REPORT

With snow falling for consecutive days, and with another big accumulation of over 20cm last night, it was decided that not only Ikenota but also Ipponmatsu, Hiedayama Rinkan, Hiedayama 1, and Itadaira would open today, 12/22 (Fri.). I crossed paths with Hakuba’s own backcountry skier Kyoto Harada (pictured, right), who told me, “It’s finally open! Two seasons ago, I had an accident while skiing and was on the brink of death, but last year I devoted myself to rehabilitation, and this season I’m returning to skiing. I suffered some memory problems, so I’m still regaining the feel for skiing.”
[Ikenota Slope]

The Ikenota Slope was groomed on the skiers’ right side and had a moderately soft powder snow surface, with bushes still noticeable on the top half of the course. I was greeted by a couple from Aichi Prefecture (pictured) who said they were fans of Snownavi and that they came to Cortina because they saw the announcement of the opening and wanted to ski powder.
[Ikenota Slope]

The anticipation of “untouched powder” from the consecutive days of snowfall coinciding with the resort’s opening day meant that there was a large line at the 4th Pair boarding area before it began operating. It seemed like we were back to pre-COVID powder festival days, as more than half of the visitors in the line were foreigners.
[4th Pair Boarding Area]

I headed over from the moderately soft, groomed powder snow on the Hiedayama Rinkan Course to the ungroomed Hiedayama Course 1 (pictured). There was more than 50cm of light, soft snow, that provided me with that pleasant floating feeling. Some tall stalks of Japanese Pampas Grass were visible on the lower half of the run, but visitors skied through them as if they didn’t care.
[Hiedayama Course 1]

[Hakuba Cortina Availability Information on 12/22 (Fri)]
*Available Courses … Ikenota G, Ipponmatsu C, Hieda Rinkan C, Mt. Hieda C1, Itadaira C,
*Available Lifts … No.2 Quad (8:30-), No.1 Pair, No.4 Pair
*Fees … Adult JPY3,500, 6-12 y/o JPY2,000 (Until 12/22)
　
*Print and get a great deal! Discount Coupon!
Paper Coupon → Adult 1 Day Ticket + JPY1,000 Meal Ticket = JPY7,400 → JPY6,200!
Paper Coupon → Child 1 Day Ticket + JPY1,000 Meal Ticket = JPY5,000 → JPY4,300!

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi