REPORT

Yesterday ended a six-day stretch of sunny weather that began on 1/26 (Fri.), and light rain was falling at the base of the mountain this morning. I spoke with a staff member who told me, “It was raining at the base all afternoon yesterday, and was falling as wet snow on the Mountain Side of the resort.” When I got off the gondola, fine flakes of snow were lightly falling, and carried about by occasional gusts of a northeasterly wind.
[South Slope]

The well-packed, groomed wet snow surface on the South Slope (pictured) had a favorable moisture content, so my skis slid well and I was able to enjoy the snow conditons. However, the thick fog was another story… On the wide South Slope (pictured), it was difficult to tell where you were and how you were skiing without finding a clear landmark to orient you.
[South Slope]

At times like this, the VIEW slopes are a good option since they are bordered on both sides by trees that provide some context for where you are heading. VIEW C (pictured) was groomed with a moderately firm wet snow surface on the top to mid part of the run, and a somewhat looser wet snow base towards the end. The fog there was thinner this morning than on the South Slope, and the last part of the run was sometimes out of the cloud, so I was able to enjoy skiing at speed.
[VIEW C]

The moderately firm, groomed Sawa Course (pictured) was also veiled in thick fog, but the snow conditions themselves were good. It was also surprisingly empty, perhaps because it is difficult to find the entrance in conditions like today’s. The Sunny Valley Course, which was also groomed with moderately packed wet snow, had only one spot where the snow cover was thin; the junction with White Ribbon in the middle of the course.
[Sawa Course]

　
＊Kamoshika will be restricted from 2/2 (Fri.) to 2/4 (Sun.) due to The 4th ALL Japan Masters Ski Demonstration Championship.

　　　
[Hakuba Iwatake Snow Field Availability Information on 2/1 (Tue.)]
*All Courses are available (=Except for North)
*Available Lifts … Gondola (8:00-), and totally 8 lifts.
*Fees … 1 Day Ticket … Adult Weekends & Holidays JPY5,200, Weekday JPY5,000, 6-12 y/o Weekend & Holidays JPY3,200, Weekday JPY3,000, 60-69 y/o JPY4,800, Over 70 y/o JPY4,600 *A preschooler will be free per adult.
　
＊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!
　　
*Request for the original data of our photographs
　

reported by Snownavi