Mike Pow

If the teacher's can't be convinced then if the kid wants to go he has to suck it up buttercup. You never know he may leave the dark side

Spot on Ezorisu. Niseko Moiwa, Niseko Weiss & Niseko Iwanai went to the wall in the past 5 years, with Moiwa making a reappearance as a resort and Weiss & Iwanai operating as cat ski/ride operations. As I set off yesterday afternoon there was some sort of 'caretaker' around. He saw me walking, waved with a smile and went on his way. So I guess it's OK to hike it. Pity both Weiss & Iwanai's lifts have stopped turning because both offer great alternatives to Niseko United. As Moiwa and Chisenuppuri do. IMHO it's a shame that people travelling so far to this a

Word on the street is there's going to be an Irish Bar in the village next winter. Wild Bill's will have competition for the 'Rumpus Room' title.

Took a trip around the mountain this afternoon to the port town of Iwanai. Glorious weather. Sunny, warm, not a cloud in the sky when I started, next to no breeze. Set off from the 'day lodge' at 2:30pm. The snow line started at the van's front wheels. Walked up in my ski boots and took the right hand ridge line following the now defunct lift lines. Had a few sink up to my knee moments but for the most part was only sinking in about 10-15cm. Above the top lift it was solid. Got to the top of the lifts at 4:30pm and the summit of Iwanai-dake at 5:00pm Snow changed from

Hope to be. Not with the orange jackets though.

Word on the slopes is that there will be major earthworks at the base of Hanazono this summer. Plan is to establish a dedicated child & adult beginner area with magic carpets and a chair. The Snowsports School contracted by Richard Li (don't know if I can mention them) will have a base at Hanazono and bus people over from Hirafu (where the majority of their clients will be staying).

Measurements outside my house at ~300 m. 15 Nov 07 - 21 Nov 07 : 105 cm 22 Nov 07 - 28 Nov 07 : 52 cm 29 Nov 07 - 05 Dec 07 : 108 cm 06 Dec 07 - 12 Dec 07 : 54 cm 13 Dec 07 - 19 Dec 07 : 89 cm 20 Dec 07 - 26 Dec 07 : 72 cm 27 Dec 07 - 02 Jan 08 : 83 cm 03 Jan 08 - 09 Jan 08 : 130 cm 10 Jan 08 - 16 Jan 08 : 162 cm 17 Jan 08 - 23 Jan 08 : 138 cm 24 Jan 08 - 30 Jan 08 : 71 cm 31 Jan 08 - 06 Feb 08 : 119 cm 07 Feb 08 - 13 Feb 08 : 31 cm 14 Feb 08 - 20 Feb 08 : 89 cm 21 Feb 08 - 27 Feb 08 : 65 cm 28 Feb 08 - 05 Mar 08 : 22 cm 06 Mar 08 - 12 Mar 08 : 11 cm 13 M

Saturday 29 March 2008 Snow on the Steppes = snow on the steps. Siberia's kiss has returned. Albeit a confectioner's sugar dusting in the village this morning. But it's snowing and it's considerably colder and drier than yesterday. Snowing lightly as I write. A false dawn or you ain't seen nothing yet? More at 11...

3-5cm last night and 3-5cm during the day above the Ace Quad #2 at Grand Hirafu.

Asahidake Chisenupuri Kamui Ski Links Kiroro Ski World Kurodake Niseko United Rusutsu Sapporo Kokusai

Originally Posted By: Mantas So are we calling it a good season or just a good Feburary? For people who have lived here longer than I then I guess it is a "poor" season. I've measured 13.8m of snow outside my house and even if I was overestimating by double (which I'm not) then most mountains around the world would be ecstatic about getting almost 7m of snow. This is an extraordinary area and people get a bit picky about the snowfall. March has been disappointing snow falling from the sky wise, AND there have been many perfect days on the hill.

It'll happen in April or May. Who knows, we may even have freshies in June. Stranger things have happened in Bree And snowforcast is calling for precip Monday night, Wednesday night and Thursday. Unfortunately the freezing level is 900m

Originally Posted By: thursday. Inghams won't have their prices until autumn. A lot of commercial negotiations go on until the last minute. Early bird brochure comes out in April.

Mix of rain and snow in Hirafu Village at 9:24 am Maybe snow up high.

Or take a look at the Inghams web site. Difficult to beat their prices to Niseko from the UK.

It's pissing down, grey and miserable. Just like being home in Wales

Please do Ezorisu. There's nothing like busting out the MB or organising a race to guarantee that the heavens open.

Have faith.

Originally Posted By: Go Native Originally Posted By: MikePow Lots of snow to follow if trends can be be relied upon. Mate you're dreaming.... Why? In the worst winter in 40 years (last season) we had 1.85m of pow between 12 March 2007 and 13 April 2007.

Yep. Turned to snow around 9am We had light rain, light snow, fog, sunshine, cold temps & high winds today. All over the place.

It is raining at 7:58 am on Tuesday 11 March 2008 Lots of snow to follow if trends can be be relied upon.

I'm happy to 'give up the goods' to people visiting where I might be at the time, in the hope that someone will return the favour when I go on the road.

Originally Posted By: Fattwins 76 mate my skis a more that double that at the tip! Still powder here but you have to know where to look. Great weekend skiing bigline freshies! Same up here, just small line freshies

Originally Posted By: soubriquet Love this one. A real 'Wish I was There' moment.

Originally Posted By: Fattwins Mike you use mini SL skis so your waist deep would be my knee deep,lol. After breaking one of my SL skis at Kurodake I've been on Elan Magfire's for the past couple of days. Got a whopping 76mm underfoot and still tickling the belly button Originally Posted By: Go Native Mike it isn't just here mate. I was talking about over the coming week not the one just gone by. We had good snow in Niseko the last couple of days as well. There isn't anywhere in the country though that is escaping the warmth moving in over this coming week. Hokkaido will probabl