Gendarme, Pyramidal peak in Matsumoto, Japan
The Gendarme is a rock summit standing at 3,163 meters in the Hida Mountains between Nishihodaka and Okuhodaka. The ascent follows steep rock walls and narrow ridge sections that demand technical skill.
The summit was named for its shape, which resembles a sentry post, a common practice in the Japanese Alps. This designation reflects the European influences that shaped mountaineering in Japan from the early 20th century onward.
The name comes from French mountaineering vocabulary, where a gendarme describes a tower of rock standing guard along a ridge. Japanese climbers adopted this international term and integrated it with their own approach to mountain safety and respect for the terrain.
The climb requires a helmet, gloves and experience in rock scrambling, as exposed passages are secured with chains. The best time for the ascent falls between mid-July and late September, when snow and ice no longer block the routes.
The climbing route passes through sections where both sides of the ridge drop steeply away and vertigo becomes part of the challenge. Many mountaineers consider this passage one of the most demanding in the entire Hida range.
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