Mountain@skiing tour/ The@Azuma@Mountains@

ParticipantsFFukasawa, Miyawaki, Sakaue, Kumagai

19th of April

21:00KumagayaË21:30HanyuË‚PF‚O‚OGrand-Deco Skiing Ground

20th of April@

Start from the cable car station@8:30¨10:05@Mt. Nishi-Daiten@10:35¨10:20@the Mt.@Nishi-Azuma hut10:45¨12:05Mt. Nishi-Azuma12:20¨14:30Hatsuka-Daira15:00¨15:50The Grand-Deco

We@left Kumagaya at 21:00 and Mr. Fukasawa joined us at Hanyu.
In spite of going up north along the Tohoku-Highway, it was after the midnight when we arrived at the destiny because we dropped in a gas station or convenience store and so on.
We had a drinking party in the tent till 2:45.

20th April

I got up at 6:00 and went to skiing ground named the Grand-Deco.
We went up a part of the way of the slope by a cable car. As either the 3rd lift or 4th lift would not be available till 9:00, we began to climb the slope with ski from the point of 1390m of height above sea level at 8:00. It took 30 minutes for us to climb up the altitude difference of 200m and we arrived at the end of the 4th lift.

We climbed up following traces in woods. About 30 minutes walking after a short rest, a peak was seen, which we misunderstood as the peak of Mt. Nishi-Daiten.
As the slope just under this peak is little bit steep, we had to climb in zigzag. Though Mr. Fukasawa tried to make detour the peak, it might be difficult so that he came back climbing along a steep slope.

We arrived at the peak of Mt. Nishi-Daiten at 10:05.
As@clouds were high, mountains of a distant view could be seen. We enjoyed views of not only Mt. Bandai or Mt. Adatara but also those of the Iide Mountains, Asahi Mountains or Mt. Gassan could be seen. Many skiers were coming to the top one after another.

After a rest on the top, each of us skied down to a pass with a seal. Though other people but I skied down the steep slope directly, I skied down a gentle slope after traversing there.

We entered the Mt. Nishi-Azuma hut and took lunch. It was a little pity for us to take just breads for lunch while other parties were enjoying cooking fine lunch.
After lunch, we climbed in woods covered with rime and got the peak of Mt. Nishi-Azuma.

The Nishi-Daiten peak At the Nishi-Daiten Going to the next peak To the Nishi-Azuma peak

Finally, the time to ski down came. We descended open slope firstly and entered in woods where the snow was waved. The place was not seemed to be fine for Mr. Sakaue riding a snow board.
The traversing in woods lead us to a fine wide slope. I skied carefully as snow was a little hard.
We entered another woods again where the visibility is poor. I skied very carefully to prevent crashing against trees and traversed in case a slope was steep very much.

The slope becomes gentle gradually. It was easy for me to ski but was hard for Mr. Sakaue on the snow board. He had to walk at last.
Mr. Miyawaki confirmed the position where we were at the time using the GPS and found that we were little bit off in the western from the scheduled route.

We set out for the west further and got on a steep slope. Is that the Grand-Deco ski slope seen over a valley?

We decided to traverse for the east as a result of consideration, so that we were lead to the above of a gentle slope.
Mr. Miyawaki examined the position again under the slope and said,
gLetfs traverse 375 meter more for the east. Find a very little valley on the way and we can ski down to Hatuka-Daira.h

We could find the valley easily on the way of traverse, where traces and red flags were on, and could get to Hatuka-Daira, really flat place as its name says.
Mr. Sakaue, snow boarder, had to walk here too.

Start skiing Mr. Fukazawa Mr. Sakaue Mr. Miyawaki

As we rested here too long, we became anxious if we could get the Grand-Deco in the daytime. It may take much time to get the Grand-Deco.
But after crossing a little valley ahead, we were lead to a slope of the Grand-Deco.
We shake hands with each other.
We arrived at the car parking at 16:00. Dropping into a nice spa, we got to Kumagaya at 21:15.
It was a very fun and full ski tour!


Described by Kumagai and translated by Tsunekichi.
Your response will be much appreciated. Thank you!