REPORT

Okushiga Kogen Ski Resort kicked off the season on 12/23 (Sat.) by opening two slopes with 100% natural snow, the Third and Fourth slopes. The following day, 12/24 (Sun.), the Second Rapid Pair lift also started moving, opening up the First Slope, Expert Course, Third Slope, Kids Rinkan Course, and Rinkan Course. I had a conversation with a couple from Saitama Prefecture staying at the Shiga Kogen Prince Hotel, who told me, “We love your site. We came to Okushiga because the Expert Course (the ungroomed slope pictured in the background) opened today.”
[Okushiga Kogen・First Slope]

The morning temperature was a brisk -12 degrees Celsius, typical of Shiga Kogen, and as a result, the snow quality was excellent. The Third Slope (pictured) was groomed firmly with a flat finish that had me skiing and feeling like a pro. The slope has a maximum angle of 16 degrees and an average of 13 degrees over the full 600-meter distance and was busy with Sugiyama Ski & Snowsports School lessons.
[Okushiga Kogen・Third Slope]

I crossed paths with a telemark skier (pictured), who asked me, “Did you ski the Expert Course too? It was nice and fluffy, wasn’t it?” The Expert Course (Max. 30 degrees, Avg. 23 degrees, Distance 630m) had about 40cm of fresh snow that was pleasant to ski even after a lot of tracks had been laid. The gentle angle of the First Slope (pictured, Max. 8 degrees, Avg. 6 degrees) was also easy to ski due to the moderately firm, groomed powder snow surface.
[Okushiga Kogen・First Slope]

As for Shiga Kogen as a whole, Nishidateyama Ski Resort opened on 12/23 (Sat.) and Ichinose Diamond Ski Resort opened on 12/24 (Sun.). On this day, the plowed yet slippery snow-covered roads stretched all the way down to the Kambayashi Chain Fastening Area at the foot of the mountain. I also had to be careful as several monkeys, suddenly crossed the road in front of me. (*Please do not feed the wild animals!)
[National Route 292・Junisawa Bridge]

　
[Availability Information on 12/24 (Sun)]
*Available Courses … (Okushiga) 1st, 3rd G, Expert C, Forest C, (Yakebitaiyama) Karamatsu C, South C, (Ichinose Family) lower front G, Tengu C, (Takamagahara) lower Takamagahara Mammoth G, (Ichinose Diamond) Diamond G, (Nishidateyama) Nishidateyama Beginner C, lower Nishidateyama Middle C, lower World Cup C (Kumanoyu) 2nd beginner C, 3rd beginner C, Third Rinkan C, 4th Beginner C, Umanose C, (Yokoteyama) 1st G, 2nd G, Kaiwa G, Queen 5th G
*Available Lifts … (Okushiga) 1st pair, 2nd high speed pair, 3rd high speed pair, gondola, (Yakegaiyama) Yakegaiyama 2nd high speed, 4th romance, (Ichinose Family) Ichinose 3rd quad, Ichinose 2nd pair A-line, B-line (Takatengahara) Takatengahara quad, Takatengahara 2nd triple, (Ichinose Diamond) Ichinose Diamond pair, Ichinose Diamond Quad, (Nishitateyama) Nishitateyama Quad, (Kumanoyu) 2nd Pair A line, B line, 3rd Quad, (Yokoteyama) 1st Sky B line, 2nd Sky, 4th Pair, 5th, (Giant) Shiga Kogen Resort Gondola
*Fees … 1 Day Ticket Adult JPY7,500, Middle & High school students, over 60 y/o JPY6,400, Under 12 y/o JPY3,700

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi