tripler 0 Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 It's supposed to snow 50cms from tonight through Wednesday, so I thought Thursday morning would be good conditions. But someone said Cortina never opens till 11am after a dump. Is that true? It's also supposed to snow 15cms on Thursday. Would I be better off going Friday, knowing for certain it will open on time? Or will it be all cut up by then and 15cm isn't enough to repair it? Also supposed to snow another 15cms on Friday, so visibility will probably be just as bad Friday as Thursday. What should I do? Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 I heard that they only opened at 2pm when there is 50cm of snow, at 1pm if there is 40cm, and at 12 noon on the dot if it's 30-40cm. So I suppose it will depend on how much snow falls. Link to post Share on other sites
tripler 0 Posted January 12, 2010 Author Share Posted January 12, 2010 2pm??? Looking on the bright side, means you only need to buy a half day ticket. Link to post Share on other sites
best skier in hakuba 5 Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 They'll open as early as they can. Link to post Share on other sites
tripler 0 Posted January 12, 2010 Author Share Posted January 12, 2010 guess I can always swill happoshu and read my book for 5 hours while I wait. Link to post Share on other sites
rider69 18 Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Tracked out by 11 maybe. If they think the avalanche danger is high they wont open anything. Link to post Share on other sites
tripler 0 Posted January 12, 2010 Author Share Posted January 12, 2010 what d'you mean by "tracked out"? Link to post Share on other sites
skidaisuki 0 Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 I think rider69's right - the sides of the valley at Cortina (by the higher lifts) are potentially avalanche prone, and so I guess they don't want anyone there until they are sure there's no danger of a slide onto the piste. Or at least that's one opinion I heard when I was there recently. SdS Link to post Share on other sites
rider69 18 Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 This season many people know about the trees and they are open. By 11am you will find Cortina tracked out. Link to post Share on other sites
Mudguts 0 Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Rode Cortina on Jan 6th with 20-30cms of fresh which I consider to be in the dump range. Main lift opened at 8:30am. Further up the hill the lifts opened at 9 and the Giant Course at 10am which me a few mates were the first down.....sweet lines! Plus ducked the ropes and had the ridge at the top of the giant to ourselves all morning. The patrol are alot more chilled out at Cortina this season. They were absolute nazis in the past. Link to post Share on other sites
tripitaka 0 Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Originally Posted By: rider69 This season many people know about the trees and they are open. By 11am you will find Cortina tracked out. Yes. We were at Happo on Dec 30th and we were talking to Australian tourist on the gondola who skied the trees at Cortina the previous day. The foreign owner of the lodge he was staying at has been telling all and sundry. Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Cortina's too small. It'll get tracked out right away. Plus you're completely screwed if the top lift isn't open. Best to go someplace bigger. Link to post Share on other sites
Mudguts 0 Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 In my experience Cortina is never crowded and I have had fresh lines basically all day. Never been there on a weekend which I'm guessing is a different story tho. Some of my best ever days have been at Cortina....deep powder and steep lines! Link to post Share on other sites
rider69 18 Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 The patrol didn't say anything because the trees are open. Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 Front side or just the back ridge? Link to post Share on other sites
tripler 0 Posted January 14, 2010 Author Share Posted January 14, 2010 Originally Posted By: Mudguts Plus ducked the ropes and had the ridge at the top of the giant to ourselves all morning. You ducked a rope? You heathen scum, get out of Japan NOW! We don't want your sort here! Originally Posted By: Mudguts The patrol are alot more chilled out at Cortina this season. They were absolute nazis in the past. Maybe dey is chill because dey smoke da 'erb... Link to post Share on other sites
tripler 0 Posted January 17, 2010 Author Share Posted January 17, 2010 update Right-hand top lift didn't open till 10am though day before's dump was good but not epic. Left-hand top lift (the best one) wasn't yet open around 9.20am. Not sure when it opened but definitely by 10. More people than I expected, runs quickly semi-cut up. Heard people say the day before was dead. Maybe Fridays are always more busy - mental note: never go skiing on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Everyone was treein' it, no sign of Ski Patrol though some cat track drop-offs had "Keep Out. High avalanche risk"-type signs. Back of top lift sign said "Not patrolled... blar, blar, blar... please ask staff for backcountry gates." You end up next to a lift which is in Norikura (not included on the 3,300 yen Cortina day pass - 4,000 gets both) though the liftie didn't check my ticket. Probably only a short walk along the bottom the the first Cortina lift. Pros Great trees, some steep stuff, some ungroomed runs. Central base in Green Plaza Hotel. General olde world feel. Hot liftie on main quad. Cons Paper lift ticket, hard to get out of pocket. No gondola. Last bus back to station 3.45pm. a Cortina tree run Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 get yourself one of those armband ticket holders that all resorts sell...only about 100 or 200 yen Link to post Share on other sites
stemik 14 Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 you should have taken the shuttle bus back to Hakuba - it picks you up and drops you off at your accommodation. It's 6000yen and includes a liftpass, 1000yen lunch coupon and free onsen. Link to post Share on other sites
tripler 0 Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 wasn't coming from Hakuba but sounds like a good deal. Green Plaza Hotel do an amazing tabehodai but probably not for lunch. Link to post Share on other sites
stemik 14 Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Green Plaza also have a free pick up from Nagano Station - did you take this? Link to post Share on other sites
tripler 0 Posted January 18, 2010 Author Share Posted January 18, 2010 no, came up on the Oito line. A Green Plaza bus meets the train. Link to post Share on other sites
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