snowdude 44 Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 I thought it would be nice to make a ski thread as I will be visiting my local resort a lot this year and document the weather/ snow conditions, etc each time I go as a reference for others and as a record for me. I will also (sometimes) add photos that I take at the resort. It is a small resort and has 10 courses with the longest being about 1600 metres top to bottom. The reason I go there, is it is about 20 mins from my house, it is somewhere I have been going for years now and I like the area/ski resort and we have friends who go there too. Day 1 : 7th Dec 2013 (Opening day) Just one lower course was open with mostly man made snow. Weather was mostly sunny, but very windy peaked out at about +1oC that day. Almost empty! Day 2 : 8th Dec 2013 Same as above really! Day 3 : 21st Dec 2013 Two thirds open all natural snow, soft powdery snow, sunny, nice conditions, although clouded up in the afternoon. Quite a few people, but never crowded. Top to bottom skiing. Day 4: 22nd Dec 2013 It snowed up to about 8cm or so the night before so was treated to fresh pow on top of the already soft snow and sunny sky in the morning. The snow remained soft and powdery the whole day and were plenty of powder pockets to be found all day, albeit chopped up. Around lunch time onward it clouded over and some light snow fell for a while before turning sunny again More people today.. A great day was had by all. I will add some photos later, takes too long download from my phone now. Day 5: 25th Dec 2013 Woke up to absolutely crystal clear blue sky, which lasted the whole day, but no new snow, calm conditions. The snow was soft and powdery on the sun facing slopes and a bit hard packed with icy patches on the sheltered slopes, especially as the temps didn't get above -6 today. Basically a really nice day on the slopes, although would like some new snow. Looks like tomorrow afternoon onwards should give some nice new snow. I added a few new pics which I took today. Look closely at this photo, what can you see, that normally would not be there during the day? 1 Link to post Share on other sites
r45 4 Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Good to hear about lesser known places. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Yeah very interesting to hear about the less well known places.....pics are always good as well Link to post Share on other sites
pdoull 2 Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Was about to ask for some piccies and report but you beat me to it. Looking forward to this thread & hearing about your ski jo/area. Cheers. Link to post Share on other sites
kokodoko 67 Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 thanks. snowdood.. Link to post Share on other sites
634-maru 4 Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 Yes, looking forward to hearing and seeing more. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 Photos or you weren't really there Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 Thanks snow dude, how many times you reckon you'll go? And....will you make it anywhere else? Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted December 23, 2013 Author Share Posted December 23, 2013 I added a few pics of Sun Meadows from my skiing this past weekend! Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted December 23, 2013 Author Share Posted December 23, 2013 Thanks snow dude, how many times you reckon you'll go? And....will you make it anywhere else? I am hoping at least 30-40 times! Will be going again on the 25,26 and 27th. I hope to go to one or two other places again this year as well. I would like to go to Myoko or Madarao again I really liked both of those resorts, but will see. Or maybe somewhere new! Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted December 23, 2013 Author Share Posted December 23, 2013 Photos or you weren't really there I added a few pics! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 Ii ne, that's the kind of weather I want!! Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted December 23, 2013 Author Share Posted December 23, 2013 Was lucky, no wind fresh snow, sun, but I don't want too much sun though, always want more snow, but yes it is nice to get out on a sunny day after fresh snow. The biggest difference this weekend was the lack of wind, as Kiyosato, and also where I live is very windy almost everyday in winter which can spoil the fun a little, so was a pleasant change. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 Nice. So you can see both Yatsugatake and Fujisan from there? Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted December 23, 2013 Author Share Posted December 23, 2013 Nice. So you can see both Yatsugatake and Fujisan from there? Yes, as Sun Meadows is actually on Mt. Akadake, which is the highest part//peak of the Yatsugatake mountain range. So when your on the resort the mountains directly around the resort are part of Yatsugatake. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted December 25, 2013 Author Share Posted December 25, 2013 Day 5: 25th Dec 2013 Woke up to absolutely crystal clear blue sky, which lasted the whole day, but no new snow, calm conditions. The snow was soft and powdery on the sun facing slopes and a bit hard packed with icy patches on the sheltered slopes, especially as the temps didn't get above -6 today. Basically a really nice day on the slopes, although would like some new snow. Looks like tomorrow afternoon onwards should give some nice new snow. I added a few new pics which I took today. Look closely at this photo, what can you see, that normally would not be there during the day? Link to post Share on other sites
kokodoko 67 Posted December 25, 2013 Share Posted December 25, 2013 moon... ???? thanks for the photos, dood. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 Lots of lovely blue skies! Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 It confuses me when the moon does that. Isn't it supposed to only come out at night? Sounds like a new study subject! Nice photos snowdude. Doesn't look steep, is there any steepness over there? Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 looks like a nice little valley in between the 2 runs on photos 3&4 or isn't it steep enough Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted December 26, 2013 Author Share Posted December 26, 2013 It confuses me when the moon does that. Isn't it supposed to only come out at night? Sounds like a new study subject! Nice photos snowdude. Doesn't look steep, is there any steepness over there? Sometimes you can see the moon during the day but it is strange why. There are three quite steep courses although the steepest one isnt yet open. Probably the camera sngle makes it look flat. Ill put up the stats later once I get home. We are at Sun meadows now. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 Here it is! http://www.snowjapan.com/japan-ski-resorts/yamanashi/hokuto/sun-meadows-kiyosato Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted December 26, 2013 Author Share Posted December 26, 2013 Thanks Muika, saves me doing it. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted December 26, 2013 Author Share Posted December 26, 2013 Day 6: 26th Dec 2013 : Mostly cloudy but bright start, but completely cloudy by lunch time with a flat light. Snow conditions much like yesterday really. The snow remained good until about 2pm in which it started freezing over in various spots, because of the low temps. We finished around 2:30pm anyway. It was another fun day, but waiting for the new snow to slide in tomorrow. At the moment I have wet snow falling outside my house, so it will be nice dry snow falling up at Sun meadows, so looking forward to the new snow tomorrow. As with the other days it has been really empty and only getting a little crowded for a couple of hours between 10-12 when there are lessons going on, otherwise not many people around, which is great it allows us to accommodate as much of the courses as we want. Did not bother with pics today, nothing new to take, but hopefully tomorrow with fresh snow my camera will be back in action. Link to post Share on other sites
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