Echigo Country Trail 2025 – Entries Now Open!

Hey there!

February hit us with what was called the strongest cold wave in recent years. But after that, we finally got a calm weekend, so I headed out to Oguni Forest Park to check things out. The view of Mt. Hachikokuyama was amazing!

　This time, I’d like to introduce you to Oguni Forest Park in its full winter glory.

I strapped on my snowshoes and ventured deep into the park. And guess what? The building we use for race check-in every year was almost entirely buried in snow!

The course map sign, which we usually have to look up at during race season, now felt like I had to look down at it. That’s how much snow we’re talking about—probably around a meter deep in this area.

　The further I went, the deeper the snow got. I was half-expecting to see enough snow piled up to step over power lines, but luckily, it didn’t go that far. The power lines were about chest-high, and the public restroom building? Only the tip of the roof was peeking out.

　One of the trail signs was barely visible, too. That’s when it hit me—this time of year, you can actually see the remains of Oguni Castle (which stood here about a thousand years ago) from this spot. Check out the red circle in the photo!

　It got me thinking… Back in the days before cars, did it even matter where you lived? There aren’t any open fields nearby for farming, so they must have carried food all the way from a nearby village. Did they hike along that ridge even in winter? People back then were seriously tough!

　By the way, this is what the path looks like so far. It may seem like we’re walking through a forest, but this is actually an unpaved road that cars can usually pass through—though it might not be so obvious at first glance.

　Since I wasn’t exactly dressed for a full-on expedition to Oguni-Sawa Castle ruins, I called it a day there. But hey, at least I got a solid workout in!

We can’t wait to welcome you to Echigo Country Trail 2025! Don’t forget to sign up!