Had a good start at Moiwa and then a good day at Rusutsu but no snow since the weekend and warmer temperatures mean pretty springy conditions. Very disappointed but making the most of the conditions with some ski touring. Fingers crossed for more snow but looks unlikely before the weekend. On the upside, my tree skiing (and loving!) has improved a lot.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Timmaah wrote:
Great idea! But please don't put gates in
Each resort has different agreements with the National Park authorities and/or Forest Service for which parts of the resort can and can't opened & managed.
Kiroro has seen a big increase in visitation this season from those wishing to ski off the groomed runs - easier to get to this season; curiosity; consistently better snow than other areas - but also a massive increase in the number of unprepared visitors getting stuck in holes and terrain traps.
For the 2015/16 winter season Kiroro is in talks with the Forest Service on the safest and best way to make the ungroomed, uncontrolled areas available.
The proposed snowcat operation will be on private land owned by Kiroro.
Access to the backcountry from Kiroro land will be controlled.
Once I know the particulars I'll let interested parties know.
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?
Decent day at Teine today, despite low expectations! A dusting overnight on top of a fairly soft base. Most of the trees hadn't been touched so the snow was nice and smooth. We spend most of our day in the more sheltered and lesser known bowls.
No real snow in the forecast and a nasty warm snap on Sunday. Really hoping for a change from these warm days that we've been having for the past few weeks.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@Rishie, let's hope so! Another relatively warm and dry day here in Central!
We went to the small and fairly unknown ski hill of Bibai today for something a bit different. Only 1 lift there but 5 or six different pistes and lots of fun little lines between them. The snow between the pistes was still in decent condition and we found lots of fun little hits to keep ourselves entertained for a morning.
Looking down from halfway up the ski area. No base lodge here!
Sort of powder snow between the pistes
Fun natural step up feature
Looks like a sunny day in the forecast for tomorrow.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Day 91 at Kiroro: Thursday 19 February 2015
0 cm in the past 24hrs at the base of Kiroro (570m asl)
KIRORO BACKCOUNTRY - PROPOSED SNOWCAT TOUR TO SAPPORO KOKUSAI SKI AREA FOR THE 2015-16 WINTER SEASON
Kiroro Resort is in discussions with the Japanese Forest Service to re-introduce Snowcat Tours between Kiroro Resort and Sapporo Kokusai Ski Area for the 2015-16 winter season.
The snowcat will take Kiroro guests from the Kiroro Gondola Summit station to the Sapporo Kokusai boundary and after a day's skiing, pick up at the top of the Sapporo Kokusai gondola for the ride back to Kiroro.
There will be a strong focus on ski / snowboard improvement, route selection and backcountry safety.
Today I had the opportunity to ski tour to and from Sapporo Kokusai to ski some of the terrain which will hopefully be part of the experience next winter.
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.
Cracking.
Sunset shots for the win.
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
Teine today. Guess what?! No new snow.
Still fun though, great views and some soft mellow snow in the trees. Plus a decent park.
Views to the south of (L-R) Muine-yama, Yotei-zan and Yoichi-dake
The crew at the top of the Summit Express, overlooking the sea
Fun in the park
Forecast is looking promising, it actually looks like we might see some snow next week... We might have to remember how to ski powder by next weekend.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Going through the expected warm spell today. It feels very strange, the sun is down but it's still comfortable outside in just a hoody.
Temperature of +5 at 5:44PM
This should last for the next 24 hours or so, and then temperatures will drop and we should get some snow.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Thanks to everyone that contributes to the thread for their insight through the season. As part of a trip to Japan recently I spent a week skiing so thought is share some thoughts:
- Sapporo and the snow festival are well worth checking out, even just for an evening
- We got the train through to Niseko from Otaru and it was pretty hassle free, though do get there early for your train if you don't want to stand the whole way
- We left it late to book and the Hilton at Niseko village was all we could get, that said I'd probably stay there again. The restaurants in the small (recently developed?) village are good and the patisserie serves up a decent brekkie
- the hire options at Niseko village don't work if you want a specific type of ski. Rhythm provided a vast choice, and was much cheaper
- the buses between the towns are very easy to use
- had no problems with baggage/internal travel using both air peach for Osaka and ANA for Tokyo
Excited to come back next season and try some new areas.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Great tips @Alans deep bath! If you need any info for next year on other ski areas and different options in Hokkaido, please contact me!
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
A surprisingly decent day at Teine today despite there being rain last night in town. Seemed like some of it had fallen as snow higher up, as we managed to find a few powder stashes.
It just started snowing here, let's hope the weather is changing!
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?
Pretty amazing day in Rusutsu, snowed all day, mostly fresh tracks through the trees and when they weren't freshies it was because we were skiing in our own tracks!!
Having just come home from a week each in Niseko and Furano I have to second @Alans deep bath, in thanking the posters on this thread for their helpful and informative input.
Cheers Sarge
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@Rishie, We're probably heading to Rusutsu on Saturday. Sounds like you had a solid day! The forecast looks nice for the next few days too.
@Sarge McSarge, How was Furano while you were there?
After all it is free
After all it is free
@MagSeven, yup, it was pretty good. We skied Niseko today and there was some good snow to be had but one had to work hard for their turns. Tomorrow we tour Mount Yotei and hopefully back to Rusutsu on Friday for some epic epic ness!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Tim Banks and I took a little trip away from Shiribeshi the past 4 days while we waited for the powder to return.
We stayed at Hotel Paco in Asahikawa on Saturday night and Hotel Deer Valley in Asahidake on Sunday and Monday nights before returning to Kiroro last night.
Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads on Thu 26-02-15 13:48; edited 1 time in total
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@MagSeven, Furano had good conditions with light snow off and on then good falls at the end of our week. Locals said that the base was about one meter less than average so more bamboo etc to avoid in the trees. Still the skiing was great and the policy on tree skiing was more relaxed than I was expecting from the reports I had read. They now have the start of a gate system like 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.
@Mike Pow, Hotel Paco! That place has great karaoke rooms on the top floor - big windows overlooking the city and beer taps in every room! Worth it even if you're not into the singing!
Think I'll probably be at Furano on Monday, good to hear that they're loosening up on their tree skiing @Sarge McSarge. Last time I was there was 4 years ago and they were pretty strict.
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
Tim enjoying powder and soft crud at Sapporo Kokusai.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Lots of snow last night up at Yubari. It was very heavy and slow though, so quite hard going with some tough walks out from the trees!
This guy might need a bit of help getting out!
Skis are all waxed up and prepped for warmer snow! Ready for a good day down at Rusutsu tomorrow!
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@Sarge McSarge, do you still have to duck a rope to access the dam run or is that now accessible via a gate? Two years ago that would stay untracked for days.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@Timmaah, To go down to the dam there was a gate with all the warning signs about backcountry, own risk etc but other places its definitely a case of under the rope. Did not hear of anyone being told off in any way for doing this. One of our group was there three years back and said the fence lines had been seriously reduced since then. But still some strange bits of fence. For instance the area of trees under the top two seater chair (the on that you use to do the dam run) are fenced at the top with keep out signs, yet the fence line only runs about a quarter of the way down each side so easy to get in there without cutting the fence. I think they have changed their policy but have not yet rationalized the fence and sign placement to match. Whatever the situation there was some great skiing in and out of the trees.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Real good day at Rusutsu today. Around 15cm of new snow overnight. It warmed up through the day as the sky cleared. But the views more than made up for the heavy snow.
Had a little race with the famous backwards skier.
View on the way home. Anyone spot Mt Yotei?
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?
High wind the order of the day in Niseko today, lifts shut early afternoon in Annupuri and Hirafu gondola was running at snail's pace so we called it quits. Change of scenery with a day trip to Kiroro tomorrow hopefully the winds have blown in the right direction for us
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Thanks for the update.
Any new snow, I'm heading over tomorrow?
Snowed most of the day here in Kiroro.
Should be great tomorrow
After all it is free
After all it is free
@Mike Pow, It was warm so the little snow there was was wet, one of our group took wrong bus and went to Hanozono and skied there anyway and said he had best snow of our trip, I think we made wrong call, temps def dropped in the afternoon and more snow came in but doubt there's been more than 5cm. Hanozono would be my pick tomorrow if we were here but I suspect you'll know best!
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.
Much appreciated.
May pick up my customers and come back to Kiroro.
Calm and clear now with 10-15 cm since lifts closed yesterday.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
