skidaisuki 0 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Thanks GN. You must be looking forward to the weekend. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Thursday 20 November 2008 Niseko Resort Area, Hokkaido 24 at the door. 24cm in the past 24 hrs at MQ in the St Moritz / Kabayama area of Hirafu at an altitude of approx. 250m Cold, dry pow. Set off from the cabin at 8:15 and got to Ace Hill at 10. At least 50cm all over the mountain with continual snowfall since 8 this morning. Ace Hill down to the start of the Kokutai Course was less than epic. It entailed me straight lining and poling and travelling about 1 km per day. The bottom third of the descent wasn't much better. But the filling in the sandwich - the turns on Kokutai Course - was powtastic. Boot top to mid-thigh with legit chest and face shots. Superlight. My uptrack was barely visible as I made my way to the Alpen Hotel. Spoke with patrol and they were very non-commital about Saturday's proposed opening. If the wheels do turn, then downloading on the Ace Quad will be the order of the day. They were roping off everything below Ace Hill as I dropped in. By the time I got back to the cabin it was time to shovel again. At least 10cm had fallen in the time I was out. No sign of this letting up, so expect 1 to 1.5m to have fallen come opening day. EDIT: Fallen rather than base. My bad. No pics sorry. Me, myself and I and it was dumping the whole time. Big Thursday indeed Go Native. Link to post Share on other sites
shadowtec 0 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Sw33t I can't wait to go BTW dose any1 have a detailed resort map of Niseko runs the ones I got are hard to read Link to post Share on other sites
samwillis5 0 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 in your experience does this first snow of the season (being 1-1.5 in MikePows estimation) usually stick around or does it dissapear with the real - long term - base settling down in mid december? is this as good a start as any in recent years in Niseko? Link to post Share on other sites
klingon 10 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Quote: downloading on the Ace Quad will be the order of the day Can I do that on t'inta? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Originally Posted By: samwillis5 in your experience does this first snow of the season (being 1-1.5 in MikePows estimation) usually stick around or does it dissapear with the real - long term - base settling down in mid december? is this as good a start as any in recent years in Niseko? All depends if it warms up and heaven forbid it rains. Similar pattern to the last two seasons, but we did get rain in December in 06 and 07. If we get 1.5m out of this storm that won't equate to a 1.5m base. The snow's too light. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 It looks like it will warm up a little again next week. No rain in the outlook currently up in Hokkers but down on Honshu it's looking they may get some. Link to post Share on other sites
deanrobi 2 Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Whats happening today? any more snow? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Friday 21 November 2008 Niseko Resort Area, Hokkaido 27 at the door. 27cm in the past 24 hrs at MQ. Heavier snow, but not by much. Tried to ski Niseko Village this morning. There was a rumour that it was getting the jump on Grand Hirafu. Unfortunately not. Opportunity knocked and no one answered. Story of this town unfortunately. Set off from the base of the Ace Quad around 8:45 and called it quits just below Ace Hill. It was deep and heavy boot packing up. Up to 80cm depth in parts. Average of 60cm. But the sun came out for a while which was rather special. "He'll be coming round the mountain when he comes..." Skiing was easier today. More of a base from the heavier snow and the surface snow warming in the sun. Still got some depth though. The benefits of being a bigger unit. But not flying everywhere like it did yesterday. But since I got back in around lunchtime, there's been a steady fall of big flaked light snow coming down. Could be pretty enjoyable tomorrow for opening day. It's just a pity that if they do open, then the best terrain will not be available. If they don't open then they deserve to handcuffed to a piss pot. No excuse. Might have to invest in a helmet cam for all these solo hikes I do. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Niseko Now page has been updated with a few pics from this morning. Link to post Share on other sites
oblivion 5 Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Cool. Looks like it is all set to go. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I really want to go there. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 do it. Since your plan is still up in the air, do the Hokkaido trip 09. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Keep Puking ~ only 77 days to go Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Saturday 22 November 2008 Niseko Resort Area, Hokkaido 11cm in the past 24 hrs at MQ. Friday evening was rocking in Hirafu for the first time in ages. Niseko Pizza had its 'official' opening party in the early afternoon that soon became the late evening. Then it was on to a nomi houdai (all you can drink) at Apres Bar. 1,500 yen And then back down the hill to Jam Bar's opening night after refurbishment. Another nomi houdai, this time free, gratis and for nothing OPENING DAY FOR GRAND HIRAFU SKI AREA Plans to get first chair went out of the window when I woke at 7:45 and I got to the bottom of the Ace Quad just as Glen was being whisked up the hill on first chair. Good effort son. It was odd to ride the chair after hiking these past weeks and to see tracks plural as opposed to my solitary line on the mountain. I honestly didn't think we'd have opening day earlier in the week, and I'm still amazed that 3 solid days of snowfall was all it took to get the lifts turning. I picked up my season pass yesterday which was a big improvement on the debacle last season when the season pass office opened at 8:20 on opening day And when I got to the Ace Hill I was met with a very unexpected surprise. Patrol and the grooming crew had opened the hill back down to the base of the quad. I've been very critical of the Grand Hirafu mountain ops but today they exceeded my expectations. Kudos. And the conditions? Best opening day I've had. The snow was deep, light, consistent and with very few people on the hill there was plenty of pow to go round. Even the sun made an appearance for 15 mins or so. Rode with Wild Bill's barman Ben Gillespie for the morning and had a blast. It was great to put the laps in. Ben launching off the summer access road It's been snowing for most most of the day, so tomorrow's turns should be even better That's if Wild Bill's nomi houdai doesn't do too much damage Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 As usual GREAT REPORT & PHOTO Mike Thanks Day was a little depressing over here in Oz - Logged on first thing to see the massive queues and knee deep powder and all the webcams were down Looks like you are meant to have light snow all day LUCKY LUCKY!!! I don't know what we will do over here if the cams don't come back on. Link to post Share on other sites
shadowtec 0 Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 I cant wait till I am there in just under 3 weeks time Link to post Share on other sites
neversummer 0 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Whilst all these guys were out there getting POW, I had to snow clear all the snow that had fallen around my place Should have a new noboard here soon and will soon be chasing POW myself Link to post Share on other sites
snowbender 3 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Awesome Wish I were you. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Hope you snowballed him as he came across? Awesome shot - reg. digital camera? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Cheers guys. RobBright, Nikon D70S and my good friend Photo-chop Sunday 23 November 2008 Niseko Resort Area, Hokkaido 26cm in the past 24 hrs at MQ. Great nomi houdai at Wild Bills. Most of the village was there. Real buzz at the moment. Lots of familiar faces, plenty of new ones too. More ladies in town it seems this winter. Niseko to lose its 'Sausage Fest' reputation? Only time will tell. Pulled an all nighter after Wild Bills watching the rugby from Europe, so today's turns at Annupuri were less than stellar. Opening day there and there were plenty of good turns to be had. A little windblown in places and a little bare in others, but a solid start to the season. Katsu curry was top notch. Just what the doctor ordered. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 man, what's with the parking at the bottom of King? Where are the racks for the Kogen Lunch feeding frenzy? Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Yeah we were a little confused about that. They don't normally have cars there do they?? Hey here is another question for you Mike. Is Andy's back this year?? Link to post Share on other sites
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