Training Report - Mikuni Pass

K participated in this training. It was minus 14 degrees Celsius at the summit of the Mikuni Pass which is the highest motorable pass in Hokkaido of which the altitude is 1139m. The travelled distance was 25km.

It's first time to ride on the Mikuni Pass in winter, which is the highest motorable pass in Hokkaido. We once rode on the other side of the the Mikuni Pass in summer (cf. Ginsendai - Mikuni Pass) but never rode this side. The Mikuni Pass means "a pass over three provinces" in Japanese. The Mikuni Pass is situated over the Former Ishikari Province (Ishikari-koku), the Former Kitami Province (Kitami-koku) and the Former Tokachi Province (Tokachi-koku). This Tokachi-koku side has fewer snow than the Ishikari-koku side.

Climbing from the Nukabira side.

The road is not steep at all.

Between the altitude of 800-900m, there is very few snow on the road. The studs of tires easily attain the asphalt. So he rides choosing parts where there is more snow.

The road he is going to pass appears overhead more and more from the clouds of snowfall.

Crossing the Matsumi-Ohashi Bridge, he is accelerating.

The road is going to turn 180 degrees. So we can see the road he is going to climb.

Seasonal west winds are superstrong on the bridge. So he raised the face cover as his face had got too cold. Passing the altitude of 1000m, the climate becomes suddenly severe.

After passing the part which turns 180 degrees, he stopped the bike and looked down the road he had just passed. View of the Matsumi-Ohashi Bridge. The view of the Matsumi-Ohashi Bridge from here is very famous.

Final approach to the summit.

Sprint to the summit.

The summit of the Mikuni Pass.

He began to descend.

He stopped once again to admire the view of the Matsumi-Ohashi Bridge.

Passing the Matsumi-Ohashi Bridge.

Between the altitude of 800-900m, there is fewer snow than the climbing lane. He has to descend carefully not to damage the studs of tires avoiding the asphalt.