Training Report - Mt.Tokachidake (Mt.Tokachi) 53

He forgot to bring the anti-fog protector band (cf. Mt.Tokachidake 29) this time. But as the temperature is not so low, it would be ok without it.
Just before the commencement of the training, a snowplough passed. So the road surface state isn't bad.


As he forgot the anti-fog protector band, the glasses get fogged easily in the fair winds. Trees are covered with hard rime above the altitude of 800m.



He is going to enter the cloud at the altitude of 950m.


Traffic signs are covered with hard rime which was formed by the intense fog.


Entering the KTV (katabatic valley). Trees are heavily covered with thick hard rime.



Supercooled water of the fog causes rime everywhere percussing the surfaces of everything. The display of the cyclo-computer became illegible because of the rime covering the display. The display of the camera became illegble as well because of the rime. The brake disks are covered with hard rime as well. Therefore, the brakes do not work effectively. Moreover, the brake wires are frozen because of the rime. So the brake pads do not retract anymore. In consequence, the brake pads are always in contact with the brake disks. He tries to break the contact rotating the adjustment dials. But they are frozen because of the rime as well. Every thing is now covered with hard rime.


Sprint training at the altitude of 1150m.


Sprint training at the summit.


The sight is blured because of the rime on the glass' lenses.


The Tokachidake Hot Springs.



He did another sprint training to the summit several times more. He thinks he should have worn more gloves. Because he feels cold to his hands in spite of the high temperature. It's because of supercooled wather of the fog. It penetrates into the tissues and cools down inside the tissues.


Preparing for the descent.


The road surface state isn't bad. He can speed a little.






The traffic signes are heavily hard rime covered.


Impressive view of hard rime.



He parked his bike to admire the view of hard rime. The rime covers his bike's console.



After passing the bifurcation, the road is still covered thick fresh snow. So the tires often drift in the corners. However, he is now used to these Schwalbe's tires (cf. Mt.Tokachidake 25). He can pass every corners at the speed 50km/h despite fresh snow.

In the middle of descent, an Impreza of Subaru caught him up in a straight. It's very difficult to catch up a bike on a descent for cars. But that's Subaru which has very good reputation of manoeuvrability on the snow like as Audi Quattro. So it was feasible. However, bikes are faster in the corners so the Subaru is left behind in every corner but catches him up in every straight. After repeating this exchange many time, the Subaru passed him in a straight at the foot of the mountain.