IOC Snowshoeing, Horai-san, Shiga, 27.01.2008

After postponing it for two times due to too little snow, Koji's IOC snowshoeing finally took place at the end of January, and this time we really had more than enough snow. Solveig and I met Koji and the other participants (Peter, Mauricio, Mike and Lisa) at JR Shiga station. From there we took a bus to the valley station of the Biwako Valley gondola where hundreds of winter sports fanatics were waiting to be taken to the snowy top of Horai-san, too. So we had some time for a little canned breakfast, then we squeezed into the tiny Sci-Fi movie gondolas and enjoyed the view of the snowy landscape on the way up. From the mountain station of the gondola we immediately ran into the deep snow. Unfortunately, Peter realized that his new snowshoes were not good enough for this hike, so he had to return to the valley and met us afterwards for the onsen. The rest of the group more slid then walked down a slope to be in a wind-protected area and have lunch (yes, we needed a break again after going up the whole mountain). After that the actual snowshoeing hike started. First, we climbed up to the official summit of Horai-san, took some photos at his pretty cold and windy location and than begun our descend. It had really snowed a lot, so we were quite often walking between branches that are in the top of the trees in summer. Finding the trail was sometimes difficult (we even had to dig to see a two meters high signpost) and following it, too, because the snow was fresh and the ones first in the queue sank in deeply. But most of all, it was absolutely great fun! We had so many laughs each time we almost disappeared in a deep snow hole and had to dig or crawl our way out. Soon most of us we looking like joyful snowmen. Right on time for the sunset we arrived at the valley station of the gondola and jumped on the last bus to Shiga station. From there we took the train for a relaxing visit to Nishiotsu onsen before returning to our homes. A hilarious hike through beautiful snowy landscapes, there's no better way to enjoy winter season.

Biwako valley website - Mauricio's pictures - Koji's pictures - back


3159_Crowded_bus
3159_Crowded_bus

3160_Lisa_Mike
3160_Lisa_Mike

3162_Markus_Solveig
3162_Markus_Solveig

3165
3165

3169
3169

3170
3170

3173
3173

3174
3174

3175
3175

3178_Lisa_Koji
3178_Lisa_Koji

3179_Breakfast_beer
3179_Breakfast_beer

3181_Space_gondola
3181_Space_gondola

3182
3182

3183
3183

3185_In_the_gondola
3185_In_the_gondola

3187
3187

3189
3189

3190_Mike_in_the_gondola
3190_Mike_in_the_gondola

3192_Solveig
3192_Solveig

3193_Gondolas
3193_Gondolas

3194_Markus
3194_Markus

3196
3196

3197
3197

3370
3370

3372
3372

3374
3374

3375_Snow_angel_Lisa
3375_Snow_angel_Lisa

3378_Markus
3378_Markus

3379
3379

3380_Directions
3380_Directions

3381
3381

3382
3382

3383
3383

3384_Mike_Solveig
3384_Mike_Solveig

3385_Lisa_Koji
3385_Lisa_Koji

3390_Kids
3390_Kids

3392_Ice-cream
3392_Ice-cream

3393
3393

3397
3397

3399
3399

3400_Lisa_Solveig
3400_Lisa_Solveig

3401
3401

3402_Mauricio
3402_Mauricio

3403_Lisa
3403_Lisa

3405
3405

3407_Solveig
3407_Solveig

3409
3409

3411
3411

3413
3413

3414
3414

3415
3415

3417
3417

3418
3418

3419_Mauricio
3419_Mauricio

3421
3421

3423
3423

3424
3424

3425
3425

3428_Koji
3428_Koji

3429
3429

3430
3430

3431
3431

3433
3433

3435
3435

3436
3436

3437
3437

3439
3439

3442
3442

3444
3444

3445
3445

3447
3447

3448
3448

3449
3449

3450_Lisa
3450_Lisa

3453_Shortcut
3453_Shortcut

3454
3454

3455
3455

3457
3457

3458_Koji_digging
3458_Koji_digging

3460
3460

3462
3462

3463
3463

3464_Lake_Biwako
3464_Lake_Biwako

3465_Lake_Biwako
3465_Lake_Biwako

3468
3468

3470
3470

3471
3471

3472_Biwako
3472_Biwako

3473
3473

3475
3475

3476_Koji
3476_Koji

3477_Lisa
3477_Lisa

3478_Koji
3478_Koji

3479_Biwako
3479_Biwako

3481
3481

3483
3483

3486
3486

3487
3487

3489
3489

3492
3492

3493
3493

3495
3495

3496
3496

3497
3497

3498
3498

3499
3499

3501
3501

3502_Bus_party
3502_Bus_party

3503_Afternoon_beer
3503_Afternoon_beer

3505_Map_Horai-san
3505_Map_Horai-san