Training Report - Mt.Tokachidake (Mt.Tokachi) 31

K participated in this training. It was minus 18 degrees Celsius at the KTV (katabatic valley) and minus 24 degrees Celsius at the Mt.Tokachidake Hot Springs. The travelled distance was 26km.

The radiative cooling has just begun before the commencement of the training. The mountains were still cloud covered but the clouds were dissipating on the Furano Basin. As only short time has passed after the beginning of radiative cooling, the upper end of the ground inversion layer was situated at the altitude of 500-600m which isn't so high.

He had expected the temperature would be around minus 17-18 dgrees Celsius at the summit according the state of the inversion layer and the temperature at the foot of the mountain. So he wore cloths for a temperature around minus 17-18 degrees Celsius. However, it was a miscalculation. It was actually much colder than expected.

The road wasn't snow removed up to the Nakachaya gate. But from the gate, the road was recently snow removed. He climbs in a more or less good condition.

The katabatic wind is strong in spite of a hibernal atmospheric pattern with high-pressure area to the west and low-pressure area to the east.

He already feel stinging sensation to his throat even at a low altitude because of the low temperature. He began to sense it's not normal. The temperature goes down very rapidly.

The mouthpiece of the bottle was once frozen. But he successfully melted it at the altitude of around 800m.


The hard rime begins at the altitude of 1050m. The surface of the speed metre's display freezes in the katabatic valley. The katabatic wind is very strong in the valley.


Quitting the valley, usually the temperature goes up. But it's different this day.


The katabatic wind becomes stronger passing the altitude of 1100m.


As it began to be fine even on the mountains, strong and fast radiative cooling occurs at this altitude and it's descending very fast. So the katabatic wind becomes very strong. He has to climb against a strong head wind which is katabatic wind. The temperature is going down really rapidly.


Cold. It's really cold. It's becoming colder and colder gaining altitude.


The rear wheel spinned several times passing the last part of the climb which is very steep and hairpin curves as the hard ice was hidden under the fresh snow.


The sun is appearing between clouds.




View from the Mt.Tokachidake Hot Springs. In the valley beneath which is the path of katabatic winds, continuous sounds of frost crack arereverberating. He had heard only once the sound of frost crack before reaching the bifurcation but he head more than 10 times after passing the bifurcation. It's very rare to hear the sound of frost crack at this altitude as it's warmer than the bottom of the basin because of radiative cooling.


Diamond dust is falling from the sky. It means the temperature is super low. K din't expect such a low temperature.


He went down to the altitude of 1150m and climbed again.


It's colder than the first climbing. Peripheral parts of the body feel really cold. If he had known that, he would have prepared himeself for such a cold condition.


He did sprint training several times.




The road surface condition isn't so bad on the descent.


K and the Mt.Furanodake (Mt.Furano).


The Mt.Furanodake is going to be covered with cloud.


The hard rime is still beautifull.




After passing the bifurcation, the road surface is still not bad. However, it's a bit muddy, especially around the left rut.

He was asked to stop once due to snow removal operation. But they let him go soon. After passing the mid of the descent, the road surface became well compacted snow. He can safely pass the corners at the speed of more than 50km/h.