Mike Pow

brilliant bellavista

It was 37 degrees when I was in school

Niseko United includes Annupuri, Higashiyama, Hirafu and Hanazono.

Although I've lived in Hirafu for almost a year and by no means do I class myself as a local, here's my 2 yen. 1) Great snow Best quality, quantity & consistency (top to bottom; over the course of the season) I've skied. Anywhere. (2) Great Terrain In comparison with resorts in Europe, N & S America, and NZ that I've skied the pitch of the terrain isn't overly challenging. However, because of the constant pitch changes the skiing is very interesting and keeps you honest. If you have 'one turn shape and size' you won't have that great of a time here. IMHO Niseko

Hopefully. Not a dramatic temperature gradient in the layers so far, so depth hoar shouldn't be a problem. In the more exposed areas on the backside it could be a very different story.

Spent two winters at Kicking Horse ger - 2001/02 & 2002/03. Best mountain I've had the pleasure of skiing. Anywhere. And IMHO Fernie is overrated. Castle Mountain about 45 mins east is more up my street.

Tuesday 20 November 2007 20cm in the past 24hrs at village level (300m). 40cm in the past 24 hrs at ~ 700m I went to bed in Hirafu and woke up in Fernie. Temperature rose overnight and yesterday's talcum turned to elephant snot. Still great turns to be had this morning, just not as many face shots Every cloud has a silver lining, and so far we've dodged the rain bullet. The wetter, heavier snow should allow the mountains to groom the pistes and the additional weight of the snow will hopefully smother the Sasa grass. It's been clear for the past hour or so

Much like the oil rich countries, start digging anywhere and you'll hit some geothermal.

Residential development. It's a tough balancing act. Investment = chance to work, play & live in the Niseko area 12 months a year. Investment = change.

Thanks for that.

That is an amazing compare and contrast. Was it the same on-mountain? - the difference I mean.

Originally Posted By: Fattwins No I just took about 10 post of punches which Im now punching back. No clue what that means. Are these pics all from the same place or different areas around Hakuba?

Great shot Fattwins. That you? Ice axe needed to get into this pitch or for bigger and better later?

An hour to the top of Ace #2 quad.

Take a wild guess.

Posted on another thread. 25cm in the past 24hrs at village level (300m, outside my front door). 40cm in the past 24 hrs above the top of the Ace #2 Quad, Grand Hirafu (~900m) Bootpacked to ~ 900m. Couldn't go higher because it was too deep. Talking waist deep when I was walking/wallowing. Seeing as it's snowed constantly since Thursday above 600m it's hard to know where the snow from the past 24hrs starts. 40cm at the top of the mountain King #4 would be a very conservative measurement IMHO.

Yes it's gone.

6 foot 2 and eyes of green. That's 188cm in new money. The key phrase above was 'and in places a LOT more'. And I think that I'm in VERY limited company when it comes to choice of sticks to ski the Niseko pow. My weapons of choice are Salomon Equipe SC slalom skis with a Kate Moss like waist of 66mm. Factor in my 100 kg bodyweight (and at least another 30 kg with kit and the skis) and the balls are getting cold

That shot is definitely within 30 minutes of the top of King 4 and the start of the hike to the peak of Mt Annupuri. Well it is for me any way. But I digress. Posted on another thread, but don't know if people look at other threads so posting it again. Monday 19 November 2007 25cm in the past 24hrs at village level (300m). 40cm in the past 24 hrs above the top of the Ace #2 Quad, Grand Hirafu (~900m) Yeah I know that the resort is reporting 10cm in the village but that's how much has accumulated outside my front door! Hiked Grand Hirafu this morning. Bootpacked

Monday 19 November 2007 25cm in the past 24hrs at village level (300m). 40cm in the past 24 hrs above the top of the Ace #2 Quad, Grand Hirafu (~900m) Yeah I know that the resort is reporting 10cm in the village but that's how much has accumulated outside my front door! Hiked Grand Hirafu this morning. Bootpacked to ~ 900m. Couldn't go higher because it was too deep. Snow has consolidated since last Saturday. Didn't go to ground until the bottom of the hill (300-450m). Minimum snow depth at 900m was 65cm and in places a LOT more. Super light & dry powder.

Snowed all day today in Hirafu. Still coming down. Tomorrow's turns will be good

Absolutely on both counts.

Normal I was led to believe.

human powered until Friday. Fingers crossed.

I kept my own records last winter living in middle Hirafu village, measuring the snow outside my front door every morning. Between 08 December 2006 and 20 April 2007 I measured 11.5 m I'm looking forward to skiing the mountains on Honshu for the first time and I'm really looking forward to skiing at Niseko United again. I wouldn't be here for my second winter otherwise. If there's better snow out there than that found at Niseko United in it's worst winter in 35 years (last winter) then I can't wait to ski it. This is the best snow (quality and quantity) that I've had the pleasur