 Poster: A snowHead
|
@Mac46, we went skinning with evergreen on Tuesday. Yes the sun shone. The snow was very heavy and untracked with some breaking crust. I skied the worse I have ever skied since my second day on skis and even managed to straddle a small tree (I have the bruise to prove it. The weather and views were outstanding.
Yesterday (wednesday) was good with a bit of sun in the morning and clear for the rest of the day. We skied in happo one. There were some really good skiers about, but the it was the national technical championships.
On the trip I've skied every type of snow conditions possible from hard pack to slush with one exception - powder.
It's raining again this morning and we a working hard and building up enthusiasm for the day.
Only 3 more days to go. Hopefully there will be some powder high up.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
@Mac46, it has been snowing here since lunch time and is even settling in the village 
We went iwatake for the first time today. Visibility at the top was on occasions less than 10m. It was interesting to ski down a piste that had no piste markers where you weren't even sure the was a working lift at the bottom. Open piste maps were good but a number of the marked lifts appeared abandoned.
Tomorrow looks promising with it clearing up during the afternoon and possibly our first taste of powder.
We will get some skiing in on Saturday before heading home at about 16:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@johnE, 20cm on my car this morning(alt: 500m) 30-40cm at the top of Nozawa, powder in the trees. snow continued all day up top but stopped mid-afternoon at base level which was getting sticky. Hope you got some powder to play in 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
Pleased to hear there has been some fresh snow. Has it been localised or will most of the resorts in the region have had some? I'm still dithering about where to go when I arrive on the 23rd.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@Mac46, I thought there would be a lot but sadly only about 10cm at the most. But the temperatures had dropped leaving some hard pack at the top. The base was pretty heavy this afternoon.
But the sun shone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@johnE, Sorry to hear that.....you got the sun, we got the snow. Some lifts only operate at weekends.....abandoned ones are usually listed as such on piste maps. I hope you have a pleasant trip home.
@DJL, On SnowJapan website you'll find info on recent snowfall. Next week's weather does not look snowy at the moment for this area.....but that can change!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Mac46, i was using the viewranger maps rather than the piste maps. They just show features.
I didn't mind the lack of fresh snow. I enjoyed it and the views anyway
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Lots forecast for SW Hokkaido next week
Jarch
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Mike Pow, I trust you....will be in Rusutsu next week and Kiroro after that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
@Mike Pow, any idea about conditions end April? Anywhere still worth going for a w/e?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BobinCH wrote: |
| @Mike Pow, any idea about conditions end April? Anywhere still worth going for a w/e? |
On Hokkaido, both Niseko Grand Hirafu and Kiroro open until first week in May.
Worth it?
Compared with what?
Stubai will have better skiing
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Compared with a w/e in Tokyo. Would be tagged on the end of a business trip looking like end April / early May. Have already experienced Hokkaido skiing a few years back so something different would be preferable
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Thanks to all for the advice.
We needed up going to Asahidake for 5 days.
3 days of fun spring conditions, and two days of what I believe was a bit of Japow. Knee to thigh deep and beautifuly light.
I now understand my the locals use such long skis and boards. In France that much powder would float me , but the Japow was so light it didn’t. I am 115kg and was using Black Crows Nocta’s (122 underfoot) 185cm.
Should I have used even bigger skis, or am I just too Haney for Japow?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| hmsgeoff wrote: |
Thanks to all for the advice.
We needed up going to Asahidake for 5 days.
3 days of fun spring conditions, and two days of what I believe was a bit of Japow. Knee to thigh deep and beautifuly light.
I now understand my the locals use such long skis and boards. In France that much powder would float me , but the Japow was so light it didn’t. I am 115kg and was using Black Crows Nocta’s (122 underfoot) 185cm.
Should I have used even bigger skis, or am I just too Haney for Japow? |
Excellent. You certainly got the best conditions over those 5 days.
Whatever floats your boat. Literally.
Personally I'm a submersible not an inflatable.
I'm 188cm and 95kg and I ski on 177cm Movement Zoo twin tips 114-84-105
I go OK.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Decision time for me. I'm now in Tokyo and will head for somewhere on Honshu tomorrow to ski Mon-Thu next week.
Any suggestions? I had been thinking of Hakuba with several areas in the same valley and bus links between them but my son had suggested Zao.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Dumping on Hokkaido
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Teine reported 20cm of powder on Sat, 10cm today. Much needed. I tried to ski Rusutsu on Thurs......very sticky. Some lifts already closed for the season....I asked if it was a mid-week thing but no. Last week's high temps + rain have not been good.
Reports from Sapporo's local areas this morning are more positive.....Bankei, Fus, Onze etc. 10-15cm of powder.
I was in Tokachi Dake onsen from yesterday; this a.m. -15℃ with 25cm of fresh, drifting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Snowing earlier this evening and 10cm of fresh at Shiga Kogen Prince hotel and Ichinose village. Hopefully more higher up.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I was slightly over optimistic. More like 5cm and seemed like the same up top. Great piste conditions first thing with either corduroy or a couple of cm of fresh on top of the groomed piste. Wind got up later closing some lifts and distributing the snow a bit. Stayed mostly good but the lower areas suffered in the sun and temperatures above 5C
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Woke to 20cm of fresh and still falling lightly. First crash in the deep stuff already achieved
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The 20cm overnight was added to by 5-10cm during the day. Looking good for the weekend. I'll be back in the UK sadly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Open season 19-20!!!!!
I Will return Japan Next season. Chinés new year will be 25th of January, January is full if Aussies.
So Next season early February belive will be the best option.
Hokkaido or Honshu?
Hokkaido where place for base for 2 weeks?
Morioka área?
Myoko?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Not so fast.
18/19 season is still very much alive on both Hokkaido and Honshu.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unless of course you want to go up the lifts at Hanazono. (from my Facebook feed "CLOSING DAY IS TOMORROW! April 7th. Come and join us for some final laps on Hanazono's lifts for the season.")
Are many more of the resorts/areas closing, I don't know, but I just opened that page after this and thought it was quite amusing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
Normal closing date for Hanazono.
Lack of skiers (and bed base) not lack of snow.
When the Park Hyatt hotel opens next winter I suspect they will stay open until Golden Week (first week in May) like Niseko Grand Hirafu and Niseko Annupuri.
Kiroro open until Golden Week too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
Okushiga was advertising skiing until 6 May when we were there
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Mike , Could you give me recomendation one place for base en February? Niseko area, Otaru, Chitose
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
| keivancas wrote: |
| Mike , Could you give me recomendation one place for base en February? Niseko area, Otaru, Chitose |
Duration?
Number of people?
Budget?
What kind of skiing/boarding are you looking for?
Apres ski?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
3 weeks
3 person
2 ski +1snowboard
Backcountry experiencia
Apreski no importante.
Maybe Kutchan, or Better Otaru
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
Otaru
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Thank you Mike.
Thais year maybe fly director to Sapporo but the problemas will be exchange Monet un Tokyo airport is good
For exchange Money, because in new chitose always will be bad option.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
Glad that you got to see the good skiers.....tomorrow I hope you get to see them in the deep stuff! Enjoy 
