REPORT

The warm temperatures and rain of the past week have reduced the officially announced snowpack at Hakuba Iwatake to 130 cm. However, cold temperatures returned last night, and this morning dry snow was falling densely, while the wind was blowing lightly from the north. Since the opening of the gondola was delayed, I used the only running lift, Kamo 1, and skied the Kometsuga Course to the Sunny Valley Course (pictured).
[Sunny Valley Course]

The alpine skiing disciplines of the National Student Ski Competition Iwatake are being held on Kamoshika from 2/20 (Tue.) to Friday to 2/23 (Fri., holiday). I spoke with a student from the Keio University Demons Club (pictured, second from right), who finished the Super Giant Slalom, and was told, “I placed 10th, the same as my bib number!” Her teammate (pictured, far right) and two other students from Meiji University’s Chasse Neige club (pictured, left) seemed to be relieved after finishing their runs. Tomorrow, the downhill competition will take place, while the technical giant slalom, slalom, and rookie competitions will be held from 3/15 (Fri.) to 3/18 (Mon.).
[Kamoshika]

The gondola got moving at around 10:15, and as I stepped off, I noticed that the trees were covered in a fresh coating of rime ice. The South Slope (pictured) had 5 to 10 cm of light, fresh snow on top of a firm, groomed granular snow base. Kometsuga (fourth photo) and Sunny Valley had similarly firm, groomed granular snow, with Sunny Valley topped with 3 to 5 cm of fresh snow.
[South Slope]

I was greeted by three people from Aichi Prefecture (pictured), who said, “We love your site! We’re high school seniors on our graduation trip and have been skiing since yesterday. Yesterday was tough because of the rain, but today is great and so easy to ski!” Temperatures were still lower than 0℃ below the Sunny Valley Course, and freezing rain, a rare condition here, was sticking to the ground, trees, and more.
[Kometsuga]

　　　
[Hakuba Iwatake Snow Field Availability Information on 2/22 (Thu.)]
*All Courses are OPEN (Except for North)
*Available Lifts … Gondola (8:00-), and totally 7 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