Training Report - Mt.Tokachidake (Mt.Tokachi) 91

K participated in this training. It was minus 28 degrees Celsius in the KTV (katabatic valley) and minus 23 degrees Celsius at the Tokachidake Hot Springs (Tokachidake Onsen). The travelled distance was 29km. The maximal velocity was 69.2km/h.

It was minus 24 degrees Celsius at the foot of the mountain.

He thought there would be a ground inversion layer. So he didn't wear warm. But the ground inversion layer was much weaker than expected as the mountains were covered with clouds. So he's feeling cold. The rear hydraulic brake became very heavy as the fluidity of mineral oil became low because of the low temperature but still functional. The state of road is rather good. He drinks the content of bottle as fast as possible before it will be frozen.

Climbing aginst katabatic winds. At the altitude of 700m, the opening of the bottle was frozen but K succeeded in melting the ice struggling with it for 3 or 4 minutes.

The bottle is completely frozen at this altitude.

There are no cloud on the basin but the mountains are still covered with clouds. It's extremely cold in the KTV. The katabatic winds aren't so strong but they are extremely cold. The surface of the cycle-computer is frozen because of this cold.

Quitting the KTV, the temperature goes up and the rime on the cycle-computer is gone soon. Something is falling from the sky. We can't determine it's snow or diamond dust. It seems the layer of cloud is thin. So it might be diamond dust.

He does sprint training at maximal power at the altitude of 1200m where the road is not so steep.

Snow crystals on the display of cycle-computer are beautiful.

As the road surface state is not but, it's easy to climb the steep parts.

Interval sprint training at the summit.

As the clouds' layer seems thin, he thought clouds would be gone. So he waited for a half hour the clouds are gone doing his interval training.

But the clouds aren't moving away. So he decided to go back and began to descend.

Trees are heavily covered with hard rime and snow. So-called "snow monsters" are forming.

Continues to descend.

Suddenly he sees the clouds are going up.

He made U-turn and climbed up again to the summit in order to enjoy the view of the mountains.

When he arrived to the summit again, the Mt.Furanodake was still covered with clouds.

He's waiting the clouds be gone doing interval sprint training at the summit.

The clouds are dissipating.

Waiting the clouds to be gone but the summit of the Mt.Furanodake (Mt.Furano) is still covered with clouds.

He is convinced that the summit isn't going to show up soon. So he decides to go back after the interval training several times more.

The second descent.

Something is falling from the sky. It seems snow but there is no cloud above him. Is it the diamond dust?

As the road state isn't bad, the descent is rather smooth. Some parts are muddy but they don't take the tires. However, the katabatic winds have already ceased. So he can't speed much. He has to descend at speeds less than 70km/h in the straight and at 50km/h in the corners.