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Central Hokkaido, Japan 2013/14

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
dbeatski wrote:
Japenese Yen now up to 161 to £

Best rate for years...


Sucks. Mad

Well, good for people coming out here with Pounds or Dollars!
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
And what also sucks is the warm weather and rain we've had over the past couple of days. I was hoping to go up to Nakayama Touge for a ski today, but they've closed as alot of the snow has been washed away. I think Sapporo Kokusai is still going ahead with their opening this weekend, but I can't imagine conditions will be any good at all.

This is the situation here, compared to earlier in the week:



Hopefully by Wednesday we should see some snow again. Rusutsu, Niseko Hirafu, Sapporo Teine, and I'm sure a few others are planning to open next weekend, so with a bit of luck things will get going by then.
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 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?
The forecast isn't looking too exciting for the next week or so. We really didn't get much more than a dusting on the hills today and it doesn't look like we'll get too much more before the weekend. Possibly a few ski areas will open but it's looking doubtful at the moment.

But even if we get snow by the weekend, Monday is looking awful. Freezing level up over 2,500m and 20cm+ of rain. So far, it's not looking like the best start to the season. But things can change quickly. I hope they do.
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I plan on arriving Wednesday 27th November. Should start snowing shortly afterwards Wink


Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Wed 20-11-13 18:49; edited 2 times in total
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Good start to the season in Western Japan.....they're already skiing in some of the Hiroshima ski areas; Kyushu and Shikoku have had early snowfall too. Let's hope your arrival brings more joy to the Japanese Alps, Tohoku and Hokkaido areas snowHead
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Last night NHK'S weekly forecast showed snow in Hokkaido and Akita from the 28th....welcome back Mike Pow!
Zao is opening one slope tomorrow (23rd) with a depth of 30cm.........by lunchtime it will be tussock skiing, but no complaints! snowHead
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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Niseko has cancelled it's opening for this weekend due to the lack of snow. Rusutsu is opening one of its lifts. Kokusai is part open, as is Nakayama Touge.

We're heading up to Nakayama Touge tomorrow morning to fight the crowds for a few turns. Not an ideal start to the season, but it'll do.

As Mac46 says, snow forecast from early next week. (After alot of rain on Monday)
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After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
What are the chances of some decent boarding from 7th Dec to 16th Dec ?

Worth the risk of heading to Japan somewhere ? which resort has the best chance of early snow ?

Any info most appreciated

Ta
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Depends where you're coming from rayscoops, I wouldn't make a trip from the UK, but if you happened to be in Asia and fancied a ski, then it could be worth a pop.

Hasn't been a great start, but by the 7th there should be a lot more snow. You're unlikely to get good off piste, but you'll probably get some decent days of nice powder on piste. Up here in Hokkaido, Kiroro, Kokusai, Niseko or Rusutsu would be your best bet.

Seems like the resorts down south have had a better start this year, so don't rule them out. Snow Japan would be a good place to ask.
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Nakayama Touge this morning was pretty decent considering. Fairly nice soft snow, not too deep, more than enough for a good time.

From the lift looking down


Ankle deep soft snow


Plenty of lumps and bumps to have fun with


Only downside was the queue for the lift which got a bit dull after a while.


Not a bad start to the season. Hopefully after the rain on Monday, it's still looking like we should get a good amount of snow in the week. (And I'm sure once Mike Pow, arrives, he'll bring the start of the real winter!)
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MagSeven,

Looks good and thanks for the info

I am already in Asia - Macau !
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 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.
Cheers rayscoops

Flights with Peach from HKG to Kansai are really cheap at the mo. Maybe a good option would be to go for it and maybe get a JR Pass sorted in advance. Stay flexible until the last minute, keeping your eye on snow reports. Then take the train to one of the Honshu ski areas from Kansai. Shouldn't be a problem booking accommodation last minute at that time of year.

Or, you could get another Peach flight up from Kansai to Sapporo. Or splash out on the direct Cathay flight to Sapporo.
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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
Way to get after it MagSeven
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Play safe folks.

http://unofficialnetworks.com/skiers-die-japanese-avalanche-126681/
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
rayscoops, pop up to the tower. My mate runs the AJ Hackett bungy site there. If you want a jump, ask for Taod.
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Poster: A snowHead
Down south on Honshu.

Huge crown, surprised they recovered the bodies.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Just heard from one of my students, Tracy Lenard, that he was out ski touring in the area and recovered 4 of the bodies.
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 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?
Mike Pow, you must have arrived! It's snowing again. Nice moist early season snow which is great for crushing down the bamboo leaves in off piste areas.

Alot more ski areas will be opening this weekend, and the forecast looks good into early next week:

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I have Smile

43cm since I arrived yesterday Smile
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Mike Pow wrote:
43cm since I arrived yesterday Smile
Nice!
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Nice weekend up at Sapporo Teine. Maybe 20cm or so of fresh snow each day. Loads of sasa bamboo leaves everywhere in off piste areas, but still a few open stashes under the lift and other spots. The pistes were in good nick, but a few rocks and twigs sticking though. The place was fairly deserted, so although the powder got tracked eventually, it was mostly by us!

Looking up from the base at Teine Highland


Overlooking Ishikari city and bay ( I was skiing with no poles as I sprained my hand early on Saturday on a stupid frontflip attempt #idiot)


Finding powder stashes between the bamboo


Rory shredding


A decent weekend of skiing. The snow for next week looks like it'll be falling more up further north, so we're going to check out Kamui Ski Links next weekend.


Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Sun 1-12-13 13:22; edited 1 time in total
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Well played
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Video from the weekend

Teine Opening Weekend 2013/14 from Andy Evans
https://vimeo.com/80716134
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A hell of a lot more terrain open with you compared with Grand Hirafu.

More snow up this way though.
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We really haven't had much snow since the weekend here. Today it's feeling quite a bit warmer and it's even threatening to rain a bit tomorrow. Further north it's looking a little better. Kamui Ski Links received a good dump of snow on Monday and Tuesday, and more is in the forecast for Friday. That's where we're heading for the weekend.

Driving home from work this afternoon.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Thanks for the intel and updates
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
No worries. Give me a shout if you're heading up this way!
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 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
Will do
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
MagSeven wrote:
( I was skiing with no poles as I sprained my hand early on Saturday on a stupid frontflip attempt #idiot)


Buqger. Not a sprain. Broke a bone in my hand (4th metacarpal). Seems I'll be skiing without poles a bit more than I anticipated.



Can still fit a mitten over it, so it won't stop me skiing!

This was just before impact. We set a challenge over a few beers back in September to get upside down before Christmas. Not quite what I'd intended.

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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
MagSeven, good work Laughing

Hope it fixes itself soon!
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Ouch. Get well soon.

The silver lining is that skiing without poles gets your balance sorted.

Did a week with 4 beginner kids last season. Big improvements for all of us.
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Thanks clarky999 and Mike Pow! Got to have a couple of pins put in next week but hopefully won't take too long to heal. (Got the Xmas and New Year break back in the UK so won't be skiing for a couple of weeks then. And it's not my drinking hand!)

I enjoyed riding without poles on Sunday. It's what all the cool kids are doing these days anyway!

Started snowing here too, which hopefully is set to continue for the next few days.
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 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?
MagSeven, ouch! If you have to have a cast, take a ski pole in with you and ask them to shape the cast around the pole Toofy Grin
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A friend of mine broke his thumb a few years back at Mt Hutt and had a "wine-glass" cast put on. It was crude but effective...

Happy
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Seems like we're getting snow some decent snow all over the island. Finally!

We were up at Kamui and had a great day skiing. (Although it'll be the last day for me until January, I imagine.)

Driving up on Saturday morning through a classic central Hokkaido snowstorm



The bottom of Kamui, lots of bare patches still visible



Only a limited amount of terrain was officially open at the top of the hill, but the closed runs had the best skiing. Nice light powder, but with some lumpy snow underneath to be careful of.

Riding with no poles, and being a bit cautious with my left hand!



My friend Ross



Not a great photo, but man, it was fun!



We continued up to northern Hokkaido on Saturday evening, through more heavy snow in the Kurodake and northern Taisetsuzan area. Same coming back through this evening. Hopefully this snow will continue and the winter can get going properly.
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Nicely done young man.
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Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
A whole day of rain and warm temperatures today. It's due to get colder over the next day or two and we're expecting some decent snow by the weekend. Very strange start to this season!
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Very strange indeed.

Same down with us. The snow around my house has almost disappeared today.
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MagSeven wrote:
Cheers rayscoops

Flights with Peach from HKG to Kansai are really cheap at the mo. Maybe a good option would be to go for it and maybe get a JR Pass sorted in advance. Stay flexible until the last minute, keeping your eye on snow reports. Then take the train to one of the Honshu ski areas from Kansai. Shouldn't be a problem booking accommodation last minute at that time of year.

Or, you could get another Peach flight up from Kansai to Sapporo. Or splash out on the direct Cathay flight to Sapporo.


Thanks for the info, headed back to UK for a week (with sneaky few days in Switzerland) but will for sure head to Japan in Jan or March on that Cathay flight (with a few Avios points)
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rayscoops, probably made the right call there! As you've maybe gathered, its not been the snowiest start to the season! It'll be all good by January though.
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