REPORT

It was a clear day with only thin, wispy clouds, and bright enough to complicate the process of taking photos (lol). I thought the forecast of moderate morning temperatures would ensure good slope conditions, but it was warm from the start of the day. The Riesen Slalom Course (pictured) had groomed, granular snow with a soft surface layer that got thicker the further I skied down and was full-on spring slush by the time I reached the Usuba Slope at the bottom.
[Riesen Slalom Course]

There were no areas of thinning snow cover or exposed bushes on Riesen, where artificial snow was being made even during the peak of the winter season. The detour course (pictured) also had solid snow cover and was safe to ski. As I was heading back up, a skier who had joined me on the Happo Riesen Quad told me, “I love your site. After two or three runs today, I’m going to call it a day and will go cheer for the Japanese WBC team.”
[Riesen Slalom Course]

The southern portion of Usagidaira had a moderately loose, groomed granular snow surface, while the north-facing Kurobishi Slope (pictured) had a more firmly-packed surface. The ungroomed areas along the Alpen Quad and Kurobishi 3 Pair (pictured, background) were covered with hard-packed, small to large-sized moguls.
[Kurobishi Slope]

The groomed portion of the Skyline Course (pictured) consisted of a moderately soft, granular snow surface. Since the steep Kitaone Slope, Sakka Slope, and Kokusai Slope are closed, it is not possible to ski down to the base of the mountain on the resort’s northern half, but it is possible to get down by skiing the Skyline Course to the Sakka Kitaone Quad and taking the lift down, or by skiing the Panorama Course and riding the Kokusai 1 Pair down. Currently, there are two courses that can be skied down to the base of the mountain: the route from the south side of the Shirakaba Slope to the gondola base station and the Public Course on Nakiyama.
[Skyline Course]

　　
[Happo-One Opening Information for 3/21 (Tue.)]
*Almost All Areas Available (Except for Central, Olympic Ⅰ & Ⅱ, Kitaone, Sakka, Kokusai, Panorama Cat Track, OMUSUBI, Nakiyama North & Kabe)
*Available Lifts … Gondola (8:00 a.m.-), totally 13 lifts
*Fees … From 3/13 Spring Discount Adult JPY5,500, 6-17 y/o JPY2,500

*Printable Rental Discount Coupons!
Carving Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY3,000 / Outerwear JPY2,500!
Carving Ski・Snowboard High Performance Model Rental JPY500 OFF!
Kid’s Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY2,500 / Outerwear JPY1,500!

*Click here to purchase photos found in this report

reported by Snownavi