And yes, more snow this morning. About another 20cm or so at base areas though it is just cloudy at the moment though the forecast is for cloud and snow on and off through the day.

It boggles the mind how they still only have 50cm at Uwanodai officially - I suppose they must just be compacting it like crazy. Take it with a pinch of salt though as there's much more than that falling. They have 130cm as the number coming from Utopia which is more like it... but then again, there's more!

Not quite as cold this morning in Zao, but still -3. Up top temp of -8 reported by the resort.

From today the Astraea Number 3 lift, Utopia Number 2 lift and the Omori quad lift join in the fun as more of the mountain opens. Though the Chuo Number 2 and Katakai lift will be closed until Friday. It's all very complicated!

From Friday lots of the remaining lifts plan to open and then the resort will pretty much be fully open I would expect.

The cheaper early season lift tickets are on sale until the 20th, after which it's normal season prices.

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Official snow depths (16th December 13):
Utopia: 130cm
Chuo: 90cm
Paradise: 95cm
Uwanodai: 50cm

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Planned operating lifts until Thursday this week:
Ropeways and Gondolas
Onsen Number 1 pair
Onsen Number 2 quad
Onsen Number 3 parallel
Miaeri pair
Chuo Number 1 pair
Diamond Number 2
Zao Paradise Pair
Shobunuma Number 1 triple / 2 pair
Omori quad
Yokokura Number 1 pair
Yokokura Number 2 pair
Astraea Number 1 pair
Astraea Number 2 pair
Astraea Number 3 pair
Utopia Number 1 pair
Utopia Number 2 pair
Kurohime Number 1 quad