Tubby Beaver 209 Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 SJ takes their reports from Snow Forecast AFAIR Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 26, 2013 Author Share Posted December 26, 2013 Hey Mike Snowjapan weather reports show its going to be quite windy among many of the resorts in Hokkaido including niseko from Friday. Are snowjapan wind forecasts quite accurate?. Do you think there is going to be many lifts stopping due to wind conditions? I use snowforecast. In my experience : Very accurate on freezing level, wind speed, and whether it's going to snow or not. Massively under-report the snow quantities. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 27, 2013 Author Share Posted December 27, 2013 DAY 29 : THURSDAY 26 DECEMBER 2013 4 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ The cloud cover burned off early to leave another sunny December day. This was the first day of the season when the backcountry gates opened and local photographer Glen Claydon reported smooth powder and solid stability of the snowpack. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 28, 2013 Author Share Posted December 28, 2013 DAY 30 : FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 8 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Heavy wet snow fell around 8pm last night and then the surface layer froze under clear skies. It made for some interesting turns in Konayuki early on with Ian and Aaron. I spent the day on the Idris Renard skis (175 cm, 116-71-100, r 17m) and Aaron was on the Idris Chamois skis (175 cm, 120-88-112, r 20m) Beautiful handcrafted skis by Tom Greenall and his wife, Kiyoko Yamaguchi in Chamonix, France. Tom is a fellow Welshman who's made Chamonix his home since 2001. I first saw Tom and Kiyoko's skis last winter when longtime student Tracy came up from Tokyo in early December with the Chamois. They made a massive difference to his skiing last season and I wanted my students and I to have a chance to try them this winter. The Chamois is their all mountain ski and Aaron was improving all over the mountain in all conditions - piste, crud, bumps, powder. And loving them The Renard is their carving piste ski. Maybe for Europe! I've skied both and rate both very highly, but for the type of terrain and quality of snow we have here on Hokkaido and the way in which I like to ski it the Renard is my all mountain ski. They turn like the Welsh weather, flex and pop through the bumps, and dive deep in the powder. Superb. And to top off a great day of skiing, Aaron and I got to ride the Lucky Golden Gondola in Hirafu - the number 50 gondola is painted and upholstered gold to commemorate last season's 50th Anniversary for Grand Hirafu. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 29, 2013 Author Share Posted December 29, 2013 DAY 31 : SATURDAY 28 DECEMBER 2013 25 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ As of today 423 cm (167") has fallen at MQ in Higashiyama The high winds overnight packed in the snow up high, making the off-piste tricky to say the least. But lower down the mountain the new snow was dry and light. I skied with Ian early on before he headed to the airport, and then with Greg and Chris and found some great stashes of non-wind affected powder near the Hirafu gondola Chris Ian ready to drop in Ian in the groove DAY 32 : SUNDAY 29 DECEMBER 2013 12 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Day 1 for the Lovelock family - Neil, Ria, Alex and Hayden. The wind was up again today closing the top lifts which forced everyone down the mountain. But we started the day at Hanazono and had a couple of hours before the mob descended from Hirafu. It snowed most of the day, with great groomers and boot top powder early on, and knee deep at days end. The queues at the Hanazono 1 chair were long for here, but 10 minutes long at the worst. There were a few grumblings in the lift line, but spare a thought for those skiing the Chamonix valley in France today. This was the line up at Les Grands-Montets. There were less people in the retreat from Stalingrad. Tom Wilson North pic No thank you. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Popular Post Go Native 70 Posted December 29, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted December 29, 2013 Some friends of mine headed off to Chamonix on xmas day because they found Niseko too busy last year! 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Dunga 1 Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 Mike, seems like there's still a fair bit of greenery showing through the snow? How's it all filling in off pist? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 In terms of the Sapporo area, there is definitely still a lot of greenery showing through. Rusutsu was the same last week. Hopefully it won't be too long before its all gone though.....snowing again today.....swithering about whether to head out or not Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 29, 2013 Author Share Posted December 29, 2013 Same here TubbyBeaverinho. But filling in every day. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted December 30, 2013 Author Share Posted December 30, 2013 DAY 33 : MONDAY 30 DECEMBER 2013 24 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Day 2 for the Lovelock family - Neil, Ria, Alex and Hayden. We had intended skiing Niseko Annupuri today, but high winds across the Niseko Ski Area made for a delayed opening of the Annupuri quad chair and the gondola being offline all day. So instead of sitting in the Nook waiting for things to happen Ian MacKenzie drove us over to Rusutsu where there was less wind and plenty of new snow. There was a 10-15 minute queue at the East Mt gondola base station at the start of the morning, which turned out to be the lift operator not filling each gondola car. It didn't help that all snowboards and fat skis had to be taken inside the car because the racks are too narrow. But once on Isola Mt., the only other queues we saw the rest of the day were in the Steamboat restaurant. After warming up on the groomed runs, we spent the rest of our day skiing the trees and powder off Heavenly Ridge. Neil Ria working on her balance and relaxation in the powder and the trees and then when the snow let her in she accepted Alex getting deep Hayden spent most of his last visit to Hokkaido riding the tails of his 178 cm Line Blend skis (132-100-122) and skimming across the surface of the snow. This visit he's on the 175 cm Idris Chamois skis (120-88-112) and has been working hard on staying centred on his skis through the full curve of the turn. He nailed it this afternoon. It snowed most of the day, and with plenty of untracked snow at day's end a return tomorrow is on the cards. Link to post Share on other sites
Dunga 1 Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 Nice photos yet again Mike. Is it common that when there are high winds at Niseko that it's not as bad at Rusutsu and with less people? Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 No Dunga if it is windy in Niseko it is normally the same in Rusutsu and the crowds are the same don't bother Looks great Mike cant wait 33 Days to go and by then all that sasa will be buried 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 Nice photos yet again Mike. Is it common that when there are high winds at Niseko that it's not as bad at Rusutsu and with less people? Thanks. It can be. The Rusutsu lifts are more protected. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 DAY 34 : TUESDAY 31 DECEMBER 2013 5 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ December saw 336 cm (132") of snowfall at village level, making it the 4th highest December total in the 8 winters I've been keeping records. The snowiest December was 2011 with 514 cm (202"). Day 3 for the Lovelock family and we went back to Rusutsu for more powder, but this time with sunshine and no queues. Ian and the Lovelocks (l-r, Neil, Hayden, Alex, Ria) The frosted forest below the East Mt gondola The powder was light, with boot top to knee deep feathers all over the mountain. Alex Neil After lunch we hit a great spot off Heavenly Ridge. It was a little wind affected but the views of Lake Toya and the ocean were magnificent. Ria Neil Alex DAY 35 : WEDNESDAY 01 JANUARY 2014 16 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013 went out like a lamb and 2014 came in like a Lion. Day 4 for the Lovelock family and with the forecasted high winds not hitting the Niseko Resort Area we headed to Annupuri. We spent the first couple of hours skiing deserted pistes with 5-10 cm of hero snow on top working on more fluidity and continuous movement through the turn, before heading to the bumps and then the trees. It was snowing the whole time and by the time we got to the trees the snow was knee deep. Unfortunately we only got two tree runs in before thunder, lightning, high winds and driving snow closed all the lifts at Annupuri. We waited until 11.30 to see if there would be any change, and when there wasn't we headed to the buffet lunch. Still nothing running after lunch so we pulled the pin. It's been blowing and snowing all afternoon, so fingers crossed the wind will die down tomorrow and the new snow won't be too wind affected. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdust 0 Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 Thanks MikePow for all the great reporting and pictures! Going to Niseko in a couple of days and getting more excited by the minute! Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Great Mike With the photos of Toya are you dropping off the back after the 1st rope on Heavenly View and then coming back in before the flat stretch/ 2nd rope or after it? Link to post Share on other sites
anything 6 Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 Interested in how your detachable snow depth testing devices (aka skis) found the trees in Rusutsu. I've heard several reports that its not really ready yet, but others (and from what i can see in your pictures) suggest that its just enough now, with just a bit of Sasa grass sticking through. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 Thanks MikePow for all the great reporting and pictures! Going to Niseko in a couple of days and getting more excited by the minute! My pleasure. Thanks for reading. It's getting better by the day here. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 Great Mike With the photos of Toya are you dropping off the back after the 1st rope on Heavenly View and then coming back in before the flat stretch/ 2nd rope or after it? Good spot seemore. After the first rope and getting back in after the flat stretch. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 Interested in how your detachable snow depth testing devices (aka skis) found the trees in Rusutsu. I've heard several reports that its not really ready yet, but others (and from what i can see in your pictures) suggest that its just enough now, with just a bit of Sasa grass sticking through. Still plenty of sasa around, but obvious paths top to bottom. A bit like Miharashi was the day we skied it. Neil and I getting caught out every once in a while because we're sinking in more. Link to post Share on other sites
ordinary_skiier 1 Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 My first post in these forums. Hi Mike Pow. Thought come and take a look over the fence... Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 Welcome ordinary_skiier Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 UPDATE : TUESDAY 31 DECEMBER 2013 The Lovelocks and Ian enjoying the Rusutsu powder Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Great Mike I am salivating 1 Link to post Share on other sites
ordinary_skiier 1 Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Brilliant Vid Mike Pow. What runs & areas at Rusutsu did you capture that footage? Link to post Share on other sites
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