Appreciation from the Mountains

The mountains are my school - Master Hoshino

Sep 21, 2025

I spent Wednesday to Friday on the Dewa Sanzan mountains helping Master Hoshino lead a yamabushido training.

Gassan was at its worst. Or best, depending on how you look at it. Besides us, there was one other group that turned around, and then only two (or maybe three?) other people on the whole mountain. Including one guy in shorts who was beaming from ear to ear. He had obviously taken my advice.

And we were fine.

Just a bit of wind and rain. Well, actually quite a lot of wind. But not enough to stop you.

Well,

temporarily at least.

There was more than one point where the wind wouldn’t let us pass, like the mountain was going all Gandalf on us. But then as soon as the wind had came, it left and we were on our way.

These ‘bad’ days on Gassan are much more important than the ‘good’ days. Why? Because they teach you not to be complacent. They prepare you for any eventuation. If you can climb Gassan on a day like this, well, there’s not a lot else you can’t do. And then when you eventually get a ‘good’ day on Gassan (or anywhere really), you appreciate it that much more. And there isn’t much a bit of appreciation can’t do.

That was our last Masters Yamabushi Training for this year. We still have one Basic Yamabushi Training in October, but I think it’s full up, I’d have to check. If you’re looking for a refresh, or simply an excuse to test your mettle, sign up for a training here.

And tell them I sent you!

I’ll be posting more photos from the experience on our Instagram in the next few days, and also on the Lessons From Mountains newsletter on October 1.