Quoted By:
I live in Japan, and it's difficult finding someone who's on the same wavelength as I am when it comes to going /out/.
I live near a mountain/quasi-national park, so hiking is rather popular. However, most everyone who hikes there only goes out for a few hours in the summertime, and it seems that most people care more about looking fashionable in the season's newest North Face stuff than actually being in the wilderness. It's just another excuse to show off your expensive camera and superfluous, neon-colored equipment.
Once you get past the crowds on the trails nearest the train station and waterfall (it's a local attraction), it often feels like you have the mountain all to yourself, aside from the occasional monkey/deer/boar.
It's pretty frustrating. I have plenty of friends here, but only a handful are even remotely interested in spending time in the outdoors. I know there are local trekking clubs and such, and maybe I'm somewhat intimidated of new people, but I know for a fact that at least the clubs in my university are more focused on binge-drinking that actually going out.
Oh well, I guess it'll just be me, my girlfriend, and our close friends going /out/ for the foreseeable future. Actually, that doesn't sound that bad at all.
Pic related, one of the trails built 50 years ago, before actually hitting the earthen trail further out into the park.
