REPORT

One of Happo-One’s signature steep slopes, the Usagidaira Slope (800m in length, max 31°, avg 23°), offers three main course options: the area along the Alpen Quad lift (pictured), the groomed route on the southern side, and Sodeguro on the northern side of the Alpen Quad. This expansive slope provides endless enjoyment, from powder runs in the peak of winter to moguls during the spring skiing season.
[Usagidaira]

Dry snow was coming down steadily, and passing through the groomed section of Usagidaira, I found 10 to 15 cm of fresh, fluffy powder topping the base. Dropping into the pristine slopes along the Alpen Quad (pictures), I was greeted with an incredible 60 to 70 cm of untouched powder! With no signs of bottoming out, the slope offered an unbeatable powder run, echoed by the enthusiastic shouts of “Amazing!” and “Great!”
[Usagidaira]

Thanks to the heavy snowfall between 12/14 (Sat.) and into this morning, the official base depth has already surpassed 200 cm. Additionally, on 12/14 (Sat.), the Kokusai No. 1 Pair Lift began operation (closed temporarily from 12/16 to 20), opening up Olympic I & II, the lower portion of Kokusai (closed temporarily from 12/16 to 20), Sakka Wave, and Central courses, bringing Happo-One’s status to “mostly open” (with more than 50% of the resort accessible).
[Usagidaira]

The groomed Panorama Course offered a moderately-packed powder base with a 5 to 10 cm layer of light, fresh snow, while the groomed powder surface of the Olympic Course II was firmer but had about 20cm of fresh snow. The ungroomed areas were even more impressive, with around 40cm of light powder, and kiers could enjoy uninterrupted powders run all the way from Usagidaira to the base of the resort! The Sakka Wave and the stretch leading to the Gondola Base Station also had solid snow coverage, ensuring a safe and enjoyable ride.
[Usagidaira]

[Happo-One Details on 12/16 (Mon.)]
*Almost All Areas Available (= Riesen Grat, URAKURO, OMUSUBI, Skyline, Kitaone No.3, Upper Kitaone, Kitaone New Course, Kitaone Cat Track, Nakiyama, Sakka are not open)
*Available Lifts … Gondola (8:00～), Panorama Pair, Kokusai No.3 Pair, Alpen Quad, Kurobishi Quad
*Fees … Early Season 1 Day Ticket Adult JPY5,000, Over 65 y/o JPY4,500, 6-17 y/o JPY1,500 (Until 12/20)
　
*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi