seemore 66 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Excellent Mike Whats the official Feb depth at HQ Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 3, 2014 Author Share Posted March 3, 2014 Cheers seemore. See below. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 3, 2014 Author Share Posted March 3, 2014 DAY 93 : FRIDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2014 2 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ February saw 231 cm (91") of snowfall, the 2nd lowest total in the eight winters I've been collecting data. The highest total was in February 2013 when 395 cm (156") fell. Day 11 of the Royal Visit Nerys & I took a day off snow today. High winds kept most of the lifts closed for most of the day, so we headed to Kutchan for a bit of shopping, coffee & cake at Sprout cafe, and a visit to the Kutchan Natural History Museum and the Shu Ogawara Museum of Art. Shu Ogawara (1911-2002) was born in Kutchan and is a well respected artist in Japan. Along with his paintings there is a visting exhibition of international artists called Kutchan Art 2014 which runs until 23 March 2014. Both are well worth a visit. In the evening, Nerys and I joined Ian for an excellent dinner at Dragon Restaurant in the Sekka building in Hirafu. We shared the appetiser selection of seafood, pate, and rillettes; oysters on the half shell and oyster shots; and the salmon and scallop sashimi. Nerys had the fish main course, Ian had the duck, and I had the lamb chop. All delicious. The service was great, the atmosphere relaxed, and dining here is highly recommended. DAY 94 : SATURDAY 01 MARCH 2014 0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Day 12 of the Royal Visit Happy St. David's Day (Patron Saint of Wales). A grey day at village level with gusting winds, so Nerys & I took another day off snow today. DAY 95 : SUNDAY 02 MARCH 2014 0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Day 13 of the Royal Visit After a week of no new snow, glorious sunshine, and freeze-thaw conditions across the Niseko Resort Area, colder temperatures and light snowfall returned this morning. Nerys & I headed to Niseko Moiwa where the groomed runs were hard packed, consistent, and great fun on narrower profile skis. The 2-5 cm that fell during the day made the turns on Shirakaba slope surprisingly good. A layer of velvet like snow covered the sun and wind baked off piste slopes and a lighter touch resulted in smooth turns top to bottom. The mercury is set to drop all next week and snowfall is forecast for the next six days, with Thursday 06 March looking like the pick of the days at this stage. Get ready, winter's not done just yet. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Today was surprisingly good. Had up to knee deep turns on the slopes below the cornice on Higashi-one ridge. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 4, 2014 Author Share Posted March 4, 2014 DAY 96 : MONDAY 03 MARCH 2014 11 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ As of today 12.04 m (474") has fallen at MQ in Higashiyama Day 14 of the Royal Visit Well the snow arrived sooner than expected or forecast. 2 cm forecasted up top, 11 cm on the ground at village level this morning and a massive change at Niseko Moiwa in 24 hrs. Shin deep snow and the crunch disappearing by the run. Comeback Story Light snow has been falling throughout the day and more is forecast overnight. It's getting better by the day. Link to post Share on other sites
Boolugu Mez 3 Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 On our way down the 'Natural' run we came across a Sapporo Police Dept. police car stuck in the snow. The policemen had taken a wrong turn out of the car park and headed down the groomed run instead of the mountain road. I dug them out once and we managed to push them a little way back up the run, but then they sank again and had to wait for the groomer to pull them out. :rollabout: :rollabout: :rollabout: The poor guys, that would have been a pretty embarrasing situation for them to explain to the Chief back at the station........ I do sympathise as I can see how it might happen to anyone, but... :rollabout: :rollabout: :rollabout: Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 looks like it will continue for a few days as well Mike Good timing GN Link to post Share on other sites
ordinary_skiier 1 Posted March 4, 2014 Share Posted March 4, 2014 Comeback Story http://youtu.be/adzfQFiLhP4 Mike Pow, which run is that in the first shot? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 4, 2014 Author Share Posted March 4, 2014 "Expert Run" off the double chair Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 4, 2014 Author Share Posted March 4, 2014 DAY 97 : TUESDAY 04 MARCH 2014 4 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Day 15 of the Royal Visit Nerys and I headed to Kiroro Snow World for the first time in week, and what a difference. Winter has returned. Boot top to knee deep powder all over the mountain on a consistent base made for a great day. Discogalactic Link to post Share on other sites
onehunga 26 Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Sitting in front of my laptop slowing turning green with envy. Great videos Mike. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Nice Mike Is that a sample of "You Sexy Thing" by Hot Chocolate in the Beastie Boys I have never noticed it before Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 5, 2014 Author Share Posted March 5, 2014 Cheers onehunga and seemore. Yep. "Discogalactic" the remix of "Intergalactic" by The Beastie Boys with "Oh What a Night" by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and "You Sexy Thing" by Hot Chocolate Link to post Share on other sites
Jimmer 2 Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 How are we doing on total season snowfall Mike? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 5, 2014 Author Share Posted March 5, 2014 How are we doing on total season snowfall Mike? 12.27 m to date at MQ in Higashiyama. March mean is 1.55 m for the eight seasons I've been collecting data. So on track for a normal winter in my opinion. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 5, 2014 Author Share Posted March 5, 2014 DAY 98 : WEDNESDAY 05 MARCH 2014 19 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Day 16 of the Royal Visit Rusutsu was fabulous today. Nerys & I warmed up on the low angle boot top powder under and around the East Quad and East Tignes run before lapping the knee deep powder under the Isola Gondola and the trees off the Isola Grand run. The temperature rose sharply after lunch thickening the powder but the turns underneath the Isola No. 2 Quad were smooth and consistent. We finished the day back on the East Quad and the East No. 2 Gondola. For dinner we went to Restaurant La villa Lupicia in the St. Moritz area of Hirafu and chose the degustation menu at JPY 6,500 a head. Amuse-bouche Pate, brandade First Appetizer Assorted appetizers of seafood and vegetables Second Appetizer For Nerys Oysters For me Spicy grilled Hokkaido venison fillet Main Dish For Nerys Steamed menme rockfish and glutinous rice wrapped with shaved kelp - dressed with clear lily bulb "dashi" soup For me Roasted breaded lamb with Apple & Ginger sauce Dessert Gianduja Souffle glace crispy sandwich (hazelnut & chocolate) and cheese platter Wonderful setting, ambiance, service and food. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Mmm.....the venison and lamb dishes sound amazing Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 DAY 99 : THURSDAY 06 MARCH 2014 4 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Day 17 of the Royal Visit Kiroro Snow World was the place to be today. Despite the gondola being offline all day due to high winds, there was plenty of powder on and off the groomed runs and very few people sharing it. Nerys really got a handle on skiing waist deep powder on steeper pitches today, letting the skis run and the platform develop under her skis. Nerys Waist Deep I got in on the act too and Jarch is shaping up very nicely with 74 cm (29") at MQ in the first 6 days of the month and 26 cm (10") waiting for us when we got back around 7pm yesterday evening. Jarch 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Boolugu Mez 3 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Good to see the freshness is back again! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 That's what Teine would've been like if the top lifts were open.......heading up there now, report says lifts r open....hopefully i'll have some deep pow to play in 1 Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Awesome snow Mike Which chair is that one and also the run Nerys is on is that a groomer? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 7, 2014 Author Share Posted March 7, 2014 Awesome snow Mike Which chair is that one and also the run Nerys is on is that a groomer? All off the Center Express chair. Nerys' vid First clip is skier's right of the 'Center A' red course skiing the ungroomed area underneath the Kiroro Gondola. Second clip is the ungroomed marked black run 'Center C'. The run we call 'Loveocks'. Third and fourth clips skiing the ungroomed area underneath the Center Express chair. Had to watch we didn't hit the chairs as we skied down. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted March 7, 2014 Author Share Posted March 7, 2014 That's what Teine would've been like if the top lifts were open.......heading up there now, report says lifts r open....hopefully i'll have some deep pow to play in Hope you get the goods. Most lifts closed in the Niseko Resort Area today. Windy as a windy thing Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 Cheers Mike Looks like I am going to go their next winter so more questions to follow i am sure 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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