joshnii 2 Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 I was in the area visiting muikabochi and a few others and we took a drive round - beautiful weather, very warm like late March... so much so we didn't really feel like hitting the slopes. Strange feeling it was. This was the bottom slope of Iwappara yesterday just thought I'd share: We all need to sit down and concentrate and will some more snow to fall! Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 Are you sure this pick isnt from last May???? Maybe it was left in your camera and you forgot to delete it. Link to post Share on other sites
joshnii 2 Posted January 31, 2007 Author Share Posted January 31, 2007 Nope, took it at 1pm yesterday. (Unfortunately) Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 The mayor of Minamiuonuma announced that the city is making cheap interest loans available to the skijos and hotels in the area to use to get out of their pickly. Numbers down 30-40% on last season, it was in the paper yesterday a colleague pointed it out to me. Link to post Share on other sites
YellowSnow 0 Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 I wouldn't like to drop off a chairlift into that firm base. This year I am really worried I wont see any snow monsters. But here is a pic of Nozawa I took on Christmas Eve. Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 Quote: Originally posted by YellowSnow: This year I am really worried I wont see any snow monsters. Here you go, taken last Sunday. Link to post Share on other sites
YellowSnow 0 Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 tsondaboy Is it Hakkoda? I have already booked my trip there. I was worried because its losing 10cm a day. I plan to hit 10 resorts this year, I have 4 under my belt but all my money is going on Hakkoda. Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 Nop, thats Kagura. The sad thing is that when this pick was taken, the temperature at that spot was +6 deg when last year about the same time/day it was -13... Hakkoda, you lucky B. Link to post Share on other sites
YellowSnow 0 Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 Really? I was on Naeba on Sunday and I wasnt bothering taking the dragondola over. Actually I am going to Hakkoda on my own, none of my friends want to fork over the money or are not confident enough. I am not a good boarder, but who cares, powder doesn't hurt if you fall at any angle. Am I right? Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 Have you booked your self a guided tour? Link to post Share on other sites
YellowSnow 0 Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 I haven`t yet, I am still waiting to get somebody to come alone with me. Is a guided tour really really nessesary? I wont be riding anything over a 20 degree incline so it looks like I will be stuck on just the easiest face. Link to post Share on other sites
longboardsk8man 0 Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 Yellow snow - we're heading up there over the long weekend in Feb (can't wait). PM me if you're up for a few brews at all.. Link to post Share on other sites
YellowSnow 0 Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 I couldn't book the long weekend, I am going for my own long weekend the week after. (I hope) Are you bringing up snowshoes etc.? Or is all that really nessesary if you just want to ride some wide deep fields? Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 Hakkoda san is not famous just for its beauties but also for its harsh weather. And although if you fall in powder it won’t hurt no mater what angle you fell on it (probably ), if you get caught alone in a white out or an avie it will hurt for sure. I recon it would be much safer to get a guide and also he will probably be able to show you around to some hidden stashes that you probably wont find just by yourself. I have the contact info of a guy that was highly recommended to me last year by a friend that hired him for his trip. I can give you his contact info if you like, he is quite cheap too only 3000~4000 per person and max group number 6~7 people. Link to post Share on other sites
longboardsk8man 0 Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 No worries Not taking snowshoes - my friend up there says you can rent them if need be. From what my friend tells me. it sounds like there'll be more than enough fresh on the main runs - or not too far off it. Will let you know how good it is / was when we get back Link to post Share on other sites
SirJibAlot 0 Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 There's no way that pic was from yesterday- I was just there a couple weeks ago and there wasn't a bare spot to be seen...Can we get a second opionion!?!? Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 with recent temps I wouldn't be surprised if that was yesterday (although I know nothing about the place). Link to post Share on other sites
SerreChe 2 Posted February 1, 2007 Share Posted February 1, 2007 if you go OB @ Hakkoda, and are wondering whether you should be getting snowshoes, please get a guide! That place will mess with your head. You think you know where you are and then realize you are on the opposite side of the mountain. I suggest you read some of the journals posted on Hakkoda to emphasize that point. You do not need buddies to hire a guide although it is more fun. You can find info about guiding via older SJ thread. It is also much more affordable than what you would be paying in Haks or Niseko. Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan#Andrew 6 Posted February 1, 2007 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted February 1, 2007 Quote: There's no way that pic was from yesterday- I was just there a couple weeks ago and there wasn't a bare spot to be seen...Can we get a second opionion!?!? I'm sorry to confirm that photo was taken the day before yesterday - it looked a bit worse than that yesterday. We are in real need of snow, hard to believe it is 1st Feb. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 1, 2007 Share Posted February 1, 2007 Joetsu Kokusai looks worse - a sorry state. We had snow forecast for this morning but it hasn't turned up yet. Praying for it this afternoon..... Link to post Share on other sites
SirJibAlot 0 Posted February 1, 2007 Share Posted February 1, 2007 WOW that is scarry - it's amazing how quickly the stuff melts - you must be really warm over there. Thanks SJ1....I think I need to sacrifice a couple more live chickens.... Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan#Andrew 6 Posted February 1, 2007 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted February 1, 2007 The last few days have been really mild - around 5-7 degrees in early afternoon. It has felt like late March for the last week or so. The bottom slope of Iwappara usually looks like that in maybe late March or early April. It's really hard writing those reports every day when you so much want to say "50cm overnight!!" but can't, for obvious reasons. Check out last years reports from early January as a contrast. Anyway, fingers crossed for the next few days hopefully we'll get some decent snowfall. Kagura still has a lot and relatively decent conditions but not what it would normally be like early Feb. Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted February 1, 2007 Share Posted February 1, 2007 #1 Kagura snow is soo heavy that you can hardly believe its Feb... Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan#Andrew 6 Posted February 1, 2007 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted February 1, 2007 Right.... it was fairly decent (but not peak season decent) when I was there last Friday, but I suppose the last few days and no new snow haven't done it any favours either. I've never had a winter anywhere near like this since I have been here, sad I'm holding out for 50cm tonight though.... Link to post Share on other sites
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