REPORT

The climax of the climb to Mt. Karamatsu is the rocky section just before the Karamatsu summit hut (pictured). Since the trail narrows here, I made sure to call out to descending hikers so that we could take turns passing each other safely. The slope becomes steep her as well, so I stowed my trekking poles in my pack and used my hands on the rocks, maintaining three points of contact for stability and safety.
[Climbing Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・Maruyama Cairn to Karamatsu Summit Hut]

Above the Maruyama Cairn, the trail was lined with a variety of alpine flowers, including plenty of Shinano otogiri, chinguruma, and Ibuki jakoso. In the creeping pine zone along the ridgeline, I also spotted some Hakusan shakunage just starting to bloom. Several hikers near me paused for a short break, glancing around hopefully and saying, “I wonder if there are any rock ptarmigan around?” as they scanned the area.
[Climbing Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・Maruyama Cairn to Karamatsu Summit Hut]

The dramatic scenery created by the rugged ridgeline and ever-shifting clouds made the climb feel well worth the effort. “I always check Snownavi—what a surprise to run into you here! I took the 7:00 gondola and made it all the way to the summit of Mt. Karamatsu,” commented a trail runner on their way back down the mountain. A father and child I met from Chikuma City also shared, “We always follow your reports! We rode the 4:30 a.m. Kurobishi 3 Pair Lift and made it to the summit.”
[Climbing Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・Maruyama Cairn to Karamatsu Summit Hut]

Once I reached the ridgeline, the classic Northern Alps views of Mt. Karamatsu, Mt. Goryu, the Hakuba Sanzan, Mt. Tsurugi, Mt. Tateyama, and the jagged peaks of Kaerazu-no-Ken were absolutely breathtaking, and instantly lifted my spirits. While I stood mesmerized by the stunning alpine panorama, a sudden blast of strong wind quickly chilled me to the core, so I hurried to put on a windproof jacket. (To be continued in Mt. Karamatsu, Pt. 3)
[Climbing Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・Karamatsu Summit Hut]

*Flowers in bloom … Ibuki jakoso, iwa-shimotsuke, iwa-kagami, urajiro yoraku, kibana Karamatsu-ba, Shinano otogiri, 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
*Flowers beginning to bloom … akabana shimotsuke-so, oyama soba, kijimushiro, takane nadeshiko, Hakusan shakunage, Happo takane senburi

　
*Due 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