Tanzawa Range Autumn Hike

This is the same trail as the Tanzawa Range Winter Hike, but in Autumn, so I'm hoping to leave varying stages of leaves changing colors. It's a good 7 hour hike from Yabitsutoge all the way to Tonodake, then back down to Okura.

If we get the bus from Hadano station to Yabitsutoge, it is only a 700m climb. Trail info in Japanese (sorry, no English): http://www.kankou-hadano.org/hadano_mountain/mountain_o2js.html

This will be a challenge, but also rewarding! I recommend bringing trekking poles if you have them.

Rough schedule:
7:45 Meet outside Hadano station ticket gate.
7:55 Be in line for the bus (this is a POPULAR bus and fills up fast, so we will line up early; it won't leave until 8:18)
9:06 Arrive at Yabitsutoge
14:00 Tonodake
16:30 Okura bus stop
17:00 Shibusawa station; arrival time depends on bus availability

Notes

• No smoking.
• I have no survival or first aid skills.
• Buy food and drinks ahead of time or risk not getting on the bus.
• Bring at least 500mL of water/soft drink. I usually bring about 1L.
• Weather can change unexpectedly, so be prepared for rain, heat, etc.
• If you miss the 8:18 bus, the next bus is at 8:55. You can take the more frequent bus to Minoge and hike 1 hour to catch up, but I can't make the group wait, to be fair to them.
• Because of the infrequent bus and long line, we will leave promptly.