Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 Finally made it to Hunter Mountain near the end of their season, after buying discount tickets pre-season. It had snowed a couple days prior, but the day we went was sunny and WARM, 10 degrees or so. Early morning was wet packed powder at the top, becoming shave ice at the bottom, but by lunch-time it was varying grades of shave ice from top to bottom. Solid spring skiing. Good fun. The parking lots were pretty full, and we got sent to one of the upper lots (P8), which turned out to have convenient slope-side access: View from top: Base area. Lower slope itself seemed kind of crowded, though lift lines were never significant until the last hour, when only one lift was left running -- and even then, only a couple of minutes. Kicker and half-pipe visible to right hand side: View from midpoint: Riding Hunter Quad: Hunter Mountain mascot, "Han-tama": View of mountains from trail: View from top. Edelweiss ski area just visible to far left: Riding the top double lift: View from top: Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 That's great. No Jacket Required. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 I can see the maps and stuff but how big did it feel Metabo, say compared with Marunuma? Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 Always wondered about this place. What are the runs like? Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 Does look wet and spring, but what a nice day to be out there! Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted March 23, 2010 Share Posted March 23, 2010 I hear it is a day trip from Tokyo too, like an alternative to a resort in Yuzawa perhaps. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted March 25, 2010 Author Share Posted March 25, 2010 Compared to Marunuma, well, I guess it is similar in size, but completely different in feel. Marunuma is all hidden nooks and crannies, very three-dimensional. Hunter is, to, er, coin a phrase, rather flat -- all the trails seem kind of the same, with some parts being merely a bit steeper than others. No moguls, even, except for one trail (FDR) with an artificial Mogul Bahn. On the positive side, Hunter seems to be a very good place for beginners, intermediates, and families, and they do seem to have made pretty good use of the terrain that they have. The layout is well thought out, with no major inconveniences. Their halfpipes are lots of fun -- we spent a very enjoyable last hour mucking about in one (and seem to have inspired some other skiers to try it out, too -- only saw boarders hitting it before we started skiing into it, but then some kids on skis joined us). The kid ended the day with a big smiley face and declarations of desire to return, and that is what matters the most in the end. Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted March 26, 2010 Share Posted March 26, 2010 Marunuma sounds more fun! Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted March 27, 2010 Author Share Posted March 27, 2010 Yeah... I'd have to say so. Don't want to bad-mouth Hunter -- we did have a really nice day there, after all -- but to be honest, not sure I'd bother going back there, personally, when I can get to several of the Fukushima resorts in the same amount of time. Link to post Share on other sites
blinkin'ek 0 Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 I'd agree with you there. Went once a few years back, had fun, but it was enough. Link to post Share on other sites
best skier in hakuba 5 Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 How long does it actually take to get there from Tokyo? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 you can do a day bus trip, takes about 3-4hrs on the bus. Leave around 7.30, get there about 10.30-11am Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted March 31, 2010 Author Share Posted March 31, 2010 By the way, they are having a special this weekend: buy a day ticket, and get a free day ticket for next season. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Great deal! If you will be wanting to go again next year of course. Link to post Share on other sites
ILoveZao 8 Posted April 1, 2010 Share Posted April 1, 2010 I used to go there sometime when I was in Tokyo. It is a decent place, but I think snow is better in Gunma/Niigata areas. Link to post Share on other sites
SpaceAgeMonkey 0 Posted April 27, 2010 Share Posted April 27, 2010 It's a good day out for people in the Tokyo/Chiba area I reckon. Not the most challenging and no moguls is a good thing. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts