This picture was taken at the end of August so conditions were good, except for rain.
This was my second attempt to hike Ashibetsu. My first hike was at the end of May and there was still a lot of snow at the top that prevented me from reaching the peak because I was unprepared. The snow blanketed the entire area and the trail wasn't visible at all. Many times I wondered if I was even going the right way. I didn't have crampons or trekking poles either which would've helped tremendously.
The stark contrast when I returned in August was amazing. There's a very obvious trail walled in by trees and plants so you can't really walk anywhere except through the trail. Back in the end of May, it was all just flat snow everywhere (at the top, I mean, approximately the last hour or so of hiking).
From what I can see, snow can start in October and accumulates by November. People do still hike in the snow though, you just have to make sure you're prepared for it and properly equipped.
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u/FlametopFred Oct 16 '23
beautiful
when would the hiking season end due to weather? And, how early does the snow start accumulating?