Horokanai Takadomari-yama (from Horokanai Pass, Hokkaido, Japan)

  Takadomari-yama 鷹泊山 (654m) offer excellent dry powder skiing, with slopes perfect for lapping. Here we overview an alternative northwest approach to the peak starting from Horokanai Pass 幌加内峠. While the Etanbetsu Pass 江丹別峠 approach is flatter, both approaches are similar distances, with the Horokanai Pass route offering some enjoyable downhill skiing on the descent back to the trailhead. Regardless of the approach, the large bowl east of the peak offers a smorgasbord of lappable terrain, with classic cold-and-dry Horokanai powder snow that will not disappoint.  

  As mentioned above, this route is a less-travelled complement to the more common approach to Takadomari-yama from Etanbetsu pass. For frequent visitors to Takadomari-yama, who are visiting solely for lapping the western and northern aspects of the western bowl, the Etanbetsu Pass route will always be the more straight forward option. That said, this Horokanai Pass route allows for a little more downhill fun on the descent. While not particularly steep on the descent back down to Horokanai Pass, there are some playful open areas. The 444m knob part way through the route poses a challenge in route-finding to avoid having to climb it again on the descent, but overall it’s an interesting minor alternative route with some nice forest scenery along the way.