REPORT

Recently, I’ve been noticing more and more hikers using trekking poles. Looking back through my reports all the way to 5/6 (Wed., holiday), every single one includes at least one photo of someone carrying a pair. Trekking poles help reduce the strain of steep ascents and descents by transferring some of the load from your legs to your arms, easing stress on your joints and muscles.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Boardwalk Course]

Trekking poles also increase your points of contact with the ground from two to four, making it easier to maintain your balance. By allowing your upper body to help propel you forward, they make climbing easier and promote a more consistent walking rhythm, helping to reduce fatigue over long distances. This morning, low clouds blanketed the Happo-One Nature Trail, creating wonderfully cool and comfortable hiking conditions.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・No. 2 Cairn to Happo Cairn]

Among the alpine flowers, yukiwari-so, Tateyama-rindo, miyama-azumagiku, and kijimushiro were nearing the end of their blooming season, while Nikko-kisuge, chinguruma, iwa-shimotsuke, and mushitori-sumire were becoming increasingly abundant. In the grassy meadows, yotsuba-shiogama, Happo usuyuki-so, and kobaikei-so had begun to flower, while otakanebara and Ibuki-jakoso were starting to bloom among the rocky and gravelly slopes. As I climbed toward Happo Pond, patches of blue sky finally began to appear through the clouds.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・No. 2 Cairn to Happo Cairn]

I met a woman from Nagano City (pictured, right) who told me, “I’ve seen Snownavi before. I injured my knee snowboarding in February and had surgery. Today’s hike is part of my rehabilitation. Until recently I couldn’t make it up here at all—but look at me now!” She proudly demonstrated how much her knee had recovered alongside her friend. Compared with my previous visit, the snow covering Happo Pond had shrunk from about half of the pond’s surface to roughly thirty percent.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Happo Pond]

＊The Karamatsu Summit Lodge opens for the summer season on 6/20 (Sat.).
＊The “Trekking Together at Happo-One” event will be held on 6/27 (Sat.).
＊The Kurobishi Forest Road and the Kurobishi Line are scheduled to open on 7/1 (Wed.).

[Happo-One Nature Trail Opening Information]
*Period … 2026/5/30 (Sat.) & 5/31 (Sun.), 6/6 (Sat.) – 11/3 (Tue.)
*Hours … Gondola (8:00～), Alpen Quad, Grat Quad
*Fees … Happo Alpine Line Roundtrip / Adults JPY3,500, Elementary School Students JPY2,300 → Advance Discount Tickets: Adults JPY3,200, Elementary School Students JPY2,000! (Skip the ticket window! Go straight to the gondola gate.)

*Hakuba Happo-one will be reported 1－2times a week
*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi