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 Start hiking up from the summit of Eboshi Resort
10:30 First run on open run while conditions are good
11:30 Climb back up and summit Eboshi-dake
12:00 Second run on open run
12:30 Traverse and third tree run
13:00 Fourth tree run
13:30 Fifth tree run
14:00 Traverse and return to the slopes of Eboshi Resort
14:30 Return to the bottom of the slope - 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
Of these, Mount Ushiroeboshi (1,681m above sea level) is a popular spot where you can hike up to the summit after a moderate amount of climbing, and from there you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Zao mountain range stretching north to south. Access is via lift up to around 1,300m above sea level, and the actual walking distance is just under 400m, so one of the great things about this tour is that it allows you to conserve your energy and focus on skiing.
The tour is led by ZAOC, a local guide in Miyagi Prefecture. He will show you a wide variety of routes and slopes from Hachimantai to the mountains of Miyagi Prefecture.
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, we put away our climbing skins and it was time to ski. We skied down the open run we'd seen on the way up again, then traversed about 100m south and skied through the tree line.
The atmosphere here is different from the open run, and we could enjoy the varied terrain and slopes with varying degrees of steepness. There were mush, undulations, and streams in the tree line, and there were lines that even advanced skiers could enjoy.
As we were in the forest, there was plenty of snow left. We skied down here, searching for about three slopes that looked good.
Once you've skied down the treetops, your ski time is over. Traverse north and head towards the slopes of Eboshi Resort. After traversing, 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 7000 yen |
| Reservation/Inquiry | mail@zaoc.org |
*Information as of February 20, 2022
Interviewed and written by Daigo Onozuka