かつては年齢の近いバーテンダー仲間とよく温泉旅行に出かけては、最後に必ず小さな山を一つ、登っていた。いつまで続くのかわからぬ登攀の辛さと我慢を耐え忍んだ挙句の登頂の喜びには、得も言われぬ快楽の一種がある。また、終わりの見えぬ苦難に曝され続けると、案外個々人の本性が垣間見えてくる。

引っ越し先の熱海にもちょっとした峠がある。昔のように繫みに挟まれた狭い山道を登っていく懐かしい記憶を追体験できるかと思ったが、バスが熱海駅から山麓まで出ており、そこからはケーブルカーがゆっくりと走っていた。

When I worked as a bartender in Yokohama, I often went on a trip to "Onsen", 
the hot springs with colleagues. And we decided to climb a small mountain at 
the end of the trip. The joy of reaching the summit came us after the long 
hardship and endurance that we didn't know when those would end. So this 
kind of joy was felt like one of the best pleasure. In addition, a personality which is hidden behind the surface unexpectedly appears by facing the hardships. 

There is a pass in Atami too. I thought I could experience the good old 
memories again that I walk through the bushes and climb the acute rocks or 
stairs. But the buses run from Atami station to the foot of the pass, and the 
cable car climb slowly to the summit.  
眺望はいわゆる３６０度のパノラマである。北の箱根の連峰から、熱海？いや、多分湯河原だと思える東側、下田方面の山並みを過ぎて、西の三島や沼津までゆっくりと見渡すことができる。

The view from here is a 360-degree panorama. We can see the peaks of 
Hakone in the north side, Atami? no, Yugawara I thought in the east side, the 
mountain range to Shimoda direction, and the towns of Mishima and Numazu in the west side. 
どこでもそうだが、初めて訪れる場所では探求心を抑えきれず、ついついうろうろしてしてしまう。山頂の展望台からは、姫の沢公園へ続く細い遊歩道が緩やかに降りている。途中にはグランピング用の宿泊施設が集積している。山頂付近で一泊して、一杯嗜みながら夜景を眺めるのは、得も言われぬ贅沢かもしれない。

It is same that when I visit somewhere at the first time, I definitely walk around 
here and there. A pathway went down from the observatory to Himenosawa 
Park. Many lodging facilities for the glamping were built densely on the way to 
the park. If we stayed near the summit for getting a nice night view with 
drinking, we would enjoy the luxurious time. 
山頂駅には、おしゃれなカフェが併設されている。屋外に展望デッキがあり、遠くに駿河湾を望め、眼下に緩慢なケーブルカーの往来を楽しめる。

なぜか、ここで夕日を見てようと思い立つ。最終ケーブルカーには乗車せず、ひたすら山頂に残る。昼に見えていた富士山が雲隠れを続けていたが、ようやく山頂の辺りだけ、影のように姿を見せる。西側の三島や沼津辺りの街並みに、徐々に街灯が点いていく様子がわかる。街の中に立つと、きっともっと暗いのであろう。

The fashionable cafe was attached to the summit station. As there was the 
observation deck outside, You would be able to enjoy Suruga gulf far away and the slow traffic of cable cars below.

Though I didn't know the reason, suddenly I had an idea that I want to see the 
sunset here. I didn't get on the final cable car and decided to remained here for a long time. Mt. Fuji which appeared at noon was hidden by the heavy clouds. However, I could see only the top of the mountain like a shadow. I could realize that the street lights and houses around Mishima and Numazu were gradually 
coming on. If I stood in the town, I would feel darker there than here.  
暮時の帰途は災難だった。

姫の沢公園の入り口に、簡易な地図があり、それに従って進む。公園を抜ける最短の道はすぐに細くて荒い山道に変わり、木製の立て看板はいかにも不案内であり、心細かった。懐中電灯を持たずに真っ暗闇の山道を歩き続けることには、さすがに危機感を感じて引き返す。遠回りになるが、安全のためにはそれも致し方なかろう。舗装された車道を、何時間かかるかわからぬまま歩き出す。

The way home after the sunset was a misfortune for me. 

As there was the simple map of Himenosawa park at the entrance, I walked 
according to the road. The shortest way through the park changed the rough 
mountain path. I felt uneasy because the sign made of the woods was seemed 
for me not to show the right directions. I came back to the entrance as I strongly felt the danger of my life to walk in this darkness without a flashlight. Maybe I 
have to take a detour. But I had no choice for my safety. I began to go on the 
paved road though I didn't know how many hours it would take. 
グーグルマップで見ているのに、どうにも道がわからない。現在地が定かにならない。ヘッドライトとエンジン音が近づくたびに、降りてくる車がタクシーでないかを絶えず確認する。ただ幸いなことには、街の明かりが山道のどこにも届いていて、車道が真っ暗になることはなかった。

渡りに船が来た。二時間ほどくらい歩いた頃、ようやく空車のタクシーが捕まった。運転手さんも、まさかこんなところに人が？と、一瞬疑心暗鬼になったになった、とのことである。運転手さん談、この険しく長い坂道は、競輪選手の練習場であったらしい。あるいは高価で軽量の自転車でこの坂を登攀する旅行客が、自転車のトラブルでタクシーを呼ぶこともあるらしい。

Google Map was not useful either. I couldn't understand which way I have to 
choose and where I was. I always confirmed whether it was a taxi or not 
whenever the headlights and the sound of engine approached me. I had a little 
fortune. As the subtle light from the distant town reached to every driveway, it 
has never been in the darkness.   

Finally the good luck fell on me! When I continued to walk about two hours, I 
could capture a taxi which went down the driveway. The driver said that he 
suspected that there was a person on the road of the mountain truly. In addition, he talked that the bicycle racers practiced on this long and sharp slopes at the 
old time, and the travelers who rode the expensive and light bicycle on the 
slopes often called a taxi because the brakes were broken by using too many 
times.

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