everyone was tired, the path is steep, and difficult to navigate. Several students had slips on the way down. Fortunately, nobody got any serious injuries. We took the scenic way back and we’re fortunate to see much of the landscape which was hidden to us from the clouds as we climbed.

　

At the top, it has suddenly become cloudy.
But, that is not stopping the students from enjoying their lunches.

We are now having lunch at the summit. After a pretty hard climb but the nice weather made it easier for us. After leaving around 8, We finally reached the summit just before noon. There were points in which many students wanted to give up, but after some well timed breaks, everyone made it to the top safely.
Just when we reached the top, we were greeted by a sunny summit! The warm sun, an incredible view, and a delicious lunch had put a smile on everyone after such a hard long hike.

We are having our second and last major break before the summit.
It is a popular rest stop as many groups have stopped here.
Everyone is doing well and pushing forward.

We are now at sector 3.
Everyone is doing fine and the weather is perfect. From here, we have been told that we have only 700 meters to climb and it will take approximately one hour.

We are now starting sector 5. Students are starting to tire, but these short breaks are giving the students a chance to recover and restart.

We are picking up one stone and taking it up to the summit. These little stones will help rebuild the hiking paths.

We have started our climb at 750 meters.
Beautiful blue skies and bright sun will help us up the mountain. Some of the students seem a bit nervous, but our guides are leading us at a very pace comfortable.

Good morning. After the light showers yesterday, we have some perfect conditions for hike. Today is the main event, the climb up Mt Daisen which peak is at 1729m.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e8150.html
We woke up at 6, cleaned our rooms, got our daily temperature check, and now we are breakfast in our rooms.
Then, along with 10 teachers, 2 veteran photographers, and a nurse, we also have the expert guidance of 7 local guides to take us up Mt Daisen. They will be setting the perfect pace to get us all to the top safely. Wish us luck.

Lights out at 9 PM as we are getting up at 6AM with the first group starting their accent at 7:20 AM. Everyone will need to be well rested for the big climb.
We were expecting some students to stay awake and talk the night away, but just an hour after lights out, the entire hotel is as quiet as a mouse.
This will be my last update for the day, goodnight.

When arriving in the Daisen area, there was light rain all night making the outdoor BBQ a bit of a challenge.
Tomorrow we will have the perfect conditions for a hike with weather with cloudy skies with a low of 18 and a high if 23. The top of the mountain it will be a brisk 12 degrees. Hopefully, we will have more good fortunes with clear skies at the top.

Good evening! We are had enjoyed a lovely with half of the classes enjoying a BBQ dinner and the other half enjoying a meal in the cafeteria. The teachers worked so hard for hours barbecuing for the students. It wasn’t until all the student were fed and full that the teachers had a chance to eat. These are a few photos of the teachers BBQing the night away.

After a half day on the road, we have reached our final destination. We have arrive at the Daisen Shirogane Hotel. We were treated with light showers and warm smiles. We had a welcoming ceremony and we have checked int our rooms and are going to get washed up before dinner.

?Good afternoon, after a lovely lunch and running around the Tottori Sand Dunes, we had a very quiet bus ride as most of the children were sleeping in the bus This is our last break before we reach the hotel.
道の駅 琴の浦
https://goo.gl/maps/kvoKLpQ22nCNCHBM8

We are now at the Sand Dunes which are part of the Sanin Kaigan National Park.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e8102.html
After sitting for a few hours and a hearty lunch, many students are eager to run around and enjoy the sand dunes firsthand. As this is a national park, the children cannot draw in the sand! They cannot draw pictures in the sand or make sandcastles! Japan is so strict, but maybe it is part of the reason that the national parts are so beautiful. .

We have a secular lunch, a Muslim/Hindi lunch, Vegetarian lunch.
Can you guess which one is which?

After our fantastic bus drivers safely delivered us to Tottori, we are finally having lunch at the Sand Dune Center. Many of the students are enjoying Beef Bowls. Those of us with other dietary requirements are having special meals.
砂丘センター
https://goo.gl/maps/haweqrUc2Q17SSRaA