muikabochi 208 Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 After literally weeks of careful planning, and contemplating it's difficult-ness, muikabochess and myself decided to hike Mt Granview today. As well as wanting to see all the new developments at Mt Granview, it was just one of those things that you just need to do. So today was the day. Clothes and equipment (tent, pick-axes, thermals, food and drink supplies etc) at the ready, we got up early and started our ascent. At about 10am. It was going to be tight getting there and back in the day but we started at a brisk pace. Going back slightly though, the first problem was the sign at the base.... basically saying not to go up there. Secrets, you see. Definitely things they don't want you to see. And I'll try to keep their secrets with these pics. Happily, a local gave us permission so we made our way up. So we got to the base of the ski-jo itself and it was looking as magnificent as ever. Not many people so it must just have been the workers day off. But as you can see machines everywhere and signs of activity. Of course, Mt Granview gets some of the earliest, and probably the best powder snow in Japan - so they need to be ready. Onwards and upwards, and looking back towards base The lifts looking very... green! This is the very top lift and it looks like it is need of some work.... perhaps when they finish installing all the new stuff (gondola, etc). (It wasn't like this last season, so I hope they can get it fixed up in time) Nothing a bit of adjusting and a lick of paint can't fix. And some trimmers Facilities at the top. Again, in need of a lick of paint Now this is actually walking up above the current top lift. There is a single lift here, but they haven't been using it the last few years. It's one of their '7 lifts'. A glimpse of the new modern telecommunications systems that they are installing..... Kireteiru Cheese @ Mt Granview Looks like they have developed an outdoor swimming pool as well! Probably one of the new selling points in the coming winter season. Lodge, er, Echi! All in all, a magnificent hike. We were able to get down by 11:30, so for such a challenging peak an impressive time I would say. Highly recommended. Obviously. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
@tokyo 14 Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Swimming pool looks good. You'd think they would put that sign in English as well, what with all the foreign market turning up. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 They look proud, somehow. Proud to be green perhaps: Certainly need a pool to be a proper all-seasons resort. Good job with the cheese! Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 How many of the lodges looked to be occupied, by the way? Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Certainly looks like they are going for that All Year Resort feel. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 8, 2012 Author Share Posted October 8, 2012 How many of the lodges looked to be occupied, by the way? Hmm difficult one that. In the below photo there's I think 3 places starting with the white one in the middle and the ones to the right of it. They actually look fairly decent and as if they are open. Dotted around the mountain though and to the side (going off to the left of the photo below) there are probably 20-30 or so buildings and while some seemed to have cars parked outside and perhaps people live there (?), others were in a terrible state and frankly a safety hazard. As shown in the photos previously. Of course they will either be re-developing those and just haven't got round to it, surely. We wanted to ask someone about the skijo but there was just no-one around! Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 I know what you did there! Link to post Share on other sites
Wizz 11 Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Awesome Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 Good to see that the liftie cabins have a little sleep in the off season! Link to post Share on other sites
xxx 2 Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 The pool! Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted October 8, 2012 Share Posted October 8, 2012 I know what you did there! Lodge Echigo, surely?! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 8, 2012 Author Share Posted October 8, 2012 I must have cut the bottom of the sign off! Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 I noticed this one as well muikabochi Presumably taken at Mt Granview. I can see the obvious resemblances and connections that Mt Granview has with Grindelwald. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 9, 2012 Share Posted October 9, 2012 I noticed this one as well muikabochi Presumably taken at Mt Granview. I can see the obvious resemblances and connections that Mt Granview has with Grindelwald. Thats a spectacular photo!!! I'd love to have 1 of those lodges at Mt Granview....I'd deffo be living the dream then Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 9, 2012 Author Share Posted October 9, 2012 I've never been to Grindelwald but the snow is definitely much better at Mt Granview, as well as the onsen, swimming.... And scenery, and everything else actually. The perfect All Year Resort, basically. Link to post Share on other sites
TheOrange 0 Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Always interesting to see. But seriously -------- will it open this season? Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Don't be silly! New gondola, duh! Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Wow.....sobering. I love that phone. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 10, 2012 Author Share Posted October 10, 2012 You's just jealous you don't live nearby. Link to post Share on other sites
veronica 2 Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Very interesting, Muikabochi. I hope they survive! Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Maybe they should see if the Thais are interested. Great photos Seemore Link to post Share on other sites
snowbender 3 Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 There's surely tons of people interested. Is it available to them though, thats the question. Link to post Share on other sites
634-maru 4 Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 Sounds like the mammoth effort was rewarded with lots of Mt Granview goodness. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted October 12, 2012 Author Share Posted October 12, 2012 It was quite the effort, 634. Though as I said we did make preparations but were quite surprised not to see a glacier or at least deep snow up there. Link to post Share on other sites
Wizz 11 Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 That'll be next week perhaps, or the week after. Link to post Share on other sites
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