Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 Paid a visit to Inawashiro ski area on Saturday. It had been on my list of places to visit for a while, so it was very nice to win a free ticket in the SJ giveaway. Thank you to SJ and the J Mountains group! Will post a proper review later, but for now some pictures. The forecast for Saturday said partially sunny with snow showers. What greeted us was: This was the Hayama #3 Family Lift, a romance pair lift on the Chuo side. I was happy to see safety bars on the lift, even though, according to previous discussion on this site, they are apparently not required for non-detachable lifts. Snowed all day, but visibility did improve as the day wore on. We started at the Chuo side, but spent much of our time on the Minero side. Riding the Minero #3 lift: This seemed to be a closed slope on the Chuo side (viewed from Minero side). It was fenced off at the top, though that didn't deter someone, as evidenced by the large zig-zags visible: Here is an apparently decommissioned lift to the right of the previous slope. Cables still in place, but chairs removed, and it doesn't appear on the official trail map: The base lodge on the Minero side seems fairly new, or renovated. Inside the restaurant: View up from the Minero base area: Top of Minero high-speed quad: Somewhere on the Minero side: Weather clearing a bit, at least at lower elevations. View from Minero side: Lower connecting course from Minero side to Chuo side: Trees on the connector: View up the hill from Chuo base area: View down over Chuo base area: View up the Nishi Gelaende on the Chuo side. Another abandoned (and overgrown) slope in the upper center? View from top of Chuo side high-speed quad just before the last run of the day: It would be nice to go back on a clear weather day -- the views should be stunning. Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 Great stuff! Looks like a winner! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 Like that last one Isn't that looking over the big lake? Hey Metabo did you get to Marunuma the other week? Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Brings back some memories. Thanks for sharing Mr Metabo. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted February 2, 2010 Author Share Posted February 2, 2010 Thanks guys. Originally Posted By: muikabochi Isn't that looking over the big lake? On a clear day, there should be views to the south over Lake Inawashiro, but it never cleared far enough in that direction to see it. In a the last shot you can see east over the fields towards the ridges near Listel Ski Fantasia. Did get a subtle moment in late afternoon when we appeared to be floating in a bowl of gold, as some setting sun broke through the cloud gloom and reflected off the snowy rice fields. Couldn't capture the effect on camera, though. Quote: Hey Metabo did you get to Marunuma the other week? Didn't make it anywhere that weekend, as things turned out. Keeping an eye on weather to find an opportunity. May end up being late season, actually. May even make a weekend of it. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted February 2, 2010 Author Share Posted February 2, 2010 Originally Posted By: BagOfCrisps Brings back some memories. Any pics? Link to post Share on other sites
iiyamadude 6 Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Thanks Metabo Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted February 2, 2010 Share Posted February 2, 2010 Our pics were in my report Metabo, though they are all I think from Zao http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/304194/TR_Tohoku_2009_Alts_Inawashiro.html Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted February 4, 2010 Author Share Posted February 4, 2010 Yes, I had seen your Zao pictures. Was just being greedy and wondering if there were any from other places on your trip. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted February 4, 2010 Author Share Posted February 4, 2010 Posted a review: http://www.snowjapan.com/e/voice/readrereview3.php?resortName=Inawashiro&prefecture=Fukushima I also stumbled across the following newsreel clips while researching the history of Inawashiro (I got permission from SJ to post this link): http://www.db.fks.ed.jp/mov/20037.074/20037.074.00002.html Apparently Olympic skier Tony Seiler visited Inawashiro in 1960. Can see what the view was like before the base area got built up. (And also apparently, from the second clip, there used to be a ski area at nearby Takayu.) Many thanks again to SJ and J Mountains for the free ticket! Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted February 4, 2010 Share Posted February 4, 2010 Interesting! Thanks MO Link to post Share on other sites
fukdane 2 Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 Inawashiro are having an International Day like Norn did the other week. I see the info is on the spotlight page here Link to post Share on other sites
fukdane 2 Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 Oops! http://www.snowjapan.com/e/spotlight/inawashiro.html Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts