REPORT

Early morning operation for the Happo Alpen Line and “Sunrise Service” on the Kurobishi 3 Pair began on 7/12 (Sat.). On this day, I aimed to summit Mt. Karamatsu as a day hike, catching the first departure of the Happo Gondola at 7:00 a.m. to access the Happo Nature Trail. Fortunately, the trail remained in the clouds with an occasional light breeze up to just before the Ueno-no-Kanba area (pictured), which helped keep the heat at bay and minimized fatigue during the climb.
[Climbing Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・Shita-no-Kanba to Ue-no-Kanba]

A trail runner I passed gave me a cheerful boost, saying, “I always follow your reports! The Maruyama Cairn is above the clouds today—keep it up!” Along the switchbacks from Shita-no-Kanba to Ueno-no-Kanba, and on the steep traverse just before Ueno-no-Kanba (pictured), sections of the trail have been slightly damaged by the heavy snowfall this past winter. Also, as of 7/12 (Sat.), the toilets next to the Happo-ike Sanso and just before the No. 2 Cairn are now open for use.
[Climbing Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・Shita-no-Kanba to Ue-no-Kanba]

There were four sections along the trail to Mt. Karamatsu where hikers had to walk on lingering snowfields: mid-way through Ueno-no-Kanba (approx. 15m in length), just before the Ogino Snowfield (approx. 10m in length), just before the Maruyama Cairn (approx. 50m in length, pictured), and mid-way between the Maruyama Cairn and the Karamatsu summit hut (approx. 3m in length). In each case, the snow was firm enough not to sink into, and with clear footprints to follow, it was possible to traverse these areas without crampons utilizing kick steps.
[Climbing Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・Ogino Snowfield to Maruyama Cairn]

Around 10:30 a.m., the clouds that had been clinging to the ridgeline of the Ushiro-Tateyama Range began to clear, revealing the three major Hakuba Sanzan peaks, Mt. Karamatsu (pictured, back right), and Mt. Goryu. I overheard hikers arriving at the Maruyama Cairn saying things like, “Wow! It’s so beautiful!” and “Honestly, I’d be happy if this were the goal.” As I continued past the cairn, the breaks in the clouds grew wider and the sun began to shine through for longer stretches. (※To be continued in Mt. Karamatsu, Pt. 2)
[Climbing Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・Maruyama Cairn to Karamatsu Summit Hut]
　
*Flowers in bloom … Ibuki Jakoso, iwa-shimotsuke, iwa-kagami, urajiro yoraku, kibana Karamatsu-ba, shirobana kumomanigana, Tateyama utsubogusa, Tateyama Rindo, tani-utsugi, chishima gikyo, chinguruma, tegata chidori, toki-so, nobine chidori, Nikko-kisuge, Hakusan taigeki, Happo usuyuki-so, hosoba tsumekusa, miyama azumagiku, miyama murasaki, yamabuki shoma, yukiwari-so, yotsuba shiogama, watasuge, osakura-so, shirane aoi
*Flowers beginning to bloom … akabana shimotsuke-so, oyama soba, kijimushiro, takane nadeshiko, Happo takane senburi

　
*＊ue to a water supply issue, the restroom at Café Pilar remains unavailable for use.

[Happo-One Nature Trail Opening Information]
*Period … 2025/5/31 (Sat.) – 6/1 (Sun.), 6/7 (Sat.) – 11/3 (Mon.)
*Hours … Happo Alpen Line: 7/12 – 7/13 and Weekdays from 7/22 open at 7:00am, 7/14 – 7/18 open at 7:30am, 7/19 – 7/21, 7/26, 7/27 open at 6:30am.
Kurobishi Line: 7/12, 7/13, 7/19, 7/20, 7/21, 7/26, 7/27 open at 4:30 am, 7/14 – 7/18 open 7:45am, Weekdays from 7/22 open at 7:15am.
*Fees … Happo Alpen Line Roundtrip / Adults JPY3,400, Elementary School Students JPY2,200 → Advance Discount Tickets: Adults JPY3,000, Children JPY1,850! (No need to exchange at the ticket window! You can proceed straight to the gondola.) Kurobishi Line Roundtrip / Adults JPY2,300, Elementary School Students JPY1,400.
(*One preschooler free with each paid adult. The second preschooler will be charged at the normal children’s rate.)

*Hakuba Happo-one will be reported 1－2times a week
*To Visitors Requesting Original Data of Our Photographs.

reported by Snownavi