REPORT

I was excited to see the post announcing “30 cm of new snow” on the official Okushiga Kogen Ski Resort X account this morning! However, after arriving, I met a member of the ski patrol who warned me, “Be careful, the underlying base of Kumaotoshi is quite hard and uneven.” I also ran into an instructor from Sugiyama Ski & Snow Sports School (pictured), who came flying down on his board and told me, “The new snow felt great!”
[Okushiga・Kumaotoshi]

At first glance, the Kumaotoshi slope was a smooth, untouched wonder. I soon crossed paths with a snowboarder from Yamanashi (pictured), who exclaimed, “I’m bottoming out!” He continued, “I always read your reports. I took a day off and came out after checking the weather forecast. I was planning to use a 4-hour ticket, but since it’s ‘Okushiga Day,’ the full-day pass was cheaper, so I decided to ski for the whole day.” Though there were moments when I heard my skis scraping across the base, I thoroughly enjoyed the precious March powder!
[Okushiga・Kumaotoshi]

Groomed powder bases made a comeback on the Downhill Course, Second Expert Course, First, Third, and Fourth slopes, along with the Rinkan Course. The Third Slope (pictured), with its moderately firm, groomed powder snow base, had a soft 10 to 15 cm of new snow on top. While visibility was occasionally poor due to light fog and falling snow, I was able to enjoy a smooth ride all the way to the front of the Okushiga Kogen Hotel.
[Okushiga・Third Slope]

After enjoying the fresh snow at the start of the Downhill Course, which was left half ungroomed, I detoured over to the Hillside Course (pictured). I relished the floating sensation from the slightly heavier 30 cm of new snow at the ungroomed start. In other news, the Fourth Slope is set to have mogul lanes created tomorrow. Furthermore, the Spring Discount period at Okushiga Kogen will begin on 3/31 (Mon.), and early morning operation will start on weekends and public holidays from 4/5 (Sat.) and daily during Golden Week!
[Okushiga・Hillside Course]

　
＊The base depth at the top of this report reflects the maximum depth across all of Shiga Kogen. Currently, the highest recorded depth of 250 cm is at Okushiga.

[Shiga Kogen Details on 3/19 (Wed.)]
*All Courses are OPEN (Except for Yokoteyama Jumbo, King, Queen No. 5 & 6, Shibutoge Downhill Piedmont Course）
*Available Lifts … Okushiga No.1 Pair (8:40～) and totally 34 lifts
*Fees … 1 Day Ticket Adult JPY8,000, Middle & High school students, over 60 y/o JPY6,400, Under 12 y/o JPY3,700

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi