On February 23-24, 2019 we went to Mount Norikura for a two day and one night snow mountain tent stay!
Introduction to Mount Norikura
Mount Norikura is a 3,026-meter-high mountain located in the southernmost part of the Northern Alps. It is an independent peak rising in the middle of a vast plateau. In summer, it is accessible by bus to Tatami-Daira, 2,702 meters above sea level, from where it is a relatively easy three-hour round-trip climb. In winter, however, the road to Tatami-Daira is closed, so climbers generally use Mount Norikura ski resort and climb from the 2,000-meter elevation point at the end of the lift. The course time is approximately 8 hours.
The itinerary generally consists of a day trip or two days and one night with an overnight stay at Kurai-ga-hara lodge. Mount Norikura in severe winter is often referred to as a good introduction to snow climbing for first-time hikers. In this article, we will introduce a two day and one night course using tents.
Details of this route
Details of this route are described below.
(First day) Mt Norikura ski resort→2,500m elevation point
(Second day) 2,500m elevation point→Kata-no-hut→Asahi-mountain→Ken-ga-mine (summit of Mount Norikura)→Mount Asahi→Kata-no-hut→Mt Norikura ski resort
To the start of climbing
We will stay the night before at the third parking lot of Mount Norikura ski resort. The third parking lot is at the very front of the road. Be careful not to go to the back parking lot!
I buy two single lift tickets. The total price is 800 yen. (Note: Lift tickets are only good for the ascent.)
We walked under the YAMABOSHI lift.
We take the first lift, the quad lift.
Mount Norikura can be seen from the lift.
We will take the second lift, the Kamoshika lift.
We get off the lift and start climbing. We climbed up the forest course in the center of the photo.
Start of climbing – first night
A gentle climb continues.
Mount Yatsugatake can be seen behind the forest course.
We are about to leave the forest line. The wind was blowing at 15 mph that day, and from this point on, the wind was directly against our bodies.
If you are going to the Kurai-ga-hara mountain lodge, turn right at this junction. If you want to go to the summit of Mount Norikura, go straight. We decided to go straight and camp on the way.
We camped at an elevation of 2,480 meters, just before the forest limit. In summer, it is not possible to camp at this point. On the other hand, in snow-covered mountains, it is possible to camp anywhere without damaging the vegetation. Because of the strong north wind on this day, snow blocks were piled up on the northwest face. Because the snow was firm, it was relatively easy to pile up the blocks. On the other hand, in case of light snow, it is not possible to pile up the blocks, so it is more effective to dig down under the tent.
Looking west from the camp, Mt. Norikura and Takamagahara were clearly visible.
On the other hand, the view of the Northern Alps and the Hotaka mountain range can be seen to the north from the campsite.
The time was evening. Mount Yatsugatake, which is tinted with arbentoloat, could be seen to the east.
The Hotaka mountain range is stained by the Arbent Rote.
I snuck out of my tent at night. The temperature is probably below minus 10 degrees Celsius. It is very cold. I am headed to…
Starry sky shooting. Left: Takamagahara Right: Mount Norikura
Norikura Plateau and starry sky.
Day 2. We climbed up the skinny icy slopes from dawn to the summit of Mount Norikura.
We set out at 4:30 in the early morning. We aim to see the sunrise at the summit.
This is a night hike with Mount Norikura and the half moon on the side.
Mount Norikura and the Kata hut come into view.
We put on 12-tooth crampons, ice axes, and helmets and set out for the summit of Mount Norikura via Mount Asahi. The trail is icy and steep, making it very challenging. Mount Norikura in the severe winter season is usually introduced as a snowy mountain with an introduction to ice axes. This season in the Northern Alps, unseasonal rainfall is followed by cold weather, which often results in icy slopes. As a result, there has been a string of slip-and-fall accidents and deaths in various regions.
Magic Hour on the steep slope up to the summit of Mount Norikura.
We have reached the summit of Mount Asahi. Ken-ga-mine, the highest peak of Mount Norikura, is on the left. On the right is Takamagahara.
The Northern Alps await the morning sun.
The sun rises over Mount Yatsugatake!
Mount Ontake can be seen clearly. Mount Ontake dyed by Morgenroth.
Good morning Northern Alps.
We will start again for the summit of Mount Norikura.
It is a ridge hike with spectacular views.
Enlargement.
We are almost to the top!
We arrived at Ken-ga-mine (elevation: 3,026 meters), the highest peak on Mount Norikura!
And to the summit
Mount Ontake can be seen clearly from the top of Mount Norikura (Ken-ga-mine). Incidentally, Mount Ontake is not in the Northern Alps, although this is often misunderstood.
This great view from the top
I would like to take lots of pictures.
Landscape like an ink painting
Landscape like an ink painting, part 2
shrimp tail
We descended to the safety zone of the Kata hut. As I mentioned earlier, from the summit of Mount Norikura (Ken-ga-mine) to the Kata hut, the entire surface was icy, and crampons and ice axes were very hard to penetrate, making it one of the scariest snow slopes I have ever been on. If I had slipped, I would not have been able to stop until I got to the bottom.
In fact, according to https://www.yamareco.com/, there was a person who slipped 100 meters during BC and came down the mountain covered in blood, and another who was rescued by a helicopter. Mount Norikura in severe winter is often referred to as a snow mountain where one can practice using a ice axe, but this is not the case this year. The weather in the Northern Alps this year has been extraordinary.
We will descend through a vast snow field. A GPS is recommended.
We have returned to our campsite. We will collect our tents and descend.
We returned safely to the ski resort. Thank you Mount Norikura for the great view.
Fun after descending the mountain
We came to Yukemuri-kan for a day trip, about a 5-minute drive from Mount Norikura ski resort. The spring is a simple sulfur spring. If you like the smell of sulfur, this is the place for you. http://www.norikura.co.jp/yukemuri/
Mount Norikura can be seen clearly from the open-air baths at Yumemurikan.
At Yumemurikan, you can also enjoy their famous pizza. Prices range from 900 to 1,200 yen per slice.
The menu is extensive.
After descending the mountain, we came to Sakesho-nakajimaya. http://sakesho-nakajimaya.com/
The restaurant has a large selection of rare Japanese sake. Some wine is also available. I obtained two bottles of sake.
That is all for this article.
