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| Last Updated: Sunday 6th May 2012, 10:59AM |
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The Zao Ropeways are open throughout the year for sightseeing. The 12/13 season should begin around late November. |
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| Sunday 6th May 2012, 10:59AM |
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Last day of the 11/12 season in Zao!
It's a nice morning to end the season in Zao. Apart from the Ropeways, just the Chuo No1 lift remains open today and just a part of the Chuo area is open. The snow has been melting away really quickly in recent days with the weather conditions giving a helping hand in that respect. But the resort has done well to keep open this long. There's a fairly moderate wind and rain is due later today... hopefully after the lifts close.
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So.... the last day of the season. I will be away from tomorrow for a while and so this report acts as my wrap-up to the season as well.
We didn't have any major interruptions to the season in Zao this year as we did last season. I would say it has been a very good, long season. There's been some great snow conditions out there and those famous Ice Monsters were in top shape this year at peak season. Let's hope next season sees them return in style. The archive reports will always be here if you want to take a read through and re-live the season.
Zao is not only popular in winter with lots of people visiting throughout the year to enjoy the scenery, hiking and other activities, onsen - and the relatively cool temperatures in summer. The three Ropeways - Sky Cable, Zao Chuo Ropeway and Zao Ropeway are all open throughout the year (apart from periods closed for maintenance) as below:
Sky Cable - closed for maintenance from 7th May until 13th July
Zao Chuo Ropeway - open all year
Zao Ropeway - closed for maintenance 7th May until 18th May
Thanks for reading the Zao reports and I hope that you enjoyed reading them.
Zao Now will be back in autumn once it starts getting colder and the 12/13 is getting closer.
Enjoy the summer! |
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| Thursday 3rd May 2012, 10:47AM |
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| Weather
conditions: |
Heavy rain, strong winds |
| New
snowfall: |
0cm |
| Snow
depth: |
50cm (Utopia); 55cm (Chuo); 55cm (Paradise) |
Well we are into the second half of Golden Week now and it's a pretty awful morning to be honest. Heavy rain and strong winds. It's not really the kind of weather that most people would want to be out skiing in. Good job really, as there's not much open. According to the website, only the Chuo No1 pair is moving this morning with all other lifts closed due to the weather conditions. (Yesterday was not open as normal either due to the conditions).
Heavy rain and winds are forecast for all of today and it will very possibly be raining tomorrow as well. And a chance of rain on Sunday too. So not very good conditions for most of Golden Week - perhaps Saturday will be the best bet. With all this rain though, the planned lifts and runs may not be able to remain open. We're getting rather thin on the ground now...
I'll update this report tomorrow with the latest for the weekend.
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Official snow depths (3rd May 12)
Utopia - 50cm
Chuo - 55cm
Paradise - 55cm
Uwanodai - 0cm
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Current planned lift operations at Zao until 6th May:
Uwanodai Area
Sky Cable (open all year, but closed from 7th May for maintenance)
Chuo and Paradise Area
Zao Chuo Ropeway (open all year)
Chuo No1 pair lift (until 6th May)
Chuo No2 pair lift (until 6th May)
Katakai triple lift (open from 3rd-6th May)
Paradise No1 pair lift (until 6th May)
Yokokura and Utopia area
Zao Ropeway (open all year, closed for maintenance 7th-18th May)
Utopia No2 pair lift (open until 6th May)
All other lifts now closed. |
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| Tuesday 1st May 2012, 10:54AM |
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| Weather
conditions: |
Sun, some cloud |
| New
snowfall: |
0cm |
| Snow
depth: |
75cm (Utopia); 75cm (Chuo); 75cm (Paradise) |
The warm weather conditions have helped melt away snow quite quickly over the last week, especially since the weekend when it really warmed up. So much so that you can no longer ski down to (any of) the base area(s) at Zao - just upper areas remain open. The snow at base now is almost non-existant!
This morning it is about 15C here in the village, nice sunny weather with some white fluffy clouds here and there, along with a moderate wind.
Tomorrow the forecast is for cloud/sun and then rain is likely on Thursday. In fact we might see some showers for a few of the last days of the season. I'll update the report with the latest on Friday.
The lift status information below has been checked and updated. After today, there's just 5 days left!
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Official snow depths (1st May 12)
Utopia - 75cm
Chuo - 75cm
Paradise - 75cm
Uwanodai - 0cm
Operating lifts (1st May 12)
Limited lifts now open, upper slopes only skiable - see below.
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Current planned lift operations at Zao, as of 1st May - subject to change:
Uwanodai Area
Sky Cable (open all year, but closed from 7th May for maintenance)
Chuo and Paradise Area
Zao Chuo Ropeway (open all year)
Chuo No1 pair lift (until 6th May)
Chuo No2 pair lift (until 6th May)
Katakai triple lift (open from 3rd-6th May)
Paradise No1 pair lift (until 6th May)
Yokokura and Utopia area
Zao Ropeway (open all year, closed for maintenance 7th-18th May)
Utopia No2 pair lift (open until 6th May)
All other lifts now closed. |
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| Friday 27th April 2012, 12:08PM |
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| Weather
conditions: |
Cloudy, foggy |
| New
snowfall: |
0cm |
| Snow
depth: |
125cm (Utopia); 120cm (Chuo); 120cm (Paradise) |
Good morning from Zao. And this morning there's really not much to see out there - cloud and fog is the order of the morning and visibility out on the mountain is very poor. It's mild though with even the top of the mountain reporting a temperature of about +6C.
Tomorrow is of course the first day of "Golden Week", and the good news is that we look set to enjoy clear and sunny conditions through until probably at least Tuesday, along with warm conditions - might warm up to around 20C.
A few more lifts are scheduled to be open for this weekend but the Kurohime quad has now finished for the season it seems.
As I mentioned in the previous report, the Zao Echoline road has re-opened this morning allowing people to get direct to Zao Onsen via the Miyagi mountain road.
Have fun over this first part of Golden Week! I'll post another update on Tuesday.
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Official snow depths (27th April 12)
Utopia - 125cm
Chuo - 120cm
Paradise - 120cm
Uwanodai - 20cm
Operating lifts (27th April 12)
Limited lifts now open.
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Current planned lift operations at Zao, as of 27th April - subject to change:
Uwanodai Area
Sky Cable (open all year, but closed from 7th May for maintenance)
Chuo and Paradise Area
Zao Chuo Ropeway (closed for maintenance 9th-25th April except Saturdays and Sundays)
Chuo No1 pair lift (open 28th April until 6th May)
Chuo No2 pair lift (until 6th May)
Katakai triple lift (open 28th April until 6th May)
Paradise No1 pair lift (open 28th April until 6th May)
Yokokura and Utopia area
Zao Ropeway (open all year, closed for maintenance 7th-18th May)
Utopia No2 pair lift (dependent on snow but latest until 6th May)
All other lifts now closed. |
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| Tuesday 24th April 2012, 9:59AM |
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| Weather
conditions: |
Cloud, clear at times |
| New
snowfall: |
0cm |
| Snow
depth: |
160cm (Utopia); 160cm (Chuo); 160cm (Paradise) |
It's a cloudy morning in Zao, but a warm one with hardly any wind. We might get to see the sun sometime today, but definitely should tomorrow - the forecast is for a clear and sunny day with some very warm temperatures and almost certainly the warmest day of the year so far.
The forecast is for fine weather this weekend as well. It's a long weekend and the first part of the Golden Week run of holidays in Japan - Monday is a national holiday. After that, Thursday and Friday next week are also holidays so that will be a four-day long weekend.... and the last of the season at Zao.
News about the Zao Echoline road - it will be opening from 11am on Friday 27th April. This road connects Zao Onsen with the Zao-machi (Zao Town) in Miyagi Prefecture and is closed for the winter months. They started the task of moving the snow in late March and a month later the road will be open for us all to use. Of course this opens up options on how to get to Zao for those living or approaching from the Miyagi region. There's also some impressive 'snow walls' to see on the way.
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Official snow depths (24th April 12)
Utopia - 150cm
Chuo - 150cm
Paradise - 155cm
Uwanodai - 50cm
Operating lifts (24th April 12)
Limited lifts now open.
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Current planned lift operations at Zao, as of 24th April - subject to change:
Uwanodai Area
Sky Cable (open all year, but closed from 7th May for maintenance)
Chuo and Paradise Area
Zao Chuo Ropeway (closed for maintenance 9th-25th April except Saturdays and Sundays)
Chuo No1 pair lift (only 21st and 22nd April, 28th April until 6th May)
Chuo No2 pair lift (until 6th May)
Katakai triple lift (only 21st and 22nd April, 28th April until 6th May)
Paradise No1 pair lift (only 21st and 22nd April, 28th April until 6th May)
Yokokura and Utopia area
Zao Ropeway (open all year, closed for maintenance 7th-18th May)
Utopia No2 pair lift (dependent on snow but latest until 6th May)
Omori and Kurohime Area
Kurohime No1 quad (no fixed closing date, dependent on snow (but only Fri, Sat and Sun from 16th - 26th April) |
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| Sunday 22nd April 2012, 10:01AM |
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| Weather
conditions: |
Cloud |
| New
snowfall: |
0cm |
| Snow
depth: |
160cm (Utopia); 160cm (Chuo); 160cm (Paradise) |
I thought I would post a quick report this morning. After the fine day we had yesterday, this morning it is more cloudy and at the same time much more windy and that is affecting some of the lifts at Zao - the upper Gondola is not operating along with the Utopia No2 lift and Kurohime quad. Other planned lifts for the day might be affected, it's just going to depend on Mother Nature now.
There might be some rain added into the mix before tomorrow as well but the week ahead looks set to be generally clear and warm.
The last few days I have noticed some patches of ground showing on parts of the lower slopes of the resort - first time I have really noticed that.
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Official snow depths (22nd April 12)
Utopia - 160cm
Chuo - 160cm
Paradise - 160cm
Uwanodai - 60cm
Operating lifts (22nd April 12)
Limited lifts now open.
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Current planned lift operations at Zao, as of 20th April - subject to change:
Uwanodai Area
Sky Cable (open all year, but closed from 7th May for maintenance)
Chuo and Paradise Area
Zao Chuo Ropeway (closed for maintenance 9th-25th April except Saturdays and Sundays)
Chuo No1 pair lift (only 21st and 22nd April, 28th April until 6th May)
Chuo No2 pair lift (until 6th May)
Katakai triple lift (only 21st and 22nd April, 28th April until 6th May)
Paradise No1 pair lift (only 21st and 22nd April, 28th April until 6th May)
Yokokura and Utopia area
Zao Ropeway (open all year, closed for maintenance 7th-18th May)
Utopia No2 pair lift (dependent on snow but latest until 6th May)
Omori and Kurohime Area
Kurohime No1 quad (no fixed closing date, dependent on snow (but only Fri, Sat and Sun from 16th - 26th April) |
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| Friday 20th April 2012, 9:38AM |
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| Weather
conditions: |
Cloud |
| New
snowfall: |
0cm |
| Snow
depth: |
170cm (Utopia); 170cm (Chuo); 170cm (Paradise) |
Well, no sun this morning - well not at the moment anyway as cloud is hiding the top of the mountain from view but decent visibility on most slopes of the resport. It remains mild and is about 6 degrees in the village. Hardly any wind.
Weather for the weekend? It looks like tomorrow should be generally fine with hopefully more sun than today but there's a chance of rain on Sunday. After that, all signs point to things warming up a fair bit next week.
A few more lifts plan to be operating for the weekend, as noted below.
The next Zao Now report here will be posted on Monday - in the meantime, have a fun weekend!
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Official snow depths (20th April 12)
Utopia - 170cm
Chuo - 170cm
Paradise - 170cm
Uwanodai - 70cm
Operating lifts (20th April 12)
Limited lifts now open - see below.
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Current planned lift operations at Zao, as of 20th April - subject to change:
Uwanodai Area
Sky Cable (open all year, but closed from 7th May for maintenance)
Chuo and Paradise Area
Zao Chuo Ropeway (closed for maintenance 9th-25th April except Saturdays and Sundays)
Chuo No1 pair lift (only 21st and 22nd April, 28th April until 6th May)
Chuo No2 pair lift (until 6th May)
Katakai triple lift (only 21st and 22nd April, 28th April until 6th May)
Paradise No1 pair lift (only 21st and 22nd April, 28th April until 6th May)
Yokokura and Utopia area
Zao Ropeway (open all year, closed for maintenance 7th-18th May)
Utopia No2 pair lift (dependent on snow but latest until 6th May)
Omori and Kurohime Area
Kurohime No1 quad (no fixed closing date, dependent on snow (but only Fri, Sat and Sun from 16th - 26th April) |
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