Echigo Country Trail 2024 Entry Registration Open

Hello, it’s been a while! Today, I’d like to share with you the beauty of Oguni Forest Park, which will serve as the Start & Finish for the Echigo Country Trail 2024.
Yesterday, taking advantage of the wonderful weather, I visited the park for a snowshoe hike starting from the Yourakukan hot spring facility.

Parking my car at Yourakukan, which was closed for the day, I had the snowy landscape all to myself. The morning sun had left the snow frozen, allowing for a comfortable snowshoe walk.

Parking my car at Yourakukan, which was closed for the day, I had the snowy landscape all to myself. The morning sun had left the snow frozen, allowing for a comfortable snowshoe walk. The snow accumulation in the square where the Start & Finish gates will be set up was around 40cm to 50cm. Although the benches in front of the outdoor stage were buried in snow, it wasn’t deep enough to touch the power lines.

Despite a bit less snow than usual this year, the scene was still enchanting

Now, let me shift your attention to the Echigo Country Trail 2024. Entry registration is currently open!

Highlighted on the picture is the challenging Hachikoku-mountain, the highest point on the 63km route. Just heading straight from there feels like a long journey, doesn’t it?