Go Native 70 Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Looks like the airport is having troubles today as well. Might be a few people miss out on getting here for New Years Eve... Link to post Share on other sites
Greenroome 0 Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 I'm not surprised. It's snowing sideways here in Sapporo. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 that stuff is wreaking havoc. Top is closed, look at the queues for the low lifts. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Wednesday 31 December 2008 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 43cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Light and dry. While I was devouring a bacon & egg roll at Niseko Pizza the wind started howling, blowing the freshly fallen powder all over the place. Walked up to the Alpen quad around 8 to see a scattering of people lining up for first chair and the mountain staff making their way up the hill via cat not lift. This didn't auger well for making tracks all over the mountain. Made calls to mates at Hanazono and Niseko Village and the message was the same. Chairs on hold due to high winds. At 8:30 the Ace #1 double chair started loading and the steadily growing pack was moving. Made one run to the right of the black run with no name and was nip deep. 20 minutes later I was back at the top of the chair ready to rendezvous with Glen. He'd driven up to take shots from the road. Think we made the most of the limited terrain on offer and the small window of sunlight. Not content with 20-30 minutes waiting on line and a 5 minute chair ride for a couple of hundred metres of vert I decided to go back to hiking the hill. Walked up to 'windy corner' and dropped into Konayuki. It wasn't pretty. Wind scoured hard pack one turn, gut deep heavy slab drifts the next. The trees weren't much better. The wind has died down this evening, so if the upper lifts do run tomorrow the smart money will be on wind protected areas like Rinkan for the best turns. Beyond the boundary rope is not recommended. Link to post Share on other sites
Curt 1 Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Thanks for all the photos MikePow. They're great. Have a good 2009. Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Well told report. I almost felt like I was there. Actually, I think I was I was at one point or another. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Thursday 01 January 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 18cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Sloppy, wet and heavy in the village. A bit like last night Will the people willing Niseko to become the next Whistler please stop. Hokkaido fluff please not Cascade Concrete. Happy New Year. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted January 1, 2009 Share Posted January 1, 2009 Just think of it as good base building mate. Will be awesome when the fluffy stuff hits again! Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 looks like it's hitting right now isn't it. Link to post Share on other sites
Deltaone1 0 Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 its been average as last few days, very warm! meant to get very cold on sunday with heavy falls, yaya!! PeAcE!... check out our shizenkan snow man peow peow!! Link to post Share on other sites
Greenroome 0 Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Which snow forecast do you guys use in Niseko? Most forecasts seem to regularly under-forecast the amount of snow coming. Or is it impossible to call? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 snowforecast. They do under report but are pretty solid with trends. Friday 02 January 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 16cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Beautiful morning in Hanazono. Snow not as heavy as the past two days. Jag inside the Hanazono magic carpet Saturday 03 January 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 11cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Glorious sunshine all morning then the snow kicked in for the afternoon. Snow almost back to Niseko normal The 'waterfall' area separating Higashiyama from Hirafu. So many lines. Sunday 04 January 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 6cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Great turns on and off the groomers this morning in Higashiyama. Deserted. 2cm of snow forecast for this afternoon and evening. Had more than that in the past hour Tomorrow should be great. Contrary to popular belief the streets of Niseko are still paved with gold Quick round up for the 2008 part of the 2008/09 season October 2008 4cm at MQ 1 snow event November 2008 109cm at MQ 8 snow events, largest 24 hr fall of 27cm December 2008 327cm at MQ 21 snow events, largest 24 hr fall of 43cm January 2009 has started well with snow every day and 51cm so far. Total snowfall this season of 491cm at MQ. Much, much more up on the hill Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Monday 05 January 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 11cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Of the lightest, driest, fluffiest snow of the season. So far Grand Hirafu was very quiet today with no queues and plenty of pow to play in. The sun broke through around 9:30 am for about 20 minutes and since then it's been snowing steadily. Skied with Scout, Matthew, Jag & Helen this morning. And here's their handiwork. Helen off 'Centre Course' Jag in 'Rinkan' Scout in 'Rinkan' Matthew off 'Centre Course' Matthew in 'Centre Course' Skied Miharashi, the old gondola line and Super Ridge this afternoon. Waist to nip deep all the way. Still snowing as I write. Tomorrow should be excellent. Link to post Share on other sites
Greenroome 0 Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Many thanks for the info Mike. Much appreciated, as always. Knee-deep today in Sapporo too. Thigh-deep in some secret drift stashes. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 That even makes my instant coffee seem nice. Link to post Share on other sites
Deltaone1 0 Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Some photos tackn today on the summit and on hirafu Niseko summit today mt. Yotei on our way to hanazono. Link to post Share on other sites
r45 4 Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Can't see them mate. Why don't you upload them here? Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 178 Posted January 8, 2009 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted January 8, 2009 Some people won't be able to see those. I have just sent you an email explaining. If you don't have anything against the idea, please do upload them to our site and link them in that way if you want. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Tuesday 06 January 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 31cm in the past 24hrs at MQ What a day. Deep, light snow and early morning sunshine. Unknown skiers dropping into 'Super Course' Ski Patrol stoke The sun went in and it started dumping again. Skied with Jag in the afternoon and got these two shots in 'Waterfall' 9 year old gut deep stoke And Jag's favourite as he came out of the pow Link to post Share on other sites
alexeiw123 2 Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 envy! Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Wednesday 07 January 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 9cm in the past 24hrs at MQ More like 90cm up on the hill! The peak opened for the first time this season and BIG WEDNESDAY was on. Did one quick lap beside the Hanazono #3 chair. Very good. Then while many were waiting for the peak gate to open, Greg Heptonstall, Tracy Lenard and I opted for laps through Gate 4 back down to the base of the Hanazono #3 chair. And what a good decision. I'm sure the people who hiked the peak in the sunshine had a ball, but we were going for quantity and quality. The snow was deep, light and consistent. There was still quite a bit fo shrubery lurking just beneath the snow pack ready to take you down but I think the pics speak for themselves. Greg just beyond the rope Tracy just beyond the rope Greg just beyond the rope Yours truly just beyond the rope. The one that got away. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 After 4 laps we traversed further round the mountain away from the ski area. The snow got deeper and lighter and the views were immense. Further round from the 'cornice' there was some big wind loading and scouring going on with steep drop offs to flat landings. Potentially very dangerous in low light conditions. That negotiated we opened up the throttle down to Jackson's Greg. Tora, Tora, Tora Tracy Yours truly heading into the great white open Easily the day of the season. So far Link to post Share on other sites
mikelowry 0 Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Bloody Hell! Bloody Hell! Amazing! Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Almost ALL of them could go in the Nomination thread! Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 I see some already are! http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubbthread...The_Photo_.html Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts