muikabochi 208 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Well, actually, not really close up.... taken from Yuzawa Kogen. http://www.snowjapanforums.com/index.php/topic/21315-yuzawa-kogen-niigata-3rd-february-2012/ There's been some talk about it so I thought I would take some pics of it all, and here it is. This first one basically shows all of the South Area: Ropeway connecting Gala Yuzawa <> Yuzawa Kogen Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 bastards opened the bottom of the run today!!! :granpa: this is where I spent most of yesterday......the top bit, the ungroomed section just to the left of the slope as you look at it, I cut a lot of those tracks yesterday and then the bottom section just to the right of the run as you look at it, yesterday wasn't cut up like that and I did my best to make it more like that!! Actually its interesting seeing the full slope from the opposite angle, at the bottom, extreme right (as we look at it) looks to be pretty sketchy terrain under there and maybe that was why the patrol was wary of having anyone in that vicinity. This whole section here was the interesting terrain I spoke about, on the left of this picture and then continuing left, there is a great looking face that would be awesome to ride......of course I have no idea about whether its dangerous or not or whats in the the run out that you'd pop from. It would take you into the gully between GALA and Yuzawa Kogen Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Actually its interesting seeing the full slope from the opposite angle, at the bottom, extreme right (as we look at it) looks to be pretty sketchy terrain under there and maybe that was why the patrol was wary of having anyone in that vicinity. Yeah, I don't blame them. Link to post Share on other sites
kokodoko 67 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 looks like plenty of off-piste to play on. great stuff.. thanks. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 yeah but not really as the GALA patrol will be chasing after you if you venture too much 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 KD's used to that up in Furano! So looking at the 1st photo of the whole Southern Area, where's the run that is accessed by the "Coach" lift from the top of the Central Area? & TB, given that the top was closed when you went, was your access point that cat-track that comes across from the right hand side, as we're looking at it? Thanks for posting this Muika - nice photos as always! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 4, 2012 Author Share Posted February 4, 2012 Yes, if the course from the very top lift is closed you need to get over using that thin 'road-like' course from near the top of the main central course. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 yeah the access point is about halfway down the picture from the right, it leads off the easy edelweiss gerende. Coach accesses the very top but since I've never been, I don't actually know where it comes down on the picture. the bottom part of that run remained closed as well when I was there, so at the top of the lift you could only come off to the right, not the left Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 4, 2012 Author Share Posted February 4, 2012 Hold on a sec I think I have a photo.... Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 4, 2012 Author Share Posted February 4, 2012 OK on this photo the Central main area of GALA is to the right hand side. That very top pair lift goes up to pretty much the top rightish area of this photo. Behind what we can see here. The course over to the South Area is pretty flat for a while as it goes along the top area there to the left. See the area near the top left - that's where it turns and starts coming down into the main South Area as you can see in closeup: Doesn't look like people have been using it, though that may well just be since the heavy snowfalls. On their course map it is noted as a course. So that top course is flat going along behind these bits which are above the South Area runs. Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Cheers guys! Time to enter the latest SJ Giveaway, me thinks! Link to post Share on other sites
Karnidge 2 Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Great work on the pics, good to see it so clearly. Link to post Share on other sites
7-11 2 Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 That lift looks like it is a pair - did that used to be a quad? I would have sworn it was. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 4, 2012 Author Share Posted February 4, 2012 You are right, it used to be a quad. From what I can gather the Chuetsu Earthquake in 2004 did a fair bit of damage over there. The South Area was closed since then until last season. For whatever reason, they decided to replace the quad with the pair. Link to post Share on other sites
egglesby 1 Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 Going to check Gala out next week, I reckon. Hope that top course gets opened too, really want to check it out. Link to post Share on other sites
oblivion 5 Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 I have never made it over to that area. Definitely want to. Fingers crossed for the Giveaway that has just closed. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 12, 2013 Author Share Posted January 12, 2013 South area today as seen from Yuzawa Kogen I'm no expert on these things by far, but I would guess their reason for the non opening of the steeper bits is.... not enough snow (?) Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 12, 2013 Share Posted January 12, 2013 I don't think so Muika.,,,well at least not last year when I went because the place was thick with snow. The upper connecting course was about waist high ungroomed compared to the coach lift gerende and the lower run that I could frustratingly see from the Branco area had 1 set if deep footprints up the side of velvety, untouched powder. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 12, 2013 Author Share Posted January 12, 2013 Well, I don't know. The reason I said that was because on that last photo you can see how the cover is not all uniform and it is a very steep bit of ungroomed course.... Anyway, whatever the reason we want it open! Link to post Share on other sites
onehunga 26 Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 Interesting looking at these photos now that I have spent a day there. The visibilty was so bad I couldn't really get an idea of the runs at all. Only being able to see 50 metres in front of you does tend to make you a bit on the cautious side. The two areas to the left top, and right bottom of the lift with the tracks on, does anyone know if these are mogol areas. I tried coming down them and couldn't ski them at all. Just about bent my skis in half a couple of times. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 23, 2013 Share Posted January 23, 2013 They are ungroomed areas so if there is heavy traffic then I guess moguls will form. Link to post Share on other sites
Aggro Crag 1 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 it was closed when I went in December and it was closed again yesterday. do they just close it on weekends? Link to post Share on other sites
Aggro Crag 1 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 yeah the access point is about halfway down the picture from the right, it leads off the easy edelweiss gerende. Coach accesses the very top but since I've never been, I don't actually know where it comes down on the picture. the bottom part of that run remained closed as well when I was there, so at the top of the lift you could only come off to the right, not the left Ahhh I see I always tried to get over there from the coach lift. so the area isn't closed just that trail, but why has that trail been closed like all season? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted March 18, 2013 Share Posted March 18, 2013 Dunno mate, it seems they often have that top section closed......which is I rarely go there as the south is the only decent area IMO. I think SJ-Andrew asked the resort about it but I dunno if he got a proper reply Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 18, 2013 Author Share Posted March 18, 2013 As far as I know, they open it when they can. Which they decide of course, and I'm not sure what that actually means. It's certainly not open all the time though! Link to post Share on other sites
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