Training Report - Orofure Pass

It's first time we train on the Orofure Pass in winter. The Orofure Pass is situated at the Pacific side of the island Hokkaido. So it snows less than our usual training routes. However, the Sobetsu side of the pass has more snow than the Noboribetsu side which is on the Pacific side.

This day, the sunshine was strong so we worried about the snow condition on the road. The snow on the road would be melt in the afternoon at the low altitude. So we climed to the parking situated at 680m of altitude by car and began training there.

At first, we descended to the altitude of 520m.



Dr.K is a little falling behind.



Our climbing has begun.

Dr.K.


K.


Crossing a big bridge.


The Lake Toya where the G8-Summit 2008 was held entered the view.


Reaching the region where trees scarcely exist because of strong seasonal winds.


Snow fences? or avalanche fences?


View from the route is really magnific.


Typical view of Hokkaido.


The composite volcano Mt.Yotei which was cloud covered is emerging.


Up there, at the high altitude, trees are hard rime covered. We are going to see it closely.


The most northern ice-free caldera lake in Japan: Toya spreads behind us.


The active volcano: Mt.Usu entered the view.


The Mt.Usu is still in sight. So far, we were climbing talking together but Dr.K began to drop out.


Some branches of trees are leant by the weight of snow, which hit passing cars.


Reaching the altitude where the trees are covered of hard rime.


The hard rime is really beautiful.


The Orofure Pass is known for hard rime because of humide winds from the Pacific.


Dr.K tries to minimise the gap.


K arrived first to the summit of the Orofure Pass of which the altitude is 890m. Aroud the summit, we saw many photographers which were taking pictures of hard rime.



Dr.K arrived to the summit 2 minutes 39 seconds later.



We passed the Orofure Tunnel and began to descend passing several shelters.

We descended up to the altitude of 680m and K arrived there first.


Dr.K arrived 3 minutes 9 seconds later.


We made a U turn there and climbed the Orofure Pass again from the Noboribetsu side.


The taillamp is fully operatioinal in order to be recognised from cars in the shelters and the tunnels.


Passing one of the shelters.


The snow was brought by winds even to the bottom of the shelter.


According to the pannel, 7 km to the old Orofure Pass. But less then 5 km to the current Orofure Pass.


Entering the final shelter which is fused with the Orofure Tunnel.


Approaching the summit.


It began to snow.


We passed the summit of the Orofure Pass without event.


K at the Orofure Pass.


We soon started to descend.

K arrived first to the original point.



Dr.K arrived 3 minutes 3 seconds later.



The snow road racing bikes and the Lake Toya,