Mike Pow

DAY 24 : SATURDAY 21 DECEMBER 2013 0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ High winds overnight continued through the morning shutting the top lifts and keeping the lower lifts on slow. The snow is set to return this evening and I leave you with David Pulman's powder prayer from the Snowboard Wales facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/61549463747/ Now I lay down to bed, I pray The Lord for pow to shred, and if it's waist deep when I wake, epic lines I vow to take!!

DAY 22 : THURSDAY 19 DECEMBER 2013 0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Cool and grey with flat light, the perfect day to take off and catch up with laundry and movies. This is one of my favourites shot on Hokkaido, one of Jordan Manley's 'A Skier's Journey' webisodes Japan S03 E01 DAY 23 : FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER 2013 0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ A little brighter today with good groomed skiing and packed conditions off the ground. Took a drive to Iwanai to see what the conditions are like over there. Needs a good couple of storms for it to be on.

Thanks gifugill. Looks like it could be Tuesday

DAY 21 : WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Wall to wall sunshine and no wind for Damien, Lyn and me at Annupuri today. Packed powder conditions on well groomed pistes with hardly anyone in resort. Perfect learning conditions and both Damien and Lyn made big changes today. The both embraced the acceleration in the fall line and used this time to balance with the mountain and accelerate through the turn. The 'governer' of pressuring the snow and decelerating at the start of the turn was forgotten and they were floating and flying. Damien

DAY 20 : TUESDAY 17 DECEMBER 2013 2 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ A beautiful sunrise in Higashiyama was followed by a fabulous sunny day on the slopes of Grand Hirafu. I spent the day skiing with Damien and Lyn in from Hong Kong. We first skied together last April in Kiroro and it was great to ski with them again. Damien has joined Ian MacKenzie and me on skiing centre mounted twin tips. And he loves the change. It was granular snow down low on the Family Run but great packed powder on Center. Ace #3 Chair Lyn and Damien gettin

Thanks Lee (from Mold) Yeah it's a shame, but it's always a treat to bookend an Hokkaido winter with Beacons turns.

DAY 19 : MONDAY 16 DECEMBER 2013 28 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ As of today 317 cm (125") has fallen at MQ in Higashiyama High winds overnight combined with a rise in temperature has compacted the snow to a concrete like density at village level. It took me 2 hrs to clear the snow around my house this morning when it only took 30 minutes yesterday. But this is exactly what the mountain needs to solidify the base and bury the sasa. Ian MacKenzie went up for a couple of runs early this morning and said there were still a few patches of dry, light snow where the wind

Thanks guys

DAY 18 : SUNDAY 15 DECEMBER 2013 35 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ The mountain is transforming before our eyes with the off groomed terrain filling in and the tangle of sasa getting buried deeper and deeper below the snow surface. After a quiet night where the new snow fell straight down, the wind picked up and closed all the lifts above the Center 4 and Hirafu gondola. This concentrated the Sunday skiers & boarders to a handful of runs but there was still plenty of untracked to go round. I think it's safe to say that Ian MacKenzie has worked out the centre mounting on

DAY 17 : SATURDAY 14 DECEMBER 2013 34 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Spent over an hour clearing the snow from around my cabin this morning and it was worth every second. Met up with Greg Hep and we lapped the Hirafu Gondola for most of the morning before heading over to Hanazono for a coffee and a red bean (adzuki) croissant. Got these shots in Hanazono when the snow stopped for 10 minutes and the sun came out, but this was representative of our day from start to finish. Greg at day's end under the lights of the season'

Enjoy. 34 cm at the door this morning. Still snowing hard

DAY 16 : FRIDAY 13 DECEMBER 2013 25 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ As of today 220 cm (87") has fallen at MQ in Higashiyama Skied Hirafu and Hanazono with Ian for the first part of the morning and he was really getting a handle on his balance points in deeper snow on his new centre mounted twin tip skis. It was knee deep with the occasional mid-thigh deep patch of creamy powder. The wind had got at it a little over night. Great turns to be had. By 10 am the visibility had gone and the wind had started to pick up. The grooming in Hirafu and Hanazono was of a poor s

DAY 15 : THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 4 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ I woke to a decent covering around the house and on the roads, with the snow set in for the day. Met up with Greg Heptonstall at 10 am and spent the morning in Hirafu helping Greg to get his ski legs for the season. Continuing the theme from Kiroro a couple of days ago, this is the trail map at the top of the Hirafu Gondola. Normally by mid-season you can't ski under the sign. After Tuesday's rain and last night's freeze I wasn't expecting much out of today but I was very pleasantly surprised

DAY 13 : TUESDAY 10 DECEMBER 2013 0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Actually it was more like -20 cm at MQ with overnight rain washing away what little base there is at my place. Still it keeps the shovelling down. It rained all day. Miserable. DAY 14 : WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ The rain turned to snow just before dawn and whilst it came down healthily for a little while, once the sun came out what had fallen at village level quickly melted away. It's much cooler this evening, with a clear sunset. It could be icy out

Thanks Rucky Inu. In a holding pattern until the next significant snowfall. Which looks like it's on its way

Cheers. Good fortune.

DAY 12 : MONDAY 09 DECEMBER 2013 14 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ A wonderful sunny morning for Ian and mine's first visit to Kiroro for the season. This is the fourth consecutive year that we've had seasons passes, and it's always great to be welcomed back by the resort staff who recognise you from previous winters. The resort was a hive of happy activity with families over from Thailand, Singapore & China; race teams getting some early season coaching in; groups of retirees up from Honshu; and Akaigawa, Otaru and Sapporo locals finding their ski legs. There is conside

When you work out the details it would be very much appreciated if you could post what you've found back here. Thanks.

DAY 11 : SUNDAY 08 DECEMBER 2013 15 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ My shovelling muscles are back in action Another great top up overnight, and Hirafu opened the runs back to the base of Center 4 today. Great powder to be had all over the mountain. The sun even came out briefly. Skied with Tracy and Ian in Hirafu in the morning, and when Ian took his leave Tracy & I headed over to Hanazono for a couple of runs. Tracy This was Ian's first day on snow this season and he was sporting new boots and skis. His Dynafit TLT 5 Mountain boots had

13,000 yen A main meal out at dinner time in Niseko costs approx. 2,000 yen - let's call it 7 times cheaper than Kamimura. The quality and experience is "worth" far more than 7 times difference to me. And I understand that both of those prices are expensive for Japan. But the Niseko Resort Area is not indicative of Japan.

It was griller. Highly recommended.

UPDATE Ian and I were invited to dinner at the 1 Michelin star restaurant Kamimura in Hirafu by Tracy, his girlfriend Mika, and her friend Minako last night. We thoroughly enjoyed the Chef's Degustation Menu and wine flight. Nemuro Salmon Caviar smoked, with mascarpone, gherkin and eschalot Quail's Egg wrapped in Jamon Serrano, with truffle powder Nemuro Hairy Crab marinated with crab butter, cucumber sorbet Habaro King Prawn Sashimi sliced carrot, cauliflower and walnuts Rausu Hokke (Atka Mackerel) grilled, cabbage c

If you're still registered to vote in the UK and have a UK address they can send the paperwork to, then the BMC is the go.

DAY 9 : FRIDAY 06 DECEMBER 2013 0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Finally the snow has returned. It started snowing around 11am and continued through the day. Had dinner at Tamashi with Ian. Fish supper with chips. Hit the spot. DAY 10 : SATURDAY 07 DECEMBER 2013 19 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ What a difference a day makes Yesterday at MQ 7am this morning Long time student & ski partner Tracy Lenard got in to town in the early hours of the morning, timing his arrival from Tokyo to perfection. We met at the King Hoo

Your choice will be limited in Annupuri. You will be able to rent premium skis & poles from at least 3 establishments in Hirafu.