Went to Kiroro today and with the 30cm from yesterday mixed with the 30cm today got (gondola was closed yesterday).. Today was all time. Fresh lines until closing time. Faceshot galore. The usual Japow treatment.. Whilst Niseko's top was closed! Fantastic.
You did right
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Day 75 at Kiroro: Tuesday 03 February 2015
30 cm in the past 24hrs at the base of Kiroro (570m asl)
THE DAY OF THE SEASON - SO FAR!
It was a fantastic day on the slopes with dry, light powder snow all over the mountain. All day.
@MagSeven, just seems to be Kiroro! Niseko isn't great.. Miwuna No Sawa was decent in the morning.. Bit heavy and 20-30cm on crust. They opened the peaks and Annupuri side was just . Snow doesn't look likely until the weekend. Monday is last day in Hokkaido so may get lucky and get a quick morning of powder in before I head off.
Another clear day here. Although the temperature has dropped significantly. Down to the minus teens here. Even colder up in Asahikawa, down as low as -30 overnight. Beautiful weather, but we NEED MORE SNOW!
Nice views over the Ishikari River as it's starting to freeze over
Hopefully some snow come Friday evening and through the weekend. I'm heading to Rusutsu on Saturday, hoping to get reacquainted with some of that powder snow stuff.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@Mike Pow, I'm just doing some final dreaming before the flight in the morning. Sunday looks like the most promising Japow day. Can't wait.
After all it is free
After all it is free
See you in a couple of hours.
Your timing could be perfect
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Mhmm... I always hear mid-end Jan is best time to come but in last three years it's been the driest time. No significant snow on the horizon.. may get one more powder day before I leave on Monday if the snow gods feel generous.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Day 76 at Kiroro: Wednesday 04 February 2015
10 cm in the past 24hrs at the base of Kiroro (570m asl)
Good day at Rusutsu today. Only a dusting overnight, so no real powder to be had, but we had a good time shredding through the trees and then a park session in the afternoon. Snowing on and off through the day, although it stopped in the mid afternoon. Tomorrow looks like it'll be a grotty day with really strong wind from the south and then heavy snowfall, especially tomorrow night. Was hoping to go to Teine, but I think the wind will keep the top lift shut, so we'll probably hit reliable Mount Racey in the morning!
East Mountain and Isola in the afternoon when the clouds cleared
Jibbing around in the trees. Getting used to some new skis.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
What is forecast to be quite possibly an all time monstrous dump has just started in Niseko. This roof was green one hour ago. Let's see what's on it in 24hrs.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
The snow was pretty heavy on the mountain today in the evening.. Temperatures going up so should be ok. Really windy tomorrow but Tuesday looks like it will be all time. Am sadly heading off tomorrow though.. lets hope flight doesn't get cancelled.
In other news. If you get fed up of refreshing the Niseko avalanche page / snow-reporting pages to find out the conditions/snow then.. "there's an app for that":
Grotty here today! Howling wind last night and drizzle/rain since lunchtime. The gondola was closed at Mount Racey but at least it was snowing up there. Quite heavily too, but quite moist.
Still some decent fun to be had in the sheltered gullies.
Looks like tomorrow should get real rowdy with lots of snow coming down. Heading up to Asahikawa on Tuesday for hopefully a couple of good days at Kamui mid week.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Roof update
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Day 77 at Kiroro: Thursday 05 February 2015
3 cm in the past 24hrs at the base of Kiroro (570m asl)
Mika, Menno & Tracy got the views and untracked powder on the descent.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Day 79 at Kiroro: Saturday 07 February 2015
2 cm in the past 24hrs at the base of Kiroro (570m asl)
Despite just 5cm of new snow in the past 72 hours, Johnnie Balfour of Scotland and currently Hong Kong enjoyed great powder on his first day skiing in Japan.
In Niseko at the moment. Was a little worried Sat/Sun that we wouldn't get much snow for the coming week (the forecasted dump over the weekend didn't really materialise). However over the course of yesterday and today a lot of snow has fallen and it's still coming down thick and fast - although supposed to stop soon.
Should provide good powder / chopped powder conditions for the next few days.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Day 81 at Kiroro: Monday 09 February 2015
30 cm in the past 24hrs at the base of Kiroro (570m asl)
After Sunday's shutdown due to gale force winds and heavy snow overnight, anticipation was high for turns this morning.
The upper lifts were still on wind hold but the Yoichi No 1 Express delivered us to the goods until stay at home dad of three Johnnie had to leave to get his flight back to Hong Kong.
Powder and sunshine, the perfect combo for what Johnnie descrbed as his 'day of the decade'.
In the words of Yogi Berra it was 'deja vu all over again' today.
The Nagamine 2 lift was running but the top lifts to the summit were still on wind hold.
The day started snowy, went bluebird for the afternoon, and then it started snowing again around 4.
And it was powder from start to finish.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@Mike Pow, Okay well that is just plain wrong
BTW Can you recommend a good Boot Dr in Niseko?
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Different story up here in Central! Really not much new snow at all. Yesterday we went to Kamoi-dake (Not to be confused with Kamui) nestled in the hills close to Takikawa. It's only a small place and it felt like East Coast US skiing - shortish runs through the trees, icy and cold! At least it was a cheap lift pass!
Kamoi-dake
Only T-bar I've ever seen in Hokkaido
Today we were at Kamui Ski Links. The snow was better, maybe 5-10cm overnight, but still nothing special.
A few patches of powder over the backside.
I've got a couple of mates over from the UK from tomorrow, so we'll be travelling around looking for the powder. I haven't seen any for a while! Hopefully once we're down south of Sapporo this snow drought will be but a distant memory!
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Guernseyfreerider wrote:
@Mike Pow, Okay well that is just plain wrong
BTW Can you recommend a good Boot Dr in Niseko?
Ned next door up from Rhythm
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Day 83 at Kiroro: Wednesday 11 February 2015
30 cm in the past 24hrs at the base of Kiroro (570m asl)
First time proper skiing with long time student and ski partner Ian this season.
And it was a cracker.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
It's been too long since I've ridden proper powder like that,@Mike Pow. Can't wait for Saturday at Kiroro, the forecast looks solid. We've entered the Powder Ride comp that's going on down there. Looking forward to it!
Had a sweet afternoon session today at Yubari after picking my mates up from the airport. Some fresh snow, which we made the most of before hitting the park jumps at sunset
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Get there (Niseko) Saturday. Can't wait.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Great shot.
Will get the camera ready for the comp
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Day 84 at Kiroro: Thursday 12 February 2015
3 cm in the past 24hrs at the base of Kiroro (570m asl)
KIRORO BACKCOUNTRY - '1107'
With a small weather window before the next storm I took the opportunity to ski tour from the resort to the summit of '1107', the triangular shaped peak standing impressively above the Family and Yoichi courses.
The views of the resort from the top of '1107' were great with knee deep powder on the descent.
Thanks for those photos @Mike Pow. I didn't realise quite so much of that cornice broke off behind me!
Real nice and deep down there at Kiroro on Saturday. A bit warm and heavy though, but after the drought we've had up north of Sapporo, I was more than happy. The Powder Ride Championship was a good laugh too. I got through to the final of three runs, but didn't place. Got this photo from the top of the course.
Today was super windy so most ski areas had their lifts closed for the day. We went out for a kicker session on a local golf course
Rusutsu over the past two days has been ok. Yesterday was windy with around 10cm of new snow. Some lifts had been closed but they opened up as the wind mellowed through the day. Today was a beautiful day, but with no fresh snow. It was very warm, temperatures around zero or slightly higher so the snow was heavy. We still had fun and enjoyed the views.
Some stashes of nice snow in sheltered and shaded spots.
Drops
Great views over to Yotei and Niseko
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Back at the desk after an amazing fortnight in Japan. Think we lucked in with Niseko last week as weeks before and after were and now look dry...we got plenty
Hakkoda prior to that (sorry wrong thread...Honshu) was pretty damn good too.
Few pics below from Niseko then a video of the Hakkoda snow ghosts.
If anyone wants more info about the details/costs/logistics of our trip please feel free to ask.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Day 89 at Kiroro: Tuesday 17 February 2015
2 cm in the past 24hrs at the base of Kiroro (570m asl)
KIRORO BACKCOUNTRY - PROPOSED SNOWCAT SKIING & SNOWCAT ASSISTED TOURING FOR 2015-16 WINTER SEASON
Kiroro Resort is in discussions with the Japanese Forest Service to introduce Snowcat Skiing & Snowcat Assisted Touring on the ridgeline and peaks above the Piano and Mountain Hotels for the 2015-16 winter season.
The snowcat will access open bowl and tree skiing with varying levels of steepness and difficulty that will suit strong intermediate skier & snowboarders through to experienced backcountry enthusiasts.
There will be a strong focus on ski / snowboard improvement, route selection and backcountry safety.
The past two days we've been exploring the terrain working out routes and timings.
Today the sun came out and I had the opportunity to ski tour and ski some of the terrain, runs and tours that will hopefully be part of the experience next winter.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
. Snow doesn't look likely until the weekend. Monday is last day in Hokkaido so may get lucky and get a quick morning of powder in before I head off.
after an amazing fortnight in Japan. Think we lucked in with Niseko last week as weeks before and after were and now look dry...we got plenty 
