panhead_pete 27 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Just saw the forecast for Shiga Kogen and am going to head there Sunday afternoon after another 24hrs in Kyoto as am all templed out Any hints for better runs, areas to stay in as it's Stinky and my 1st time there. Any SJFers there next week? Also does anyone have a link for the current Nagano/Shiga bus timetable, the one I found states it changes mid Feb. Stoked, more snow when I expected none! Stinky strikes again! Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 178 Posted February 26, 2011 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted February 26, 2011 Is this the one you want Pete, I don't think it is changing mid-season http://www.nagadenbus.co.jp/robus/2011fuyu/shigawin.htm Link to post Share on other sites
pickled mushhead 0 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 How long will you be there? Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted February 26, 2011 Author Share Posted February 26, 2011 Sun night through to Thurs afternoon. Thanks David! Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted February 27, 2011 Author Share Posted February 27, 2011 Any recommendations for accom guys? Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 What's your budget? Dozens of choices. Yakebitai is best for longer runs. Terakoya & Shibu-toge normally have good powder, tho no steeps. Oku-Shiga is good for skiers, but doesn't allow boarding, same with (smaller) Kumanoyu. Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted February 27, 2011 Author Share Posted February 27, 2011 Hi Jim Im a boarder. Im not Jeremy Jones so steep isnt critical to me. I may have the accom sorted but Im struggling to see where the Ichinose Family resort is, the name is kinda scaring me.... Link to post Share on other sites
Ross 4 Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Pete Ichinose family area is agreat place to be based.You can get to almost all the area's from there on your board.We will go back there next year for sure.Have a top time Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted February 27, 2011 Author Share Posted February 27, 2011 Sweet thanks guys! Locked and loaded, arrive tonight with Stinky, all set for new adventures after a surreal night last night in a Gion club. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 yeah I would say thats the best place to base yourself. Its between Takamagahara and the Prince Hotel Resort. Up top is Terrakoya, usually a pow-fest and not crowded Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 It is here and yes pretty central http://www.snowjapan.com/e/resorts/resort_map.php?resortNo=271 Link to post Share on other sites
ippy 66 Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 i wrote this on another forum on my first (and only impressions of two days riding it with one bluebird and one complete whiteout (so the second day was a bit of a wash). Itll give you some ideas of lines you might want to hit I gave them each a difficulty level based on beginner slackcountry to expert (mainly because you might find yourself lost). ... If youre pressed for time just chill about yakebi and terakoya. Spent all my afternoon on terakoya riding the olympic course a couple of times (whiteout makes the olympic course very dodgy), and the giant course. Ill post way more of a proper info about the place later, but heres some fun powder stashes ive found: 1. yakebi: (advanced) under gondola 2 (prince hotel gondola). Aside a few places where youll have to climb, you can ride it pretty much all the way to the bottom. Lots of little powder stashes along the way. 2. Yakebi: (intermediate) next to the olympic course (skiers left) is a roped off area with a nice little powder ride bringing you under gondola 1. When you get under it though it gets pretty tracked and choppy. 3. yakebi: (expert) this ones hard to describe. Theres a green run at the top of the prince gondola, ride that a bit until you get to circle red 8 (itll make sense when you get here). Drop into the trees here and you have a really long ridge line that brings you out at red triangle 3. Dont stray too far down like i did 4. terakoya (beginner): This is the best quality powder in the whole area to my mind. Pop off the top lift, head skiers right into the trees and you have perma shaded light fluffy beautiful pow to play with. Its niseko quality and aside a few spots in yoketeyama, theres no better snow in the whole resort. In fact, terakoya is really a small little pow area. The other sides are slow and sticky, but theres some fun runs around here, so make sure you make the effort to get up there. It also has an outstanding view from the top. 5. Ichinose to tannenomori: (beginner) basically just find a line that cuts through the trees, there you will come out on a nice open line of pow that looks like a lift run, but theres no lift. Then when youre done, start edging under the pair lift on the way to tannenomori. You can cut back and forward either way here which makes it a nice link-up. Tannenomori is also a nice little area. Theres not much here, but its really chilled and groovy. I wouldnt hang about, but its just one of those pleasant places for a cute and peaceful ride. 6. Giant: (beginner): The powder stash happens half way down on skiers left under the lifts. Once you pass the middle get off part of the baby yellow lift (youll see it), head skiers left, duck the rope, and you have a massive pow stash. I spent all afternoon playing on it today and couldnt honestly stop. You can also do the run under the lift from the very top (intermediate), but its a bit more difficult given that you have a couple of tricky lines and also have to avoid accidentally ending up on the wrong side of the road. Yes, theres a road. 7. Shibutoge area: (beginner) Lots of little tree runs. Also, from what i could see it was quite beautiful with zao like snow monsters. Alas the whiteout meant i didnt spend as much time here as i would have liked. I could baely see two or three feet in front of my face. 8. Yokote: (intermediate) all the best runs are skier only. But who needs them anyway. Pop out under the middle lift and youll have the only other place where the powder was seriously light and soft (in parts) to glide on it. If youre up for some mischief its definitely a fun (if albeit a little brief) line to play on. So thats what i discovered in days 1 and 2, ive still 1 more morning, but ill probably just stick to yakebi and see what else is around there. For my money its got the most interesting lines, and if you were really good, theres some serious looking lines coming off the backside of okushigakogen (skier only area as well). Theres lots of different places as well you can practice your tree riding. The more advances stuff is around yakebi, but up the top of the other two mountains its pretty mellow and fun. Also dont forget the olympic course and a somewhat under appreciated nishidetayama. It has some surprisingly fast lines (once you get past the mogul field). ETA failed to get out on the third day because i decided to meet some friends in nagoya instead Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted February 28, 2011 Author Share Posted February 28, 2011 Thanks Ippy, no new snow today so will do the laundry, post off some birthday pressies etc and hit a 1/2 day pass this afternoon. Was at the local bar last night so a little slow today Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 where are you based Pete? Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted February 28, 2011 Author Share Posted February 28, 2011 Right here TB - Hotel Khuls. First time I have been in a ski in/out place. Now just waiting for snow http://www.snowjapan.com/e/hotel/viewhotel.php?hotid=218 Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 ah I know where that is. Looks nice on the photos, is it? Whats the snow conditions like? Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted February 28, 2011 Author Share Posted February 28, 2011 Yeah its a really big but pleasant hotel with Japanese style rooms. Im digging it. I'll get some pics later. No new snow last night but LOTS of base by the look of it. Was suppose to snow last night and may have up top, will provide a better report later when Stinky wakes up and we hit it Link to post Share on other sites
mina2 6 Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 So how's the snow doing over there pete? I suspect not top. Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted March 1, 2011 Author Share Posted March 1, 2011 NO vis today, been out 2x today for one run each time and couldn't see 20m in front of me, yesterday's wet snow had turned kinda icy last night so came back and jumped into my book, pizza and a red wine. Love ski in/ski out so you can just do that. BUT its snowing now, in fact kinda dumping so hopefully tomorrow will be good as have to leave Thurs afternoon. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 do a bit of nighta Pete, its not Niseko but if its been snowing you'll get fresh turns with hardly anyone around Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted March 2, 2011 Author Share Posted March 2, 2011 Was thinking about that TB but have found the local red wine and there has only been about 5cm so far. Plus there isn't anyone here anyways. Yesterday was almost surreal with not seeing anyone on the runs. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 haha! Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted March 2, 2011 Author Share Posted March 2, 2011 Well it wouldn't be right sitting by a log fire reading the Kieth Richards bio in an unaltered state Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 True mate, throw another log on, fill that glass up and read and learn about how to get f##ked up!! Link to post Share on other sites
Schneebored 0 Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Just make sure you get up for 1st tracks in the morning. Link to post Share on other sites
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