danz 0 Posted January 21, 2002 Share Posted January 21, 2002 was up at nozawa onsen this weekend... spring skiing conditions...not right for the middle of january... bottom half of the mtn. was all sugar still good coverage overall, but it needs to get cold, or else theres going to be trouble also, totally empty this weekend...no crowds anywhere...and also , NO JPOP! YEE HAW... one thing i still don't understand (echoing some previous posts) is why they rope off some of those trailss..the tree run underneath the quad at the top is completly safe...you can scout the ENTIRE run from the lift, but they rope it off...pointless... i saw a guy duck in, and the patrollers were yelling at him from their little room with the PA system...it was hilarious, i thought i was at the beach or something getting yelled at by the lifeguard...completely useless... anyway, good mtn., nice little town...needs more snow.... peace, danz ------------------ pray for snow Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted January 21, 2002 Share Posted January 21, 2002 Normally they don't even bother yelling at you up there. Been down that run repeatedly, with no attempt at pursuit. There's some filthy wet snow falling around Matsumoto at the moment that changed from very heavy rain at lunchtime. This season was looking good until a few weeks ago. I wonder if this mix of hot and cold adds to the danger of avalanches... Link to post Share on other sites
snobee 0 Posted January 21, 2002 Share Posted January 21, 2002 Ocean11, I guess you don't mean "filthy" snow as in "wicked" snow? Yeh, here in the Western boondocks of Japan we've seen THE BEST start to Dec./Jan. in decades virtually wiped out in a week. Most places have lost a metre or more. Can't believe 2 weeks ago I was in beeyuutiful dumps of powder and now April slush abounds. What gives? The coldest Jan. week in 20 years turned to the warmest Jan week in 40 years. Tears upon tears and my wife says she can't stand the whining anymore so for the sake of domestic bliss this next blast better dump BIG. please. Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted January 21, 2002 Share Posted January 21, 2002 snobee, I'm sorry to say it, but what I mean by 'filthy' is more along the lines of gross, irksome, polluting. Rather than floating down, it drops with the speed of diarrhea. You can almost hear each flake go 'splat'. Better omen than rain I suppose, but snow in town is just a big inconvenience. My elbow still hurts from skidding off my bike on iced-over snow two weeks ago. I looked for the edge to control my slide, but sadly bike tyres don't have 'em. Link to post Share on other sites
Jinja 0 Posted January 22, 2002 Share Posted January 22, 2002 Ocean11, Matsumoto, is that close to Nozawa Onsen? What would the snow be like off-piste at Nozawa this weekend? Is it worth going so close after all that rain and slush do you reckon? Cheers, Jinja Link to post Share on other sites
danz 0 Posted January 22, 2002 Author Share Posted January 22, 2002 hey jinja... i wouldn't go offpiste at nozawa until there is another significant dump... top layer is crappy and not deep... underneath is pure nastiness from repeated freeze/thaw conditions... save yourself the trouble... danz ------------------ pray for snow Link to post Share on other sites
Ski Japan Guide 0 Posted January 22, 2002 Share Posted January 22, 2002 ....all depends on the next few days. If we have a great big dump, as cal would say, then maybe - but conditions aren't too good right now. Snowing in many regions right now though, so fingers crossed. SJG Jon Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted January 23, 2002 Share Posted January 23, 2002 Jinja, Nozzle is a good ways north of Matsupon, so it's hard to read the weather at that distance. It might be great by the weekend, but as danz suggests it might also be awful. I'm wondering about 'weather' to go up there myself or just go to somewhere fairly crap and close like Norikura just to get my fix. If you're coming from afar, wait for the really good snow and you won't regret it. But danz, if you go up to Nozzle, let me know, and we'll ride together like brothers, bullsh!t board postings notwithstanding. Link to post Share on other sites
Jinja 0 Posted January 23, 2002 Share Posted January 23, 2002 Thanks all, I think I'll save Nozawa till conditions are A-one... we know why! Link to post Share on other sites
danz 0 Posted January 23, 2002 Author Share Posted January 23, 2002 Is this really happening?? doth my eyes decieve me?? a peace offering from ocean11... I'm flattered... i will certainly call upon you if i head that way again...but i will be incognito during feb....going back home for a few weeks...so you must wait till march.. peace danz ------------------ pray for snow Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted January 23, 2002 Share Posted January 23, 2002 I don`t know what the fuss is all about. Yeah the conditons at Nozawa aren`t as good as they could be, but at the same time they aren`t terrible. I was up there on Sunday, hardly anyone about, got 4 awesome runs in on the Skyline in the morning. Was well happy! Lets just remember that it ain`t gonna be waist high conditions all the time. I`m just happy that I live near a resort like Nozawa. Spare a thought for the poor sods living in Nagasaki, sitting there reading a bunch of guys winge about the fact that Nozawa`s conditons aren`t perfect. A more justifiable winge would be about the fact that they advertise a table top and half-pipe. They were building the t-top when I was there and pipe wasn`t finsihed. Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted January 24, 2002 Share Posted January 24, 2002 Tomorrow's weather forecast for Iyama (read, Nozzle) has a little snowman for every time slot. That should cover up quite a lot of crusty old shite I should think. It's seriously cold in Naggers overall now. Link to post Share on other sites
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