SKI 15 Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Found that quoted on the official Hanazono site linked to from here (on SJ). I presume that is true - the 8% bit - but I would be interested to know which is the snowiest if Niseko is the second? Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Here you go Originally Posted By: thursday Forbes Traveler online lists the 20 snowiest ski resorts in the world. full story in Forbes Traveler "This story highlights the top 20 snowiest resorts on the planet, as tracked by Bestsnow, which pulls meteorological records from weather stations, data from avalanche-forecasting centers and monthly snowfall amounts from ski resorts. Bestsnow's numbers?which are used by publications like Skiing magazine and Powder magazine to rank resorts?differ from average snowfall numbers touted by some resorts. This is because, among other factors, Bestsnow looks at monthly averages spread over time periods of up to 40 years." The List: Resort Location Avg. Snowfall (in./year) 1. Mt. Baker Ski Area Washington 641 2. Niseko resorts Japan 595 3. Alta Ski Area Utah 523 4. Alyeska Resort Alaska 513 5. Kirkwood Mountain Resort California 473 6. Stevens Pass Washington 471 7. Sugar Bowl California 464 8. Grand Targhee Resort Wyoming 463 9. Snowbird Ski Resort Utah 461 10. Mt. Hood Meadows Resort Oregon 430 11. Whistler Blackcomb Resort British Columbia 407 12. Powder Mountain Utah 400 13. Solitude Utah 399 14. Whitewater Resort British Colombia 397 15. Boreal Mountain Resort California 395 16. Crystal Mountain Washington 390 17. Mt. Washington British Colombia 383 18. Brighton Resort Utah 381 19. Wolf Creek Colorado 379 20. Fernie Alpine Resort British Colombia 369 Not a single European reort made it. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted May 27, 2009 Author Share Posted May 27, 2009 Ah, ok - THAT one! Thanks. Interested in that 8% number...... Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 This has done the rounds before. How Niseko made it to #2 is interesting. There are certainly other areas of Japan that get more snow albeit generally at much higher altitudes. Also Niseko does not actually have a proper snow recording station on the mountain so the figure is just an extrapolation. Kutchan which does have an accurate snow recording station averages around 480 inches(since we're using inches) per year at only 176m (577ft) above sea level. So the figure stated in the Forbes review is probably reasonable say at 1000m on Annupuri but who knows? The 8% water content of the snow is probably reasonably accurate, those who've been here know how incredibly light and dry the snow can be. Also because the temperatures are reasonably mild, between -5 and -15 the snow crystals often fall as fernlike dendrites. This structure means the snow settles loosely with plenty of air in top layers which is why the snow can be so fluffy and light so often. Love it! Link to post Share on other sites
SantaCruz 0 Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Living in Seattle has some nice benefits.... Mt Baker (1) is about 3 hours away. Stevens Pass (6) and Crystal (16) are both about 2-2.5 hours away. Crystal is larger and has better back country compared to Stevens (so I'm told). Whistler is maybe 5-6 hours away and doable on a long weekend. I've never been to Mt. Hood but it's close to Portland which is 3 hours away. But yeah the snow tends to be wet and more heavy I guess. I started riding a few years ago and have only done it in the Pacific NW so I can't compare. But the snow's nick name is Cascade Concrete. There's still some great powder days though. Go Seattle! Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Yeah, if it was actually accurate most of it would be Japanese places. But I definitely love the Pacific Northwest and British Colombia. You'll have to check Crystal out if you haven't been. Great steep fun mountain! Whistler's great of course too but everyone knows that.... Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 There are certainly days when the water content is much lower than 8%. More like the 4-5% found in Utah and Colorado. Link to post Share on other sites
Myoko Guy 0 Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 All except one in North America? Not so sure about that. As others say, bit of extrapolation and hypothesis going on. Locals here swear Seki Onsen is just about the snowiest place in Japan. Maybe one of the TOP THREE as Japanese like to do with everything. They've never backed it up with hard evidence (though I've never asked either). Link to post Share on other sites
SantaCruz 0 Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Originally Posted By: ger You'll have to check Crystal out if you haven't been. I've been once when I was still somewhere between beginner and intermediate. There had just been a late season dump so skipped out on work, it was great! Ger, are you in the PNW? Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 MG, if your friends have back issues of Bravoski, you will see that there are many more places in Japan that get more snow quantity than Niseko (if memory serves correct it didnt make the top 10 in Japan), but it was also consistently ranked #2 or #1 for snow quality and was always battling with Shiga Kogen. Personally, I love most places in Japan because theyre all so bloody good!!!!!! Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted May 28, 2009 Share Posted May 28, 2009 Originally Posted By: SantaCruz Ger, are you in the PNW? I'm in Japan but lived in Vancouver for a year. Last time I was back I we did Crystal-Seattle-Victoria-Vancouver-Whistler for some great skiing and partying too. Love the PNW. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted May 29, 2009 Author Share Posted May 29, 2009 Crystal-Seattle-Victoria-Vancouver-Whistler >>>> nice. Link to post Share on other sites
pickled mushhead 0 Posted June 5, 2009 Share Posted June 5, 2009 Not been there yet but really need to go and check it out myself. Perhaps this coming season. Link to post Share on other sites
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