REPORT

Even after all ski runs at Hakuba Happo-One Ski Resort closed on 4/19 (Sun.), the gondola, Alpen Quad, and Grat Quad are continuing operating through 5/6 (Wed., holiday) for sightseeing and hiking. Round-trip fares follow the winter Happo Alpen Line pricing: ¥4,400 for adults and ¥2,300 for elementary school students.
[Ridge Route]

This morning, under clear spring skies with a light south wind, I hiked up to Shita-no-Kanba. There were short sections of remaining snow—about 250 meters from just past the closed restroom near the No. 2 Cairn up to the Happo Cairn, and again from the lower part of the wooden stairs below Happo Pond up to the pond itself (pictured, lower right). Aside from those stretches, the trail was dry and rocky, and even on the snow, I had no trouble walking without crampons.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Happo Cairn to No. 3 Cairn]

There were quite a few people hiking up to Happo Pond, and I often saw visitors standing in the middle of the pond—something you can’t do in summer—taking photos with the Hakuba Sanzan peaks in the background. Two visitors from Shizuoka (pictured) told me, “We’re getting married this June! Today, we’re hiking up toward Mt. Karamatsu for the first time to try to see a ptarmigan.”
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Happo Pond]

I also saw many hikers continuing on toward Mt. Karamatsu. The trail remains dry and rocky up to Shita-no-Kanba, but from there to the Maruyama Cairn, there is a long stretch of lingering snow (pictured, upper center). The Karamatsu-dake Summit Lodge will be open from 4/27 (Mon.) to 5/5 (Tue., holiday), making overnight stays on the mountain possible.
[Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・No. 3 Cairn to Shita-no-Kanba]

　　　　　　　　
[Happo-One Details on 4/25 (Sat.)]
*OPEN Courses … None
*Operating Lifts … Gondola (8:00～), Alpen Quad, Grat Quad (For sightseeing only)
*Fees … Happo Alpen Line Round-trip: Adults JPY4,400, Elementary school students JPY2,300

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi