Mike Pow 52 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Sunday 08 February 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 23cm in the past 24 hrs at MQ New snow finally but once again blowing a gale. Upper lifts shut all day. Time to recharge the batteries. Glen said that the nighter was epic. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Monday 09 February 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 14cm in the past 24 hrs at MQ The wind died down and and the sun came out and it was a glorious boot top powder day in Hanazono. Don Reed, Reg Bryson & Andy Laidlaw with their turns on the nose of Waterfall behind Reg Don Andy Link to post Share on other sites
Borat 0 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 I should be in niseko 18th mar 09... I know thats late in the season, but would we still be able to ski or will it be too late do you think? All I'm reading is how bad the season is over there so far. Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Sounds like Niseko is doing well to me. Look at this thread and Niseko Now - certainly seems like the choice of places this season. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Should be fine. Skied through to May 7th last season. A lot can happen in a month. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Tuesday 10 & Wednesday 11 February 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 0cm in the past 48 hrs at MQ Decent days, grey, waiting for the snow to return. Skied The Cuts and went out to Last Cut for the first time. And it was the deepest Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Niseko has fared pretty well this season. Still a 3-3.5m snowdepth on the upper mountain and around 1.5-2m on the lower. The next couple of weeks are looking good for snowfalls and there's normally plenty of snow in March, you should be fine. Who knows some of the best snowfalls of this season could be in March. Should still be far better than anything you've ever experienced in Aus! Link to post Share on other sites
Borat 0 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 thanks for the feedback guys, fingers crossed for a good one! Cheers! Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Thursday 12 February 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 4cm in the past 24 hrs at MQ When there's no new snow in Niseko, you know where to go Sunshine, knee deep and light. I'll take it. Andy Reg Craig And on the way back to Niseko we got this Link to post Share on other sites
Borat 0 Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 nice photos! Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 15, 2009 Share Posted February 15, 2009 Friday 13 February 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 0cm in the past 24 hrs at MQ On the Road Again Left a greybird Hirafu at 8 headed for Tomamu. But on the way Ian Stutchbury and I took a detour to the former coal mining powerhouse of Yubari, home to Mt Racey Ski Resort. The bankrupt town may have seen better days, but the resort was jumping with large groups of schoolchildren and the army learning to ski. The hotel was a little behind the times with the latest movie releases, not that Sean Connery would mind Ian and I were the only non-Japanese in attendance and the only ones hitting the steeper treed areas of the hill. The south facing slopes were baked and hard packed with a covering of chalky snow. The north facing slopes off Mt Reisui, of which there are many, were soft, untracked and exciting. Really enjoyed the day and the legitimate steeps and will definitely return to hit terrain like this in fresh snow. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 EPIC Day skiing today with it puking down in Niseko. It has let up a little this evening but I will be up bright and early to hit the pow tomorrow. I reckon we have had about 20cm. Link to post Share on other sites
ssar 0 Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 That sounds great. The webcams now (8:45pm Mon 16 Feb) indicate the snowfall has eased, but the weather forecast says more snow is on the way and mostly cool conditions will prevail over the coming days/week.. Sounds good! Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Saturday 14 February 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 0cm in the past 24 hrs reported by the Niseko Avalanche Information web site. Valentine's Day at Tomamu Arrived after dark Friday night for 3 nights and 3 days skiing at Tomamu. It was snowing heavily on our arrival, but the snow was blowing horizontal. Had an excellent buffet dinner and Japanese buffet breakfast before suiting and booting and heading out to the slopes. Took about 4 steps, turned around and shut it down. The snow had turned to rain and Tomamu was giving us no love. Spent the day reading, watching movies, eating, drinking coffee and waiting. And hoping. To no avail. Early night and then up at 11:30 pm to watch France beat Scotland and Wales beat England in the 6N rugby. Sunday 15 February 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 0cm in the past 24 hrs reported by the Niseko Avalanche Information web site. Finally got out on snow. 5cm of new on top of 15cm of day old on top of a hard rain + sun crust hybrid. Not pretty. The terrain at Tomamu is impressive. 30 to 35 degree pitches through old growth coniferous forests. We're talking big gaps between the bark. And no one in there. We just didn't get the snow to enjoy it. And to ride the trees you have to check in at the Free Zone to register and pick up a yellow bib. Ruskin McLennan sporting yellow Andy Laidlaw sporting yellow Ian Stutchbury sporting yellow Tomamu architecture Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Monday 16 February 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 25cm in the past 24 hrs reported by the Niseko Avalanche Information web site. Winter has returned, just not at Tomamu. We came to ski pow and there was none, so time to move on. With no bar, great buffets, the feeling that the resort is in its death throes, great terrain but lifts accessing it permanently shut, Tomamu was a mixed bag. I would return but only if I knew there was at least 30cm of fresh on a soft base. Pretty much in the "most of Europe" category then Thanks to the wonder that is the internet, and 30 minutes trawling through the snow forecast site we made the decision to head back from whence we came instead of heading north to Asahidake. First stop, Mt Racey in Yubari. It was in the centre of the doughnut too. So a quick coffee and back on the road. we'd called back to base all morning, but with the majority of the lifts in Niseko on wind hold we had no desire to rush back. The decision was made to head to Sapporo Kokusai on the way to suck it and see. We saw it and it did not suck. Ruskin McLennan Andy Laidlaw Yours truly What a fantastic afternoon and what fantastic terrain accessed by just one gondola. Drove around to Kiroro to check on the conditions there, and decided to stay the night Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 yeah Mike, its official, your life sucks!! Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 I LOVE NISEKO. It has been snowing constantly and we are all having a total blast. Our friends are also now hooked. One question DOES IT STOP SNOWING Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Not usually Link to post Share on other sites
Hokkaidough 4 Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 We don't want it to! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Great pics as ever Mike Link to post Share on other sites
mina2 6 Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Yes nice work Mike. Looks fantastic. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Thanks all. Tuesday 17 February 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 20cm in the past 24 hrs reported by the Niseko Avalanche Information web site. Stayed at the Mountain Hotel at Kiroro. Fantastic. Great rooms and service. Breakfast & dinner all-you-can-eat buffets were excellent. And we walked out of the reception onto the snow. Thouroughly recommended. Had at least 25cm overnight on top of Monday's dumpage. Deserted and deep all day. The evidence m'lord. Ruskin McLennan Andy Laidlaw Link to post Share on other sites
cheeseman 1 Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Mike - wonderful pics again. And if you get a chance with the cheese, please feel free to up to my gallery Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Todays report: After a week of near continuous snowfalls dropping close to 1.5m of snow today has dawned clear and cold with only light winds. The peak is finally going to open after many days of being closed and will offer incredible views and deep fresh lines. It will be epic! That sounds GOOD. Anyway off to bed for me... Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Wednesday 18 February 2009 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area 15cm in the past 24 hrs reported by the Niseko Avalanche Information web site. I stayed at the Mountain Hotel for another night and Andy drove over from Hirafu for a bluebird pow day. Yours truly Link to post Share on other sites
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