 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Sweet pics Mag Seven
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Well well well, it seems at least for a day or two, the snow is relenting! We still haven't had a day without snowfall since mid December, but it may well happen tomorrow or Friday. After the ridiculous amounts we've received, the sun came out yesterday and I went out for a little tour in the hills behind my town.
Skinning around a dry lake bed to reach some mellow hills for some turns.
Was actually really nice to see blue sky, the trees were all covered in snow. It was a beautiful morning.
With a load of snow, and Hipstamatic, even a toilet block can look picturesque!
Don't worry though, it looks like after a couple of clear days, normal service will be resumed Saturday, with more decent snowfalls over the weekend. For now, I'm thankful for the break from shovelling snow!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Can anyone tell me when the Mizuno no Sawa Programme runs and is the 10 min lecture in English or Japanese???
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
kitenski, it's at 930 and 1230 daily. In Japanese but haphazardly translated. It doesn't say much so language is kinda irrelevant. They're talking about opening it up more generally at the end of Jan so you don't have to go through with ski patrol.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
thebongolian, daily? That's curious! I told it was ever week or so when I was in Niseko last Feb. Probably a language barrier thing!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
thebongolian, Cheers!! Where is best to check if the new rules come in at end of jan???
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
rob@rar, definitely daily I've been through three times in the last week.
kitenski, I think you'll still need to do the lecture to be allowed in so just rock up to the old gondola station at 9:30 or 12:30 to find out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Love the second pic. Sugoi
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Mike Pow, some hardcore photoslutting was involved in all those photos...
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
thebongolian, I get "This photo is currently unavailable" for all your pics posted yesterday???
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
kitenski, hmmm. Think flickr may limit the number of times you can link to a photo. You look at them directly here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
I suspect flickr gets blocked by some corporate firewalls as I couldn't see those pics either when at work today. It was worth the wait though. Great pics.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
Slovakia has been goo so far and i have had loads of fun so far but from the pics japan is mental.
WOW THAT IS A LOT OF SNOW.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Great pics magseven.
Interested to hear what shape Racey is in.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Sweet pics thebongolian.
The snow might be average there at the moment (the gully off the back is where the better conditions are), but you're very lucky to get the sunshine and views at this time of year.
Looks like normal service is resuming some time today.
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Sat 21-01-12 7:19; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
thebongolian, nice pics, is that all out of a gate stuff and did you need your skins?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mike Pow, thanks. There looked to be some nice stuff on north and north-east aspects. Didn't want to hit those sides yesterday but hopefully enough people will have to break up the surface hoar. Really lucky to have a sunny, low-risk day to get into the BC and figure out the lay of the land and plug some key points into my GPS.
kitenski, it's all out of the gates. The lines in the first pic are off the peak so no skins needed if you don't drop too low to traverse back into the area. The others you need skins or snowshoes to access.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
thebongolian, Definitely cool to meet somewhere for a ski if it's a weekend. As for recommendations, depends how much time you have for traveling round. I haven't been to either of these, so it's second hand beta. There's a cat skiing operation at the old Kita Taisetsu ski area, they get some of the driest powder on the island. Also in that area I've heard good reports about a 1 lift place called Horotachi which is small but always empty and untracked.
Mike Pow, didn't make it to Racey today, so no info. Had a reality check that I'm running a marathon in 5 weeks time so really needed to get out running today while the snow on the pavements is nice and compact! Can't rely on treadmills and ski touring!
Still sunny, but does look to be clouding over, hopefully will start snowing this evening. It isn't "much needed" but it'd certainly be nice to get some more snow!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
“Hi how is it going?
I plan to go skiing in Niseko sometime next month or beginning of March. I thought it’d be great if you could give me some suggestions about places to stay and itinerary. I am travelling from Shanghai (direct flight to Sapporo Chitose Airport), and some of the places I’ve been looking at re accommodation are Hilton Niseko Village, Hotel Niseko Alpen and Green Leaf Niseko Village. They all look good in appearance (and also expensive). I’ll probably be travelling alone or with a friend, and I would need to rent the equipment. I know that different hotels / apartments have different access to the slopes. What do you think, any recommendation/opinion? My level is quite good but not really a free-rider, and I also thought I might need a guide through the pistes. And by now I know the weekend of 18th Feb is not good due to snow week in Japan…
Well, thanks a lot, enjoy your powder!!”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
metalhead132, I've spent a few days skiing in Niseko for the last four season in a row and will hitting up my fifth trip in about five week's time. My advice to you, espeically if this is your first trip and you won't have access to a car, is stay in Hirafu Village, regardless of your budget and the class of accommodation you're looking for.
http://www.powderhounds.com/site/DefaultSite/filesystem/documents/NisekoVillageMap2011.pdf
I've stayed in both the Yumoto Niseko Prince Hotel Hirafu-tei (D1-D2) and The Vale Niseko (C2) and can recommend both, although my preference lies toward the Vale. Both have their own Onsen and sit alongside Grand Hirafu's Ace Family Pair run, providing direct access to it. I can also recommend the New White Bear pension lodge (D3-E3) if you need a more budget option.
While I'm sure the hotels in Niseko Village are great, that is pretty all that is there, and unless you have a car you'll be fairly isolated and have very limited options regarding restaurants, bars and other facilities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Ordinary_Skiier,
Thanks!!
Better lodging in hirafu.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
My first time in Niseko - love it!
Anyone here at the moment?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eyeballing the accumulation on my deck in the past 24 hrs and the channel the plough just made on the road outside my cabin in Hiashiyama I'd say we've had a very conservative 24 cm in the past 24 hrs.
Not a huge amount, but it's still coming down hard and the lifts don't open for another 2 hrs or so.
Combine the snowfall with the surface hoar layer, the gusts of wind and the rapid increase in temperature yesterday afternoon to evening and I'll be very surprised if they open the Niseko Resort Area gates today.
And if they do, then go with someone who knows the area and take avalanche rescue equipment.
Not the day to be out in the backcountry IMHO.
Me, I'm heading to Kiroro 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
Are there any decent forecast sites for Niseko?? Snow-forecast seems to have a single snow flake every day 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
When we finished today the snow was falling very heavily. It snowed all the day, there was some sunshine in parts but it never stopped snowing, although varied in intensity! Wind wasn't quite as strong today. It's seriously cold!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
kitenski, busy here is not busy by any other country's standard!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
beanie1, counting the days til I get there!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
kitenski, have you been before?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I've been to Tokyo with work, never for skiing!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
kitenski, you are in for a treat. I have never experienced anything close to this. It is a powder day every. single. day. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
beanie1, I certainly hope so, I am trying to play down the hype in my mind! Got any top tips??
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
kitenski, come back next year.
Seriously - wrap up warm cos it's v cold here. Try not to stress about how skiing here too often will make you a bad skier, because it's all so easy.
I'll come back with some practical tips!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
