REPORT

Bluebird skies and light winds made for ideal conditions to take advantage of the Tsugaike Ropeway early-spring operation. Even on the first gondola from the base, the transfer window to the 8:30 a.m. ropeway departure is tight—about 10 minutes—so I filed my climbing plan ahead of time and moved quickly to the ropeway base station (pictured). ※Note: Extra ropeway departures operate during busy periods.)
[Tsugaike Ropeway]

The road from the ropeway summit station to the Tsugaike Nature Park (pictured) was groomed with moderately firm, moist snow mixed with granular snow. The surface was solid enough to walk in regular boots. The sun was already strong, and I started heating up soon after the climb began, so I took off my jacket to avoid sweating as I headed toward the park.
[Tsugaike Ropeway Summit Station・Tsugaike Nature Park]

At the Tsugaike Nature Park, a wide, snow-covered expanse opened up, with the Hakuba Sanzan rising prominently beyond it. I met a man from Niigata (pictured, third from the right) who told me, “I always check Snownavi! I didn’t realize you report in areas outside the resorts too. I’m heading up to Funakoshi-no-atama to hike and ride.” Funakoshi-no-atama is a 2,612 m peak between Mt. Hakuba Norikura and Mt. Korenge.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Mizubasho Marsh]

The switchbacking road from the ropeway summit down to the Tsuga-no-mori Slope (pictured) had also been groomed. By around 10:30 a.m., the surface had softened a bit, but the snow still ran well. I was able to glide all the way back to the slope without skating or taking off my skis.
[Tsugaike Ropeway Base Station・Summit Station]

　　
[Tsugaike Kogen Details on 3/17 (Tue.)]
*Most Courses are OPEN (Tsuganomori, Yase-One, Gotemba are closed)
*Operating lifts … Gondola (from 8:00) and totally 12 lifts.
*Fees … 1-Day Ticket Adult JPY8,200, 6 to 12 y/o JPY4,900, Over 60 y/o JPY6,700 (Spring Discount from 3/23: Adult JPY6,100, 6-12 y/o JPY3,800)
　
*Printable Rental Discount Coupons!
Carving Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY3,500 / Outerwear JPY2,500!
Carving Ski・Snowboard High Performance Model Rental JPY500 OFF!
Kid’s Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY2,500 / Outerwear JPY1,500!

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi