Mike Pow 52 Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 ratherb@thesnow More frequently here in the Niseko Resort Area. Normally every 2-4 days. mixedbag Thanks and you're welcome. Enjoy your visit. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 ratherb@thesnow we average 14m+ of snow each winter, whereas Aus resorts are lucky to exceed 3m. So the frequency of snow bearing systems is certainly greater and we get a lot more with each system. We don't always need cold fronts continually moving through though, if the winds are out of the N to W then they pick up moisture crossing the northern part of the Sea of Japan and it just continually snows. I've been here in some years where some snow has fallen on nearly every day of a month. In Jan/Feb we would normally get snow falling on average about 24 days in each month. Link to post Share on other sites
PWL 0 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Mike (or anyone else of course) I have a request Can you take some photos of the courses at the resort. While the photos of the people in this deep snow are brilliant, I would like to get an idea of the courses there. Could you do that, just for me. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 sure thing here's my appetizer course Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Smartarse Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 You have spoilt the thread thursday. At least make it small!!! Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Good point though PWL - does Niseko actually have any groomed courses? Link to post Share on other sites
keba 0 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Mike's photos aren't on groomed piste? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Problem is none of us who live here would ever ski on-piste if we can help it Link to post Share on other sites
PWL 0 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Aw, go on. Just for me. Just the once. I'll give you a big kiss when I get there! Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Tuesday 20 January 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 12cm in the past 24 hrs at MQ A healthy fall of snow at MQ this morning. And on the hill? Well it covered up the crunch from yesterday's rain and warming rather nicely. Found some fast, light pow up to boot top in depth in the Waterfall area and the trees in Hanazono with the Banks family from the Sunshine Coast. Dougie getting airborne in Hanazono Louis getting airborne in Hanazono Louis getting airborne in Hanazono Tim getting airborne in Hanazono Jackie getting into the pow in the Waterfall area Claudia getting into the pow in the Waterfall area Claudia getting into the pow in the Waterfall area Jackie enjoying the pow in the Waterfall area Tim getting into the pow in the Waterfall area Much better day than expected, and even had a clear sunset at MQ Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Cheers Wednesday 21 January 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 9cm in the past 24 hrs at MQ Great morning in Hanazono with Makkari's own Ian Mackenzie. Felt a whole lot more than 9cm off Hanazono 1 & 2 chairs. Ian M barrelling down the Waterfall area. Sun broke through in the late afternoon for some excellent turns in the Ace and King areas of Hirafu. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Thursday 22 January 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 3cm in the past 24 hrs at MQ Just a skiff of new on the ground, and Hanazono delivered again. Powder was on the menu and we feasted. Louis breaking on through Tim Claudia And last but certainly not least, Dougie Cold, clear end to the day with Yotei making an appearance. 708cm (249") of snow measured at MQ so far this season. 11mm of rain forecast for tonight through to mid-day tomorrow. Fingers, legs, eyes and wires crossed that we dodge this bullet. Link to post Share on other sites
ssar 0 Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Great pics and updates - THANKS for posting these MikePow! Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Thanks for the updates Mike I was starting to get withdrawals. What is the news on the damage re the rain. Or don't I even want to know. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Friday 23 January 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 0cm in the past 24 hrs at MQ But a whole load of rain Rain started in around 1am and with minor breaks has pretty much continued. The snowpack around MQ has diminished rapidly with the rain and warmer temps. But I can actually see out of my windows now. Every cloud has a silver lining. Roads are like a skating rink. And presumably so too the lower mountain. No interest in venturing up there to find out for myself. The rain has been accompanied by strong, gusting winds and at 10:50am only the lower lifts are open. But the cavalry is on its way. The rain is forecast to turn to snow this afternoon and continue through to Monday afternoon. Snowforecast is calling for 35cm of snow accompanied by cold temps. Down to -20 C in the village on Monday night. Having endured too many rain events already this winter I'm confident that this one will be forgotten about by Monday. Link to post Share on other sites
NisekoRocks 0 Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Rain must go away. It should not be allowed in Niseko. Great job with the photos MikePow. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Thank you again for the report. Heres hoping for some good snowfalls. Here on the Gold Coast we have also had ALOT of rain and it is very HOT & HUMID Perfect for Australia Day. Think I will have to owe MP a beer for his reports Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Saturday 24 January 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 11cm in the past 24 hrs at MQ The rain finally stopped and light snow started falling around 7pm last night in the village. This morning brought superlight powder at MQ courtesy of the frigid overnight temps. But lurking below the fluff was the boilerplate layer of frozen rain and ice. Compadres on the hill this morning report dust on crust, boilerplate, and dense drifts up to 50cm. Snowing heavily as I write (10am) and it looks like the harder layer in-bounds will be covered up pretty quickly. The Niseko Avalanche Information web site is reporting the avalanche risk as HIGH. http://niseko.nadare.info/ I'm heading over to Rusutsu for the week and will send dispatches from there. In the meantime check the Niseko Avalanche Information web site for daily conditions in the Niseko Resort Area. Link to post Share on other sites
klingon 10 Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 looking forward to seeing about Rusitsu Link to post Share on other sites
klingon 10 Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 sorry Rusutsu Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Great pics again Mike Link to post Share on other sites
7-11 2 Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 I'm going there - next year! Friend will be living nearby. Link to post Share on other sites
7-11 2 Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Rusutsu, that is, not Niseko. Link to post Share on other sites
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