Another iron gate appears in front of me. From here on, the trail becomes more and more steep. The natural forest grows so thick that the trail is kept dim and cool. There are many distinct small trails and foot prints which suggest that already many backpackers have headed to the top. A fter a while, the landscape opens again.
Many backpackers rest here.
We keep climbing, step by step, the zigzag trail on the mountain slope. I get to an open slope passing through the forest zone in less than an hour. The earth sinks a little under my feet with each step through the Japanese pampas grass, and wild chrysanthemums swing in the autumn wind. U nfortunately, I can't fully appreciate the lovely wild flowers, because of a cramp in my foot. A lack of exercise recently may be causing the stiffness in my feet.