Mike Pow

Thanks. Will post some pics tomorrow.

Hiked up Hirafu this morning for my first turns of the season. Got to the 1000m hut at the top of Ace 3. Above that way too much foliage. Skied the 'groomers' Center Course down to Tauch Course. Up to boot-top pow with little poking through down to where Tauch Course leads into Konayuki Course. Below that it was rock dodging and combo of snow and grass/bamboo skiing down to Sennoki course. Had to walk around the switch back and clicked in for the last 300m or so down to the Ace Quad 2 lift. http://www.grand-hirafu.jp/en/mountain/map.html Raining in the village now (6:2

Dumping in Niseko area.

Real "snow" today Puking at the moment

While opening new terrain in Higashiyama (read the Forbidden Zone) would be great, that's not and shouldn't be their priority. The priority for the demographic that they're trying to target should be: a dedicated beginner area legitimate beginner and intermediate terrain better ski school (they've addressed this)

Yep my photo Me Jane. Went back up yesterday. Took my skis and a whole lot of hope. Denied. More snow but inconsistent. From rock to 30cm. Needs 1 good dump and it'll be ready. I got to Niseko area on 07 December last winter and got gut deep from the first turn. Nothing to worry about arriving on 15 Dec.

This month hopefully on Mt Yotei

The photo above was taken from the base of the Makkari path. Went up Yotei this morning. Light dusting of styrofoam snow down to Stage 3 on the Hirafu path. Full on winter conditions at Stage 8 and up. Pretty even 5cm of coverage (with windblown bare and windblown 10-15cm). One big dump and inside the crater will be good to go. Go Native, where's your avatar pic of?