REPORT

Significant early-season snow storms have been making their mark across the country, including northern Nagano on 11/19 (Tue.), Hakuba on 11/30 (Sat.), and parts of Hokkaido on 12/6 (Fri.). However, there was little new accumulation (unfortunately) in the Hakuba area at dawn on 12/6 (Fri.).That being said, by around 7:30 a.m., the snow really started to pick up, and as I stepped out of the gondola at the top (pictured), I was greeted by a strong west wind whipping up the snow around me.
[Panorama Course]

Although visibility was limited due to snow and fog, you could still see 50 to 100 meters ahead, so it wasn’t too much of an issue. On the north side of the Kokusai 3 Pair lift (pictured), where a mix of wet snow and powder had been pressed down by the groomers, a few centimeters of light, fresh snow on top made for smooth and satisfying turns. Meanwhile, the south side of the same lift had been groomed earlier, so the moderately firm wet snow base was topped with 15 to 20cm of light, fresh snow.
[Panorama Course]

The Panorama Forest Trail was groomed last, and featured a moderately soft, groomed powder surface topped with about 1 cm of light, fresh snow. I spoke with a skier visiting from Tokyo (pictured), who told me, “I always follow your updates. I’ve been coming to Happo-One for over 20 years, and now that I work remotely, I spend about half the season in Hakuba. With the conditions improving this morning and the fresh snow being so light, it’s absolutely perfect out here!”
[Panorama Course]

With conditions improving rapidly, the big question now is when Usagidaira (pictured) and Kurobishi will open. A ski patroller checking the Usagidaira course commented, “We’re getting things ready so that we can open at any time. But the timing of the official announcement will depend on how conditions shape up.” The snowfall continued to intensify throughout the day.
[Usagidaira Slope]

　
[Happo-One Details on 12/6 (Fri.)]
*Available Courses … Panorama Course, Upper Panorama Rindo
*Available Lifts … Gondola (8:00～), Panorama Pair, Kokusai No.3 Pair
*Fees … Early Season 1 Day Ticket Adult JPY4,000, Elementary School Students JPY1,000
　
＊Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi