 Poster: A snowHead
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The first real snow of the year has fallen up on Asahidake.
Still a long way to go before the winter starts, but exciting to see an early snowfall.
This'll be my last winter in Hokkaido for a while, so I'll be skiing hard and making the most of it. Hopefully will meet some of the other Snowheads who are heading out here this year.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Mon 29-09-14 3:22; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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gambate! 
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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?
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Hope to finally meet up this winter MagSeven.
Looking to live near Kiroro this season spending more time skiing there and the resorts around Otaru and Sapporo 
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Tue 16-09-14 13:15; edited 1 time in total
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Cool.
House between Akaigawa and Kiroro. 10 min drive to the lifts
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Wow, beautiful area! How far to your nearest combini?!
First snow on Yotei today apparently. Very early for that to happen.
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Ha ha
Seicomart in Akaigawa.
Yeah saw that. At least 2 weeks earlier than normal for Yotei.
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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.
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Mike Pow, we are looking at heading out to Hokkaido 5th to 14th March, much later than we want to go but only time all our group can make it. Obviously weather is in lap of gods but is that too late in your view to stand a good chance of getting lots of cold smoke days? 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Guernseyfreerider wrote: |
| Mike Pow, we are looking at heading out to Hokkaido 5th to 14th March, much later than we want to go but only time all our group can make it. Obviously weather is in lap of gods but is that too late in your view to stand a good chance of getting lots of cold smoke days? |
Not in my experience.
That timeframe last winter.
March 2014
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=104830&start=200
Will add snowfall stats tomorrow.
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Mon 22-09-14 12:04; edited 1 time in total
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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.
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Historical Snowfall Records for the Niseko Resort Area between 05-14 March, recorded at 300 m asl
2007 - 140 cm (11 snow events)
2008 - 11 cm (2 snow events)
2009 - 63 cm (7 snow events)
2010 - 63 cm (5 snow events)
2011 - 102 cm (7 snow events)
2012 - 12 cm (4 snow events)
2013 - 119 cm (9 snow events)
2014 - 123 cm (10 snow events)
March 2013
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=93446&start=240
And even in the "dry" years there was still powder to be had
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Mike Pow, That'll do nicely!
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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YAHOOOO!
How much did you pay for your K-Pass?
Which type?
Has the offer finished please?
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Poster: A snowHead
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Mike Pow, we got the standard K Pass. We paid for it last season, before the April 1st national tax increase so paid last years price - 66,500円. (That's with a 5% 'Repeater' discount. And we also got 10,000円 of food tickets.)
The early bird prices for this year are still available until November 11. So for the standard pass you'd pay 72,000円. BUT, if you gave my pass number (or anyone else with a pass from last year and this year) as a reference, you'd get a 5% discount, so would pay 68,400円. (To be open, I would receive a 1,000円 food ticket for introducing you)
Personally I don't see the benefits of the Gold and Platinum passes to be worth the extra cost. (Priority parking is occasionally useful, but I have a car-less Gold Pass holding mate, so I get his parking pass!)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Super. Thanks.
Will let you know if I get one.
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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?
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Heading out there again.. this time for two months. Length seems to double each year
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Nice one Timmaah! Give us a shout if you're heading up Sapporo / Asahikawa way!
Getting colder all the time here. Needed gloves cycling to work this morning! There should definitely be more snow falling in the hills this week.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Heading out to Hokkaido for 10 days skiing in various resorts, first time skiing in Japan and cannot wait. Currently on lesson 3 out of 10 of Japanese for beginners at College - keep the pictures coming, it's great incentive!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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magicrichard, top tip - if you're learning some Japanese just for your trip, as well as the usual please and thank you etc, try to focus on katakana. If you can read it, you'll be able to understand a hell of a lot of useful travel/food/skiing related words. (Katakana is the way of writing English or other foreign words, adjusted for Japanese pronunciation)
You'll be able to read a lot of menus, signs etc and it will certainly impress people that you're able to make sense of the pronunciation. Good luck! It's a baffling language, but very satisfying to even make small steps!
I'll keep posting the photos as the snow arrives!
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MagSeven, definitely! Am tempted to experience Asahikawa and will definitely get to Sapporo Teine this time round so will give you a shout.
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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.
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We've had a 'super typhoon' heading up from the south, smashing Okinawa and Southern Japan. But that gave us up north some beautiful clear skies over the weekend. The mountains in Central Hokkaido have got a decent covering of snow. The autumn colours are looking stunning too.
Asahidake
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Tremendous.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I remember some chat last season about Kiroro possibly changing how they dealt with out of bounds skiing, was wondering if anyone had heard if anything had changed on that front?
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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.
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Timmaah, what is their official policy?
When I was there last season, and when The Lad was there several times last season I don't think they were bothered at all.
I'm not talking about backcountry, but certainlywell away from the pistes and both in and and out of sight of pistes
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I think with many ski hills here, the official policy is don't ski out of bounds, but in practice everyone does it and the resort is ok with that. Some are known for being stricter than others (Furano for example) but as far as I'm aware, Kiroro is ok with off piste skiing. Maybe they're adapting their policy to 'officially' allow it in places? Mike Pow will no doubt be able to offer more insight...?
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You know it makes sense.
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A bit more snow over the last couple of days, more widespread across the island and to lower altitudes. This is Ashibetsu-dake in Central Hokkaido, south west of Furano, about 1,700m.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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It's coming
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Poster: A snowHead
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rungsp, their policy before was it's at your own risk. Which is why I absolutely love Kiroro.. easily my favourite resort in the area. But I remember Mike Pow, mentioning last year they may introduce a Niseko-gate style system which would ruin it in my selfish opinion.
As MagSeven, said.. most resorts officially don't allow it but have lightened up in recent years. When I went to Furano I was ducking ropes in front of the lifties/patrol with no issue at all. Furano was amazing.. Alpine steep with bottomless pow..
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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?
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MagSeven, thanks for the tip. I'm doing an evening course at a local college and they are focusing on hirigana at the moment, but I'll make it a mission to learn some katakana too. As you say - baffling but satisfying!
Happy to say we'll be going to Kiroro for at least one day on our trip
Great pics.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Fabulous.
New camera? New software?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks Mike. Same camera, but have been using Snapseed to give the photos a boost.
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Looking great.
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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.
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Yep, snow down to town level in many places this morning as expected. Didn't quite get to us, but the hills around have got a nice dusting.
Dark clouds are looming though as I type, so we may get a little snow shower this morning....
EDIT: Yep, about 20 minutes after writing this post, am editing to say that it is indeed snowing here at an altitude of approximately 40m above sea level.
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Just a question for you guys. I was wondering what sort of temperatures to expect in Niseko and Furano in February.
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FAQ
