Minamiuonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, along with neighboring Tsunan Town and Yuzawa Town, is called a heavy snowfall area.
Here, there are ski resorts familiar to skiers in the Kanto region, such as Ishiuchi Maruyama, Maiko, and Hakkaisan.
Among these, there is a local ski resort that hides the fascinating mentsuru powder area.
That is Muika Snow Resort .
If you head north on the Kanetsu Expressway, you'll find the Gunma and Yuzawa area ski resorts first, followed by the major ski resorts of Maiko, Ishiuchi, and Joetsu Kokusai.
However, because it is close to Niigata City and Nagaoka City, there are more visitors from within the prefecture.
Muika has long been used as a ski slope for beginners, and has become popular as a place for ski lessons for students on school excursions from inside and outside the prefecture and for local elementary, junior high and high school students.
The slopes are gentle, so it's a perfect ski resort for beginners who want to start with Bogen.
For that reason, Muika has a strong image of being a place for beginners and intermediate skiers, and many people say that they will go to other ski resorts once they can ski to some extent.
However, it is said that this slope has been reborn since the 20th season. And I hear rumors from locals that the reborn Muika is actually really good. This area, which has been overlooked by advanced skiers so far, is about to turn into a new powder area in the Kanto region.
A 1,500m-long non-compact snow powder area that suddenly appeared on the slopes for beginners
Muika used to be a slope for beginners and intermediate skiers with three lifts, but two things have changed significantly in recent years. One is that the former No. 6 lift area at the top of the mountain has become an off-piste field for hikes. The second is the opening of the application mountain course outside the controlled area.
For the off-piste field, go down the third pair lift and hike about 150m (about 15 minutes) to the top of the ski resort (748m), where you can ski on an uncompacted snow course. Muika has a distinctive mountain shape with a sparse forest area like the forest line, even though the altitude near the summit is less than 1000m. If you hike up to the off-piste field, you will find a mysterious world with trees scattered in the vast slopes.
The world of one white silver becomes all-you-can-slide.
This hike-up zone is only covered by a snow compactor, so you can even walk on your feet.
However, it's a bit difficult to walk on a day when it snows buff buff. On days with a lot of snow, it's safer to bring climbing skins and snowshoes. Also, since the hiking distance is only 150m, it is also recommended for those who want to wear climbing skins and practice walking before going out to the full-scale backcountry.
To the uncontrolled application mountain course where fascinating slopes spread
The unmanaged application mountain course on the right side of the ski resort is a spot that locals call a little-known spot. According to old ski resort materials, this area is called the "MS course," and it was a list of courses.
Therefore, it is a ridge where the scenery is open while trees are growing here and there. It is a freeride slope that is not flat and allows you to enjoy the natural terrain as it is.
After going up the hike-up zone, the summit is 748m above sea level, with an elevation difference of 400m from the base.
If you ski non-stop from the mountaintop to the non-controlled mountain course, you can do a super long run of 1500m in total length. This is a fairly long range compared to other lift-access backcountry areas at ski resorts. The boundaries of the area are marked with a pole on the left side and a pink ribbon on the right side, so be careful not to go beyond them.
Please watch the video for the whole picture.
We interviewed Mr. Yagi, who oversees the operation of the ski resort, about how Muika's off-piste, non-controlled mountain course, which had been recognized as a slope for beginners and beginners, was opened.
"When I was riding the lift at the ski resort for a long time, I was worried about the slope on the right side. So I looked up old materials and found that it was used as a course in the past. When I went to investigate, I found that there was an environment similar to an open barn with wide intervals between trees, and I thought that this would be a place that customers would surely enjoy, so I applied to the relevant parties to open it. To be honest, I also love skiing, so I have a strong desire to ski (laughs), but
since it is outside the controlled area, please judge whether it is suitable for your skiing ability. , You will come at your own risk, but I would like people who want to start backcountry skiing more and more from now on.”
In order to enter this unmanaged application mountain course, it is necessary to apply in advance at the ticket window of Muika Ski Resort and wear an armband. (A deposit of 1000 yen is required for the armband. It will be refunded when the armband is returned.)
The feature of this powder area is that it has a gentle slope.
It's not a place where you can do hard steep slopes and dense tree runs, but it's a field with wide and gentle slopes that you can enjoy cruising. Of course, there are places where it becomes steep, but it is not a difficult slope. This is a perfect area for people who are unsure about skiing in the backcountry or who are unfamiliar with skiing, as it is easy to come to ski.
Ken Hirose, who has participated in the FWQ, a festival of freeride skiing, said as follows.
"Muika is a gentle slope, so even those who are not good at skiing steep slopes can come here without worrying about it. Because it can be reached by hiking in 15 minutes, those who are unfamiliar with backcountry and want to get used to it. If you ski from the off-piste area, it's a long 1,500m run.
A mountain course outside the management area of Muika Snow Resort that suddenly appeared on the slopes for beginners and intermediate skiers.
It is still a little-known spot, and it is also suitable as a practice place for those who want to start backcountry. As mentioned earlier, although the altitude is not high, it is a characteristic place that is not found in other areas because it is a sparse forest zone. Visitors will be amazed at the limitless possibilities of Muika.
(Right) Ken Hirose Born in Hokkaido, living in Gunma Prefecture.
He is active in the freeride competition scene with the technique cultivated in alpine skiing as a weapon. Based in Numata, Tatsuya Yagi visits various fields, including Mt. Tanigawa. He himself is a big fan of skiing, and while engaging in management duties, he continues to ski and discovers the possibilities of new ski resorts.
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