REPORT

Spring is backcountry season. I had a conversation with two people from Nagano City (pictured), who told me, “We’ve seen the Snownavi site. We’re heading up to the top of Mt. Karamatsu and will ski down. The views of the Hakuba Sanzan and the sea of clouds are beautiful today!” The Happo-One Nature Trail, with its loose granular snow, was fine with skis or snowshoes, but I sank deep when I walked without them.
[Happo-One Nature Trail]

Being outside of the ski area (*mountain climbing report is necessary), there were some hazards, and cracks could be seen just a little off the route (pictured, background). Round-trip tickets for the Happo Alpine Line (Gondola + Alpen Quad + Grat Quad) can be purchased at convenience stores for the same price as at the ski resort ticket counter (¥4,100 for adults, ¥2,100 for elementary, junior high and high school students). (*Tickets purchased at convenience store do not need to be exchanged at the ticket counter, and no refunds will be given.)
[Happo-One Nature Trail]

In the morning, fog was repeatedly rolling in and out across the slopes. The further I skied down the groomed Riesen Slope (pictured) the thicker the layer of loose granular snow became. There were some areas where the snow cover was thinning on the skiers right side from the middle to the end, but it did not affect the skiing. The Shirakaba Slope was groomed to the width of one grooming machine and had a crunchy granular snow base.
[Riesen Slalom Course]

The moderate sized moguls at Kurobishi were easy to attack because of the loose granular snow conditions. I had a conversation with a mother from Osaka, who said, “I love your site! My kids (pictured) are practicing for the YOKOTEYAMA CUP taking place on 4/7 (Sun.) at Yokoteyama in Shiga Kogen.” The groomed Riesen Grat, southern route of Usagidaira, and the area along the Kurobishi Quad were all easy to ski.
[Kurobishi Slope]

　　
[Hakuba Happo-one Details on 4/5 (Fri.)]
*Open Course(s) … Riesen Grat, Usagidaira, Kurobishi, Urakuro, Skyline, Panorama, Riesen Slalom, Shirakaba, Nakiyama South
*Available Lifts … Gondola (8:00 a.m.-), Nakiyama No.3 Triple, Happo Riesen Quad, Panorama Pair, Alpen Quad, Kurobishi No.2 Quad, Skyline No.2 Pair, Glat Quad
*Fees … 3/11 Spring Discount 1 Day Ticket Adult JPY5,500, Over 65 y/o JPY4,950, 6-17 y/o JPY2,500

*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