なんだか数年ぶりではないだろうか。この時期の立山に、こんなにも雪があるのは。
しかも降ったばかりでサラサラ、空は濃い青。文句なしの上天気だ。

先に入山していた M さんと合流し、浄土山へ向かう。トップに立てば、景色は息をのむほど清々しい。稜線から一本、続けてノートラックを何本か刻み、大斜面へ。一本一本が「来てよかった」と思わせる。

どーんとトラバースして山崎カールの下へ。蝋燭岩を見上げる。
そして我々はそのままメローな斜面をロングで滑り降りた。ようやく一段落……のつもりだった。だが、長年の習性とは恐ろしい。気づけばツボ足で黙々と階段を作っている。もちろん M さんも参加。二人しかいないのだから、これはもう強制参加である。
一本滑ったあと、イシキダはカメラマンに。M さんは 3 本も登らされ撮られ役に。ご苦労さま。それでも最後は「やり切った」という満足感がしっかり残った。

山荘に戻れば、まずは乾杯。夕食を終えると、倒れるように早めの就寝。

翌朝は強風と積雪。予報も一日中荒れ。仕方がない……と馬鹿話をしながら、薄めの焼酎お湯割りをちびちびやる。この時間もまた悪くない。
10 時半、今日から参加の I さんが到着し、そのまま宴は本格化。気づけば夕食の時間。いくらでも馬鹿話を続けられるのも、ひとつの才能だ。食べて飲んで、この日も 19 時に就寝。

翌朝 5 時半に朝弁当を食べ、6 時 20 分に外集合。きっちり晴れた空の下、全山ノートラック。これを前にしては、まず言葉が出ない。
シュートを一本、そこから浄土山へ登り返し、気持ちよく大斜面へ滑り込む。完璧。
9 時半に山荘へ戻ると、3 泊していた M さんはここで下山。代わりに本日合流の 4 名が到着する。

いつもなら初日は足慣らしの B ゲレンデで軽く……のはずが、この日は違う。天気が良すぎた。
各人 3-4 本滑ったところで、意を決して出陣。行き先はメロー。シュプールはすでにあるが、雪は柔らかく気持ちいい。一本ロングで滑ると、「やっぱり最高だ」。ならばお代わりか？結局登り返してもう一本。
「初日からやりすぎたね……」
そんな声を残しつつ、山荘に戻ると 15 時半。

そこからの宴会は早い。夕食を挟んでも勢いは衰えず、二次会へ。話は尽きない。21 時就寝。

翌朝の行き先は、やはり浄土山。早朝ゆえ、周囲には我々だけ。この静けさがたまらない。
大斜面の下でふと風を感じ、見上げると、昨日のスキートラックがすべて消えていた。やった。
一本、また一本と会心の滑り。最後の大斜面に陽が差すまであと 20 分。各人ツェルトにくるまり、その瞬間を待つ。
「よし、行こう。」
一人ずつ斜面へドロップ。スバラシイ。
結局また登り返し、もう一本。満ち足りた気分で山荘へ戻るとまだ 10 時前。次の集合は 15 時。それまで各自自由。僕は動画編集に没頭した。

午後は室堂山。夕暮れに近い時間帯の展望は、想像通りの美しさだった。帰路は柔らかい雪を縫うように滑り、都合 1 時間で山荘へ戻る。
夕食前に宴会、夕食後に二次会。先輩諸兄の参加もありがたかった。
この二日間で、もう十分にやり切った。

翌朝は、全員そろって朝一番の便で下山すると決める。
名付けて「ミッション・足るを知る」。

ターミナルの改札に一番で並び、ぼんやり時刻表を眺めていたそのとき、ふとひらめく。
「ダムを超高速で歩けば、予定の 30 分前のバスに乗れるかもしれない……！」

ケーブルカー到着からバス発車まではわずか 10 分。
間に合うのか??？
フフ……全員、間に合いました。

今日も“やった感”たっぷり。ミッションコンプリート。
最後の最後まで充実した、立山の旅だった。

参加いただいた皆さま、本当にありがとうございました。

It had been years since I’d seen Tateyama with this much snow at this time of year.
Fresh, powdery snow blanketed the mountains, and the sky was a deep, flawless blue. Perfect weather.

I met up with M, who had entered the mountains ahead of me, and we headed toward Mt.Jodo. From the top, the view was breathtaking. We traced the ridge, carving one line after another on untouched slopes, and finally reached the big face. Each run made me think, “This was so worth it.”

A bold traverse took us below Yamazaki Cirque, with the Candle Rock looming above. Then we smoothly dropped down a mellow slope for a long, satisfying run. Finally, a moment to catch our breath?or so I thought. Years of habit kicked in: before I knew it, I was trudging uphill in bootpacking mode, creating steps in the snow. M, of course, joined in. With only two of us, it wasn’t optional.

After one run, I took on the role of photographer while M climbed three times to be in front of the lens. Hard work, but the sense of accomplishment at the end was worth it.

Back at the mountain hut, we toasted our efforts. Dinner finished, and we collapsed into an early night’s sleep.

The next morning brought strong winds and fresh snow. The forecast predicted a full day of it. No choice but to accept, so we sipped lightly diluted hot shochu, laughing at our own nonsense. Even this time felt good. Around 10:30, I, and the newly arriving I, joined the group and the “party” fully took off. Before we knew it, it was time for dinner. Talking endlessly seems like a talent in itself. After eating, we were asleep by 7 p.m.

The following morning, we ate our packed breakfast at 5:30 and gathered outside at 6:20. The sky was perfectly clear, and the mountains lay untouched by skis. Words failed me.
We ran one chute, then climbed back to Mt.Jodo and skied down the big face. Perfect.

By 9:30, we were back at the hut. M, who had stayed three nights, headed down from here. Four new participants joined the group.

Normally, the first day would be an easy warm-up on the B slopes. Not this time the weather was too perfect. Each of us had already done three or four runs before we set out. Destination: mellow slopes. There were tracks, but the snow was soft and inviting. One long run, and I thought, “This is incredible.” Then another. And another.
“Starting the first day like this… maybe too much,” someone muttered.
By 3:30 p.m., we returned to the hut.

The evening festivities began quickly. Dinner came, then a second round of socializing. Stories and laughter didn’t end. 9 p.m. sleep at last.

The next morning, we headed again to Mt.Jodo. Early hours, and the mountains were ours alone. I love this quiet.
At the base of the big face, I felt the wind shift. Looking up, all the ski tracks from yesterday had vanished. Perfect.

We ran one line, then another. With twenty minutes until sunlight hit the big face, we wrapped ourselves in bivy sacks to wait.
“All right, let’s go.”
One by one, we dropped in. Incredible.
Another climb, one final run. Fully satisfied, we returned to the hut before 10 a.m. The next gathering was at 3 p.m., and everyone had free time until then. I immersed myself in video editing.

In the afternoon, we headed to Mt.Murodo. Close to sunset, the views were as stunning as expected. The descent was easy, weaving through soft snow, taking just one hour to reach the hut.

Pre-dinner drinks, then dinner, then another round of socializing. The participation of our senior companions was greatly appreciated. After these two days, we had truly given our all.

The next morning, the whole group decided to descend on the earliest service.
We called it “Mission: Know Your Limits.”

Standing first in line at the terminal gate, I idly scanned the schedule?and realized something.
“If we dash across the dam, we might make the bus 30 minutes early…”

Only ten minutes between the cable car arrival and bus departure. Could we make it?
Heh… we all made it.

Another day full of “we did it” moments. Mission complete.
Tateyama had delivered to the very last moment.

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us.