Outdoor Gearzine's offline event, "Let's Climb Snow-Covered Mountains 2026," was successfully held this past weekend, following last year's success!
With light snow this season, I chose "Tairadairayama" (Tairadaira Mountain)
Looking back, last year we were fortunate enough to see a beautiful patch of fresh snow on Mount Tateshina right after a mild cold snap. However, this year, not only is there less snow overall, but spring has arrived early in Tokyo, with cherry blossoms already in full bloom. As a result, while you would normally still be able to enjoy snow climbing in places like the Yatsugatake Mountains, this year the areas around Tokyo where you can enjoy snow climbing have been quite limited
However, there are still areas where you can easily enjoy snow mountain climbing. So, this time, I chose Mt. Hiratake, one of Japan's 100 Famous Flower Mountains, located in the Tanigawa area, and also popular for backcountry skiing. I figured that the current conditions would be perfect for snow mountain climbing, so I made my choice
On the day of the climb, the sky was perfectly blue, and the weather was so pleasant you wouldn't think we were going to climb a snow-covered mountain. That alone made victory seem certain, and our spirits were high from the moment we reached the trailhead
At first, most of the snow had melted, but after climbing for a while, we encountered plenty of slushy snow, as you'd expect in a heavy snowfall area, and we put on our crampons and climbed briskly. The route soon led to a ridge with great views, and a pleasant breeze dried our sweat, making it incredibly refreshing. With this fine weather and magnificent panorama, everyone's spirits were high
Even so, walking across a pure white snowfield is always a wonderful experience
We've reached the summit! But it's not even cold yet. We're enjoying the spring weather and the snowy landscape while having lunch and taking in the 360-degree view
And after descending the mountain, we were given a small share of spring's bounty, leaving both our hearts and stomachs full!
Once again, I was blessed with wonderful members and great weather, making it absolutely fantastic
Well done and thank you to everyone who participated!
Please look forward to the next event!
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