Mike Pow 52 Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 Monday 10 November 2008 Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area, Hokkaido Much nicer day today. Sunny, windy, dry, colder. No snow below the top of Ace Quad. A little above. Yotei seems to have fared better with the rain and milder temps. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 It's warmed up again in Hakuba, but the forecast is for the first snow at village level next week. Woot! Anyone know what's up the Unisys East Asia weather maps? They're all coming up blank. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Autumn has returned to the Niseko Resort Area with no opportunity to make turns on the hill or on Mt Yotei. The coverage on Yotei looks impressive, but I was caught out twice last winter hiking up with my skis only to hike back down without making any turns. Twice bitten, thrice shy. We've had some beautiful sunrises and sunsets as the temps have cooled and the air has cleared. After three days hiking the hill and making turns the wait for more snow was killing me. A crew from the Niseko area headed up to Sounkyo last weekend for the opening of the Kurodake Ropeway and the opening of Black Mountain Lodge (on SJ Places to Stay page here ). But with the promise of clear skies the following week, Glen and I cooled our heels in Hirafu and headed up this past Wednesday morning (the 12th). The 5hr drive up from Hirafu passed quickly, especially when we started to see more and more snow on the side of the road and blanketing the peaks in the distance. This part of Hokkaido has mountains, not hills, and it was great to have that sense of being in the alpine again. On the way to Sounkyo we took a detour to check out a little known gem in the area, Kitaitaisetsu Ski Area http://www.gl-net.ne.jp/kitataisetsu/index.html There was a healthy covering of snow top to bottom and this unassuming mountain is a must visit when it opens in early December. We rolled into Sounkyo around sunset and headed to the Ginga and Ryusei Waterfalls about a click out of town. It was colder than a witch's tit with the waterfall and river frozen in many places. Kurodake web page http://www.rinyu.co.jp/kurodake/index.html Sounkyo web page http://www.sounkyo.net/english/index.html We did Sounkyo large and stayed at the Hotel Taisetsu overlooking the mountain and the town centre. Shared tatami room (boiling hot) with buffet breakfast (decent) and all you can eat Viking buffet dinner (excellent) for 8,000 yen. We were the only two non-Japanese staying at the hotel and the youngest by about 15 years. There were about 500 guests from Honshu on a bus tour of Hokkaido. The bonus was live entertainment in the lobby from what appeared to be a famous Japanese artiste singing along to a backing tape. She had the very appreciative crowd in the palm of her hands as she sang and glided through the group shaking hands and having photos taken. This was followed by bingo. The onsen in the hotel are spectacular, especially the open air one on the 7th floor looking up to Kurodake peak. At night it was illuminated by moonglow and in the morning by alpenglow. Very civilised. We left the hotel before 8am with the walls of the gorge bathed in the early sunlight. Caught the second tram up and with the feeling that the clouds could roll in at any moment headed straight to the double chair and then the hike up to the 1984m Kurodake Peak. Our prize the 'Grinch' like off angle face and gully below. The hike took about 90 mins with only the odd waist deep wallow. Glen Claydon hiking to the summit of Daisetsuzan Kurodake Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 178 Posted November 15, 2008 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted November 15, 2008 ((This is actually MikePow's post!)) Some great views on the way up of the terrain between Kurodake and Asahidake, at 2290m the highest peak in the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range and on Hokkaido. After the obligatory summit shots it was time to drop in. The snow was windblown in parts with a 15-20cm breakable crust and boot top dry powder in others. The pitch was consistent and steepish, high 30s, and fast. Yours truly skiing from the summit of Daisetsuzan Kurodake Unknown riding from the summit of Daisetsuzan Kurodake Glen Claydon riding from the summit of Daisetsuzan Kurodake Some excellent terrain up there that will be spectacular in waist deep pow. The coverage below the top of the Ropeway was thin so we decided to head back to the groomed area beside the chairlift. But when conditions allow the run from the peak to the town will be epic. 1314m of vert from wide open bowl to tight, technical trees. Can't wait. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 wow....nice one Mike Link to post Share on other sites
telehugh 0 Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 I had a great 3 days skiing in Souenkyo over Christmas 8 years ago - I'd been in Japan for 3 months, I had no idea what Hokkaido was like, had never even been in an onsen - the depth of powder on Daisetsu-san just blew my mind and converted me from a Japan skeptic to a .... well I'm not sure but I'm still enjoying being here. The run all the way from the top is truly epic but I guess that it will need a couple of storms before it opens. For a great road trip try Sapporo, Daisetsu / Souenkyo, Shiretoko. It can be vvvv cold, you'll meet few people, bad weather is just that but when you get good weather there is some immense skiing. Roll on the winter storms Hugh Link to post Share on other sites
Greenroome 0 Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 Great report Mike. Thanks a lot. I can't wait to get started! Wind just swung to the north in Sapporo. Is this the big chill? The real deal? Six snowmen in a row on the JMA website look good. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Thanks for the AWESOME photo's MP. Now the waiting game begins if the weather reports are correct it should start snowing tonight and there will be light snow all week. Will Niseko open 22nd November?? WAITING ~ WAITING ~ WAITING Link to post Share on other sites
Kingofmyrrh 0 Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Definitely the number one content provider at SJ, great info. What do you think the peak run would be like mid-season? Looks like just the right gradient to get a bit slidey... Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 King you can't get up there mid season as the ropeway and lift close for most of the winter. They'll reopen start of March when conditions should be awesome. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 great report Mike. A trip report thread in it's own right. Link to post Share on other sites
skidaisuki 0 Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Hmmm... webcams are a rather depressing sight at the moment, even the peak's bare of snow again. Let's hope this is the last day of the year that we see it uncovered. None of the forecasts are saying anything but snow for Hokkaido from tomorrow onwards - let's nope they're right. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Looking ~ Waiting ~ Looking Webcams super depressing No clouds in the sky and even sunny, no snow anywhere? Hopefully will wake up tomorrow and MP will be making fresh tracks!! Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Thanks guys. Snowhunter, I hope so. But unfortunately I can't see it at this stage. I think we'll be lucky to have the lifts turning this weekend. But will be the happiest person to be proven wrong Link to post Share on other sites
Nisoko 6 Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Seems overly optimistic. Link to post Share on other sites
mikelowry 0 Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Take your last look at 'green' people. It won't be back for many months! Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 Great TR Link to post Share on other sites
deanrobi 2 Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 I think I can see a slight covering of white on the CAM this morning, Fingers crossed Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Hai. And starting to come DOWN !!!!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Ezorisu 0 Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 Think y'all should have gotten something last night. Nothing here in Sapporo... Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 Wednesday 19 November 2008 Niseko Resort Area 2cm overnight at MQ (that would be Mike's Quarters) Cold, dry pow. It's coming down at about 2cm an hour at the moment. It's started Big Thursday tomorrow. According to Go Native. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 Surfed all the webcams I could find today regularly and was very excited by what I saw. I did notice on SJ Niseko Now web cam there where some tracks in the snow WOULD THEY BE YOURS MIKE?? I wonder if the NON skiers in Japan get as excited about the snow fall as we all do?? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Not mine. Super light snow. Would have trashed the bases. maybe tomorrow if it keeps snowing. Link to post Share on other sites
skidaisuki 0 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Looks like it's puking down from the webcams....Mike? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Yep it's been dumping down all night, a good 20-30cm I'd say. Link to post Share on other sites
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