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
Heading out in 2 weeks, Week in Niseko and then a few days down in Nagano. Looks like it is firing on all cylinders, which is more than I can say for the PNW, where the faucet is not even dripping.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
I'll be out 21st Jan - 10th Feb. First half in Sapporo, then second half in Furano (or nearby Furano area). Probably mostly ski touring. Next couple of weeks forecast looks consistently cold which is great to see.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
It’s already seriously good and looks like next few days are going nuclear in Nagano area (Myoko, Hakuba) and also promising for South-West Hokkaido (Otaru, Niseko etc). Luke Snow is getting excited!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTs04Xoj6hq/?igsh=YzkzYnhoNWRiMnJq
Wouldn’t be surprising to see the actual snowfall double these numbers
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@BobinCH, Excellent! Are you still out in Hokkaido? Where's been the best area(s) for you so far? I've pretty much arrived in Sapporo without following the snow and weather conditions this year which is unlike me but I'm thinking of checking out either Kokusai or Teine tomorrow (jetlag permitting). Plan is to stay in Sapporo 10 days, and then 10 days around Furano area.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
musehead wrote:
@BobinCH, Excellent! Are you still out in Hokkaido? Where's been the best area(s) for you so far? I've pretty much arrived in Sapporo without following the snow and weather conditions this year which is unlike me but I'm thinking of checking out either Kokusai or Teine tomorrow (jetlag permitting). Plan is to stay in Sapporo 10 days, and then 10 days around Furano area.
Alas no I’ve been working in Tokyo this week and heading home today. I don’t think you can go wrong with anywhere in South-West Hokkaido at the moment. According to Snow Japan it dumped another 40 at top of Niseko overnight and 30 in Furano. Suspect Kokusai, Kiroro etc got even more. Fill yer boots
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?
There's been 54cm new snow accumulation recorded in Sapporo city centre in the past 24 hours. Apparently this is a record breaking snowfall. It's certainly looking more snowy than any of my previous trips in the past 10 years! A huge amount more snow in the city compared to the past couple of years. Amazingly most roads are still (just about) drive-able.
Kiroro reported fresh snow of 90cm at peak and 70cm at base today. And it contined to snow heavily all day after that. Calling resident expert @Mike Pow, is this a record? Can't remember seeing such high numbers before! The top lifts stayed closed so I might go there tomorrow if the roads around Sapporo have been cleared.
I went to Teine today, which reported 30cm but I think that was conservative. It was more than 50cm fresh in the gullies I'm pretty sure. All-time bottomless powder. Took almost 2 hours to drive back to central Sapporo afterwards but totally worth it!
If it’s not a record for Kiroro then it’s certainly close
Had a few too deep days relative to most of the terrain there
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
musehead wrote:
There's been 54cm new snow accumulation recorded in Sapporo city centre in the past 24 hours.
As a first time visitor to the city, I’m not surprised it’s unusual! Needed to visit Paddle Club (an amazing outdoor retailer) after a couple of days being buried in Annupuri. Traffic was struggling in Niseko this morning, huge accumulations. Disappointment is, we won’t see this every day
Just curious how CTS does with snow removal of the runways? I'm sure the Japanese snow removal ops are pros when it comes to keeping the runways clear.
T-minus 24 hours until lift off for Hokkaido.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@Toadman, Very well in short. We were collecting from a Tokyo flight, which was delayed, but arrived. There were news stories of stranded passengers at CTS later in the day, but given the volume of snowfall, they did well to get anyone in.
Oh, and no snow since
After all it is free
After all it is free
@Ski Shagger - Looks like we might be arriving during a bit of a lull in the storms. I guess it will be what it will be but sure the heck should be better than what I'm dealing with in the PNW with about 30% of normal snowfall this season.
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.
@Toadman, I found the snow to be consistently excellent during the past week in the Sapporo area. I was mostly ski touring around the Kokusai and Teine area.
The snow depth and accumulated snowfall is significantly above the seasonal average in Sapporo city centre at the moment as shown here:
@BobinCH, are you self guiding? Trying to workout a jan/feb 27 trip.
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.
kitenski wrote:
@BobinCH, are you self guiding? Trying to workout a jan/feb 27 trip.
Self guided around Otaru, Yotei etc but used Yukiumi in central Hokkaido for more off the beaten track stuff where yiunare often alone and there are very limited rescue services
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
Been snowing almost non-stop in Niseko on Sunday Feb, 1st. Started off skiing shin deep Japow and by the end of the day it was getting up past the knees. Has been dumping this evening in Hirafu.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Furano resort yesterday was around 10cm of light fluffy snow on a mostly crunchy / hard base. It was OK but not "Bonchi Powder" (Furano's new marketing term!).
Today I did a backcountry tour around 10km south of Furano near Ashibetsu-dake, there was a lot of fresh light fluffy snow with little wind - and the terrain there was fantastic, I think among my top 10 days ever in Japan. A long and tiring day but worth it. I suspect it'll be the best runs of the season unless I can top that in the next week...
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
musehead wrote:
Furano resort yesterday was around 10cm of light fluffy snow on a mostly crunchy / hard base. It was OK but not "Bonchi Powder" (Furano's new marketing term!).
Today I did a backcountry tour around 10km south of Furano near Ashibetsu-dake, there was a lot of fresh light fluffy snow with little wind - and the terrain there was fantastic, I think among my top 10 days ever in Japan. A long and tiring day but worth it. I suspect it'll be the best runs of the season unless I can top that in the next week...
The difference between resort based lift served side country vs putting your skins and getting off the beaten track is massive in Japan!
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
BobinCH wrote:
musehead wrote:
Furano resort yesterday was around 10cm of light fluffy snow on a mostly crunchy / hard base. It was OK but not "Bonchi Powder" (Furano's new marketing term!).
Today I did a backcountry tour around 10km south of Furano near Ashibetsu-dake, there was a lot of fresh light fluffy snow with little wind - and the terrain there was fantastic, I think among my top 10 days ever in Japan. A long and tiring day but worth it. I suspect it'll be the best runs of the season unless I can top that in the next week...
The difference between resort based lift served side country vs putting your skins and getting off the beaten track is massive in Japan!
Just looking around the mountains here in Hokkaido and this statement is very true.
Today Niseko is reporting 20cm up top of Hirafu and I think it was 25cm for Hanazono.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Deep and light on Monday. It was many face shots and knee deep up top. I'm on a rental pair of 180cm Atomic Bentchetlers at 100mm underfoot and don't feel I need anything wider with how light and effortless it is to ski this legendary snow.
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?
BobinCH wrote:
The difference between resort based lift served side country vs putting your skins and getting off the beaten track is massive in Japan!
Yeah absolutely. I've ended up doing probably 80% ski touring days and 20% involving either lifts + skins or just lifts the last few years because I can't seem to get near the same quality in ski resorts. A lot of people seem to do well in lift accessed areas though, so possibly I've just been badly timed...
I like Kokusai for combo lift / touring days, as the bulk of the lift accessed side country (which you can access from the top of the gondola without ducking ropes) is south-ish facing and gets humid, but you can do a pretty easy mostly flat skin around from the top lift for 30 minutes to access north facing slopes with much better snow.
Broken record. It's snowing in Hokkaido. Last 24 hrs reporting 40cm @ Hirafu. Going to dial it back & noodle around with the Misses this morning and just poke around off the pistes for some pow-pow.
From yesterday when the sun made a brief appearance.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
The sun peaked out for the briefest of moments and then disappeared and has not been seen since. It continues to snow here and there is lots of snow removal activity that goes on throughout the day in town. It reminds me of a ski trip I took about 15 or so years ago to Aspen-Snowmass where it snowed almost non-stop for 5 days straight and left 150cm+ of snow on the top of my rental car.
Apologies for the poor quality but those who have been to Niseko already know this, but the high speed chairs have the bubble chairs. But you get the picture; pun intended.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Record Snowfall in Northern Japan Leaves 30 Dead, Triggers Emergency Response
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.
I have been seeing lots of people on their roofs shoveling snow. It seems quite dangerous, but I guess if you fall off, hopefully you are falling into a big pile of snow.
Over at Niseko Village there was a big slab of snow that came of the roof of the gondola station and nearly took out a few skiers waiting to enter the enclosed area. I was just taking my skies off when about a 80cm slab broke off and slid.
Hirafu reporting 25cm last 24hrs. Currently overcast and not snowing.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@Toadman, Southwest Hokkaido is definitely where it's at right now by the looks of it! Furano needs a good reset at this point - strong winds have stripped the powder from north/west ish slopes and deposited quite heavy wind-blown snow on the leeward sides. Mild today (above 0C at the bottom) so it's getting heavy due to temperature too. I'm skiing in just base layer + shell jacket.
There's a low pressure system coming through which should give a good dump to central Hokkaido Fri-Sun, fingers crossed
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
but I'm thinking of checking out either Kokusai or Teine tomorrow (jetlag permitting). Plan is to stay in Sapporo 10 days, and then 10 days around Furano area.
