As is so often the case, Sapporo-dake was a peak I’d been to the summit of in winter on skis, but I’d not been in the non-snow season. So five of us set off from the trailhead rather late in the morning one Saturday. The first stand of dead-straight conifers was reminiscent of when I skied through them in winter.
It was already autumn for this current trip. The autumn colors were a nice accent to the babbling brook on the valley floor.
Before long, we arrived at the hut. It just so happened there was a Hokkai Gakuen University hutkeeper there – Hokkai Gakuen University owns and manages the hut. Usually, it’s not possible to stay in the hut during the non-snow months, so it was nice to see it open. We had a look around.
By the time we got to the hut, it was getting on in the day. Four of us hurried on to the summit, while one of the team started their unhurried descent back to the trailhead. There wasn’t much to see at the summit anyway, with low cloud and a strong gale blowing. We made a hasty retreat, and got back to the car just after our more wise companion had arrived back at the trailhead.
