Skiing through the spectacular scenery surrounded by frost-covered trees
The Zao mountain range stretches from north to south as the main ridge of the Ou Mountain Range. It spans Yamagata Prefecture and Miyagi Prefecture, and is affectionately known as "Yamagata Zao" and "Miyagi Zao," respectively. While you can enjoy scenic views such as frost-covered trees and Okama craters, the area is also blessed with abundant snowfall due to its geographical location, which absorbs humid air from the Sea of Japan. In this article, we will introduce the account of accompanying a backcountry tour led by guide club "ZAOC," which started from Miyagi Zao, which has a wealth of backcountry routes
[1 Day TOUR - Mt. Goeboshi-]
9:00 Meet at Miyagi Zao Eboshi Resort
9:30 Begin hiking up from the summit of Eboshi Resort
10:30 First run on the open slope while conditions are good
11:30 Climb back up and reach the summit of Goeboshidake
12:00 Second run on the open slope
12:30 Traverse and do a third run in the trees
13:00 Fourth run in the
13:30 Fifth run in the trees
14:00 Traverse and return to the Eboshi Resort slopes
14:30 Return to the bottom of the slopes - End
*This schedule is the full course, and the number of runs may vary depending on weather conditions and the number of participants
What is Miyagi Zao?
Miyagi Zao is home to three ski resorts: Shiroishi Ski Resort, Mountain Field Miyagi Zao Sumikawa, and Miyagi Zao Eboshi Resort. From the top of each slope, there are backcountry routes to Mt. Fubo, Mt. Katta, and Mt. Ushiroeboshi. The appeal of Miyagi Zao is the variety of places to ski, depending on the slope, weather, and snowfall
Among them, Mt. Goeboshi (1,681m) is particularly popular because you can reach the summit with a moderate hike, and from the top you can enjoy a panoramic view of the long Zao mountain range stretching from north to south. Accessing the summit by lift to an altitude of around 1,300m means that the actual walking distance is less than 400m in elevation difference, which is one of the advantages of this tour as it allows you to conserve energy and concentrate on skiing.
The tour is led by ZAOC, a local guide from Miyagi Prefecture. He will guide you through a variety of routes and slopes in the mountains of Miyagi Prefecture, starting from Hachimantai.
Backcountry skiing is also suitable for beginners
As soon as you leave the summit of Eboshi Resort, you'll walk through a forest. You can enjoy the scenery as you walk through a coniferous forest made up mainly of pine trees. The slope of the climb is relatively gentle, and the walking route is well-maintained, making it easy even for beginners
As you walk along the ridge towards Ushiroeboshidake and gradually gain altitude, the forest thins out and the scenery opens up. Looking back, you can see the town below, and in the distance, a spectacular view of the Sea of Japan and Matsushima. One of the charms of backcountry is being able to see special views that can only be seen on that day, views that you can't see at ski resorts
Enjoy the finest powder!
Let's enjoy some superb powder while the temperature is low and the conditions are good! So we decided to ski on the open run just before the summit. On this day, the surface was being buffeted a bit by the wind, but underneath was a layer of fluffy, powdery snow. Depending on the snowfall and wind conditions, it didn't seem too difficult to hit deep powder snow
Enjoy the spectacular view of Zao from the summit
Feeling fulfilled after the first track, we set off on another seal hike. This time, we aimed for the summit. After walking for about 30 minutes, we reached the summit. Usually, the trees around Ushiroeboshi-dake don't get frost-covered trees, but in 2022 they seemed to be growing well, and there were beautiful frost-covered trees scattered around. It felt easy and worthwhile to be able to see beautiful frost-covered trees after only an hour and a half of hiking
From the summit, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Zao mountain range. You can see from Mt. Fubo at the southern end to Mt. Karato at the northern end, and there is also a great view of Mt. Katta, where the Okama crater is located. The view of Mt. Byobu, which can be seen right in front of you, is particularly spectacular. Literally a "folding screen," the mountain rises up like a wall, creating a majestic atmosphere that keeps anyone away. Skiers who are confident in their skills may find the slopes fascinating
Open skiing, trees, natural terrain, and powder! Even advanced skiers will be satisfied
After enjoying the frost-covered trees and the view from the summit, I put away my climbing skins and it was time for skiing. I skied down the open slope I'd seen on the way up, then traversed about 100 meters south and skied through the trees.
This area had a different atmosphere from the open slope, offering a variety of terrain and varying gradients. With slush, undulations, and gully sections, there were lines that even advanced skiers could enjoy.
As it was in the forest, plenty of snow was preserved. I skied down here, searching for about three good slopes.
Once you've skied down the treetops, your ski time is over. Traverse north and head towards the slopes of Eboshi Resort. Once you've traversed, you'll arrive near the peak of the ski resort, so descend the trail and return to the parking lot to finish your tour
There are two types of runs: open runs and treetop runs. Among the treetop runs, there is the backcountry of Ushiroeboshidake, where you can ski through the rich natural terrain of the forest that is unique to backcountry skiing. The greatest attraction of this route is the magnificent view of Mt. Zao. There is not much hiking up, so it should be enjoyable for a relatively wide range of levels
Guided Tour Data
| Tour Name | Mount Ushiroeboshi Tour (ZAOC) |
| Average hike time | Approximately 1.5 hours |
| Guide Ratio | Guide 1-2: Guests 2-8 |
| Required equipment | Beacon, shovel, probe, climbing equipment, helmet (recommended) |
| Difficulty (required BC experience level) | BC beginner/intermediate skiers: Skiing skills are intermediate or above and can handle fresh snow |
| Participation fee | From 7,000 yen |
| Reservations and inquiries | mail@zaoc.org |
*Information as of February 20, 2022
Interviewed and written by Daigo Onozuka