Poster: A snowHead
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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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Thanks for that @musehead. It sounds like just the ticket and on a par with the non-extreme (but sometimes steep) terrain we've encountered on 3 or 4 catskiing trips to British Columbia.
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(Following a bit on the US storms), it made last night's national TV news here in the UK that Japan is being battered by snow
Is this winter's weather unusual? Do flights into Sapporo get affected? I'm assuming it's good at snow clearing etc.
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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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@mountainaddict, Yeah I'm sure there'll be nothing any more difficult than what you'd find on a catskiing trip in BC.
Regarding flights to Sapporo - I've had at least 15 landings/departures during Jan/Feb and have only been affected by snow once. In that case, I was still able to fly but had to make a last minute booking on JAL as my Jetstar flight was cancelled. Due to the position of Chitose airport it gets a lot less snow than the mountain areas to the West of Sapporo. But it can be affected sometimes. Last time I was driving through blizzards out of Otaru and Sapporo, but skies were quite clear by the time I got to the airport.
I don't think the snow in Japan is anything unusual this year.
https://www.snowjapan.com/japan-daily-snow-weather-reports/niseko-now/season/2022-2023
The archives here are useful for comparison. For Niseko, the snowfall total this month is almost the same as last year, a little less than December 2020, and a fair bit more than December 2019.
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I'm quite interested in a day with this fella - has anyone been to his hill? Is the terrain ok? I've watched a couple of videos and it looks pretty good. Anyone got any experience with Par? (doing the 'skidoo'ski days?)
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@rogg, if you have Amazon prime search for a Japanese movie called snowsurf. Apart from being really good and having some great footage of a few well known surfers having some japow fun, there’s a segment in there about pars pow paradise. Looks epic.
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt5116938/
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Heading over tomorrow
Arrive at 3 in the pm on New Year's Day
Can't wait
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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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Are you going to spend the New Year in a plane Mike?!
That’s pretty cool!
I remember a futuristic story in 2000AD comic where people took a version of Concorde around the world backwards, stopping every hour to celebrate NY
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Cheers I just watched that @hang11, the powder horn is strong now!!! Man they make some lovely shapes on snow. The bit on Par has me sold, I'll email him and check on availability.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Monday 02 January 2023
Cracking first day at Rusutsu
Cold, dry powder all day
The sun even came out for a bit
Face shots for fun
Last edited by 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 on Wed 4-01-23 7:07; edited 1 time in total
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You know it makes sense.
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Sounds fantastic @Mike Pow Keep the reports coming.
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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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Tuesday 03 January 2023
Deeper
30cm overnight
East Mtn Gondola closed all day
Big queues on that side
Stayed on West Mtn
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Wed 4-01-23 7:08; edited 1 time in total
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Poster: A snowHead
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Wednesday 04 January 2023
Full reset
15cm overnight
East Mtn Gondola still closed
Stayed on West Mtn again
Sun came out
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sat 7-01-23 9:22; 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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I am thinking of dates around the last week of January for next year.
Will that beat the crowds? I know China New Year is on the 10th of Feb. & Australia/NZ has a long summer holiday time to the end of January.
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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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Slightly off topic (apologies) but nearest thread I can find without starting a new topic.
Has anyone been to Sapporo Snow Festival? It's on when we're in the vicinity in early February, so we're planning on attending The online pics of previous years' ice sculptures etc look amazing.
From what I can see on the website (some of which is only in Japanese), the festival takes place across two or three locations. Are these all a must? And, if so are they reasonably close together? Is it best to go on a night, with things lit up, or is it all worth a look by day too?
Cheers.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@mountainaddict, been to Otaru (30-40 min away by train from Sapporo) and they had a nice snow sculpture show at the same time as Sapporo and loads of ice lanterns with candles lit by the canal. Only saw Sapporo snow festival on youtube, looks very nice but rather crowded. For that reason I would go to Otaru.
Love Otaru, have a couple pointers for restaurants there after having stayed 8 days in total over two visits.
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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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I’ve only been there in daylight, but it would be much better at night. As mentioned above, expect it to be very busy, there was crowd control with typically polite staff keeping everyone moving.
There was even a slope style show going on.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Gored, First week of feb is probably a better time to avoid all the Ozzie crotch goblins and their parents
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Gored wrote: |
I am thinking of dates around the last week of January for next year.
Will that beat the crowds? I know China New Year is on the 10th of Feb. & Australia/NZ has a long summer holiday time to the end of January. |
Should be best option in January
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Friday 06 January 2023
Full reset
18cm overnight
East Mtn Gondola still closed
Went across to East Mtn
Pistes in fantastic shape, plenty of untracked
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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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Saturday 07 January 2023
Just a skiff overnight
Kiroro
Most of the off-piste not open yet
When it does it will be epic
Piste and fringes superb
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Mon 9-01-23 5:00; edited 1 time in total
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Sunday 08 January 2023
9cm New Snow
Back to Rusutsu
Well tracked but the pistes were fantastic
Surprisingly quiet
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Thu 12-01-23 8:11; 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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@Mike Pow, a pic would be nice
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You know it makes sense.
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Cheers @Mike Pow, looks amazing - sun and dry snow
Hmmm, can we talk already for the next season? End-Feb, early March.
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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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mooney058 wrote: |
Cheers @Mike Pow, looks amazing - sun and dry snow
Hmmm, can we talk already for the next season? End-Feb, early March. |
Will PM you
Thanks
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Mike Pow, here is a suggestion for you:
You organise a snowHeads group trip to Japan for next year.
Everybody responsible for their own travel and paying for it all, but you negotiate a deal with a hotel etc.
You then act as guide/leader/whatever and probably get at least one other of your mates there to do similar so the group can split between abilities.
Stay in Niseko for convenience?
Outings to Kiroro, Rusutsu etc.
Obviously you get paid for this!
I'd sign up for sure.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@rungsp, no need to negotiate hotel deals, could be arranged amongst those interested. Have a couple of ideas for budget accom, eg Moiwa Lodge capsule hotel from which Mike once picked me up. Only issue is transport in case going further than Niseko Annupuri or Moiwa.
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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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@mooney058, both times I've been there I stayed at:
Australian Alpine Club Niseko (you don't need to be a member!)
Simple, clean, friendly and inexpensive.
https://www.aacniseko.com/
Day trips to Kiroro and Rusutsu can be done on the day bus tours that run most days of the week.
If we could get a gang of snowHeads together I'd be well up for it, my wife doesn't really love powder skiing (just pistes) and my "kids" (who both spent a season in Niseko instructing) are now grown adults with proper jobs and a restricted amount of holiday days and budget.
Last trip we did a 2 center thing: Niseko and Sapporo
From Saporro there are bus companies that do hotel pick-ups and go to all the different ski mountains on a daily basis for day trips.
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@rungsp, sounds interesting, I am in a similar situation re kids and missus. For my first JPN trip I chose 2 bases (Niseko and Otaru). For the second trip I added Furano and a day trip to Mt Racey/Yubari. Reasonable accommodation available in all destinations. Moiwa Lodge capsule (comfortable and clean option) was circa 30-35 GBP per night with a super breakfast buffet. Saw various size groups staying there. Hotel Smile/Green is another reasonable accom in central Otaru. Visiting some nice areas for ski and tourist stuff as suggested by MikePow. Wanted to do Tohoku next time but the draw of Hokkaido is veeery strong
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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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Anyone know when they take bookings from?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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rungsp wrote: |
@Mike Pow, here is a suggestion for you:
You organise a snowHeads group trip to Japan for next year.
Everybody responsible for their own travel and paying for it all, but you negotiate a deal with a hotel etc.
You then act as guide/leader/whatever and probably get at least one other of your mates there to do similar so the group can split between abilities.
Stay in Niseko for convenience?
Outings to Kiroro, Rusutsu etc.
Obviously you get paid for this!
I'd sign up for sure. |
Already booked for next winter through to end of February
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Monday 09 January 2023
9cm New Snow
Day off
Tuesday 10 January 2023
15cm New Snow (in Niseko Hirafu)
Huge dump of snow on the Otaru and Sapporo side
Drove in to the Kiroro car park and it hadn't been plowed. At least 30 cm of new snow which had fallen in 4 hrs
Face shots in the car
Some of the deepest snow I've skied anywhere
Jarrod
https://www.instagram.com/p/CnS0wJ0h_O8/
Upper mountain was closed due to drifts of 135cm
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Sat 14-01-23 22:07; edited 1 time in total
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Mike Pow wrote: |
rungsp wrote: |
@Mike Pow, here is a suggestion for you:
You organise a snowHeads group trip to Japan for next year.
Everybody responsible for their own travel and paying for it all, but you negotiate a deal with a hotel etc.
You then act as guide/leader/whatever and probably get at least one other of your mates there to do similar so the group can split between abilities.
Stay in Niseko for convenience?
Outings to Kiroro, Rusutsu etc.
Obviously you get paid for this!
I'd sign up for sure. |
Already booked for next winter through to end of February |
Evening meal/drink slots still available?
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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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how can you book this early? I cant find anywhere to take bookings or at least get a price!
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@Gored, Fight Club rules
Edit:
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