REPORT

As we approach the busy three-day weekend in early February, Hakuba Iwatake Snow Field is sitting on a base depth of 180 cm – only 10 cm less than this time last season. On the resort’s Mountain Side, ice and snow continued to build up on the trees, and beautifully contrasted against the bright blue sky, especially when illuminated by the occasional morning sunbeam.
[Mt. Iwatake Summit Area]

Today’s report will concentrate on the Sunny Valley Course; a 3,300-meter-long run with a maximum slope angle of 24 degrees and an average of 11 degrees. As I stepped off the gondola, my skis slid well on the well-packed, groomed powder snow.
[South Slope]

After branching off from the South Slope, I passed under the Chuo Kosoku Lift (pictured) and headed toward the foot of the mountain. From the junction with the White Ribbon Course to the confluence with the Kometsuga Course, the wet snow was mixed with artificial snow, and pressed hard by the groomers. The East Slope, like the South Slope, had a moderately firm, groomed powder snow surface that was easy to ski.
[Sunny Valley Course]

From the point where the course changes from north-facing to northeast-facing and continuing down to the gondola base station, the well-packed groomed wet snow had a “powdery” feel. I enjoyed the changing slope angles, scenery, and snow quality, and would have loved to keep lapping Sunny Valley via the gondola during the morning. During the upcoming three-day weekend, the Iwatake Summit Area will play host to a HASCO test-ride event (2/10 & 11, starting at 9:00 a.m., free), while the “GR skilife Skiboard Meeting” will take place at the base area on 2/10 from 10:00 a.m. (free of charge), followed by a “free event” on 2/11, also from 10:00 a.m.
[Sunny Valley Course]

　　　
[Hakuba Iwatake Snow Field Availability Information on 2/8 (Thu.)]
*All Courses are OPEN (Except for North)
*Available Lifts … Gondola (8:00-), and totally 6 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