Walk on the Snow in Mt. Shirane – 草津白根の雪山ハイク

去年、体調を崩して行けなかった雪の白根山に晴天日を見計らって登山した。このコースは雪山登山というほどのハードルの高い話ではなく、ロープウェイで山頂駅に行ってしまえば、残す標高差は200m程度のほとんど平坦なルートで、天気さえ良ければ僕のような冬山未経験者にも安全なハイキングだ。
この日のように絶好の晴天無風状態なら歩いていると汗はかくし、着ぶくれは避けて比較的軽装でも行けると思うが、気温そのものはマイナス3-4度と低く、天候変化のことを考えて追加の防寒装備は用意して臨むべきだろう。装備の基本となるスノーシューは麓の天狗山スキー場でレンタルできる。料金は1日1000円。下りはスキーに履き替えて下山する人もいて、これは快適だと思う。
草津白根山は山頂駅から右に進み、レストハウスまでは雪道といっても整備された平坦路で、本当にスノーシューが必要となるのはそこからの登りだ。途中雪景色の中に緑の湯釜の眺めをたっぷり堪能できる。そこまで来れば頂上も近くに見える。頂上からは西にアルプス連峰、東は谷川岳など群馬・上越の山々がパノラマ展望だ。
入山許可は山頂駅のパトロール室で書類提出して取得するのだが、この時期に行けるのは往復約3時間のこのルートのみ、第2ロマンスリフトがある左手の本白根山には許可が下りない。僕らは斜面に踏み跡があるのを見て行けるところまで行ってみようかと、リフト乗り場の先でスノーシューを履き始めたら、乗り場から連絡が行くらしく、すぐにパトロール員がスノーモービルで飛んできた。
心待ちにしていた一年越しのプランは、ゆっくり温泉にも入れて、全員大満足で終えることができた。次はもっと足を伸ばして万座から白根を踏破するくらいの企画を考えたい。








On clear Friday, I was with a couple of friends of mine to trek snowy Mt. Kusatsu-Shirane that I had to give up a year ago because of illness. This particular course is not really the kind that is expected as winter mountaineering as it requires only 200-meter altitude after getting off the ropeway station, therefore it is a quite safe hike for those who have never experienced climbing in the winter like myself as long as the weather is clear and fine.
Under the sun without winds, you will surely sweat as you walk and relatively light costume would be fine, but the actual temperature stays around minus 3 or 4 degrees C, and it is strongly recommended that you bring extra warm layers in preparation for a sudden weather change. The snow-shoes are the fundamental gear that can be rented at Tenguyama Ski facility for 1000 Yen per day. We saw some trekkers who replaced the snow-shoes with their ski to go down that looked very attractive.
From the ropeway station, you go on to the right along the well-maintained snow-path for maybe half an hour up to Shirane Rest House (closed in the winter), and from there beyond you definitely have to wear the snow shoes as you start climbing. You will then see Yugama Pond on your right that is very charming in the snow white background. You now see the mountain top fairly close, too. The views from the summit is truly panoramic with Japan Alps in the west and the mountains of Gunma and Joetsu, such as Tanigawadake, in the eat.
A mountaineering permit can be obtained at the Patrol Room in the ropeway station by filling out the provided form, but they only authorize the route to Mt. Kusatsu-Shirame in the winter that will take 3 hours back and forth. Another summit, Mt. Moto-Shirane, is not allowed: We saw some footsteps in the slope on our left along Second Romance Lift, so we decided to follow them to find how far we could go, but a patrol staff on snowmobile immediately dashed to us to alarm.
Because we are in Kusatsu Onsen, we can soak in the relaxing hot bath after the trek to make everybody feel so happy. I would like to plan an extended version of walk for the next time from Manza to Shirane.