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There’s also a kind of skiing that helps with your everyday lack of exercise.
Yesーthat’s road walking on skis.
This time, from the gondola top station at Tsugaike Kogen Ski Resort to Tsugaike Nature Park.
It’s 4.1 km in distance, with an elevation gain of 282 m.
Fast skiers can do it in an hour; even at a relaxed pace, it takes about two.
Since it’s a forest road used by cars in summer, the gradient is more or less consistent.
Unless it’s really icy and hard, you can climb the whole way just with
step-cuttingーno skins needed.
So it feels light and easy. Naturally, the gear can be light too.
And so, today Kyo-san is taking it easy on NNNBC skis.
From partway up, you can walk along while looking out over mountain ranges lined up like folding screens.
Wowーwhat a view, what a view.
When you arrive at Tsugaike Nature Park, another superb view opens up right
in front of you. Mt. hakuba stands straight ahead.
Yeah, this place is something else.
This time we took a break on the terrace of Tsugaike Hutte.
Where the snow had melted and the ground was exposed, it was nice and warm.
Sit down → warm on the backside → lie down → even warmer → turn your backside toward the sun → perfectly warm!
…And just like that, I ended up lying there for an hour.
Well then, time to head back. While I was napping, the snow had changed from fast snow to grabby snow.
Oh well, no big deal.
At the end, we ski down the groomed slopes, and for the first time it turns into proper downhill skiing with linked turns.
And that’s XCD.
On the gondola ride back, Tawaraya’s “umani soba” suddenly filled my thoughts.
Yeah, I can still make it.
Got back, changed quickly, headed overーand made it just in time.
Delicious. Everything wrapped up perfectly.
This is another kind of skiing.
Come on out for a walk. Bringing a lunch is a great idea too.
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