REPORT

The light rain falling in Nakano City had turned into snow by the time I reached Michi-no-Eki Hokushinshu Yamanouchi. On the Yokoteyama First Slope (pictured), a thin layer of slightly moist fresh snow covered the firm, groomed corn snow base, making for smooth and easy skiing conditions. Meanwhile, snow removal work had begun around the road near the Second Slope in preparation for the reopening of National Route 292 at 10 a.m. on 4/23 (Wed.).
[Yokoteyama・First Slope]

The upper area of Yokoteyama and Shibutoge had full-on blizzard conditions. I ran into Espyuki, a slope-side dining ambassador, who told me, “My outerwear is from ZUICA! It’s especially great on a cold day like today. Oh, by the way, the new snow park looks interesting.” A snow park at Shibutoge? On April Fools’ Day, that’s a pretty obvious joke!
[Shibutoge・Gemut Course]

Just when I thought it was a joke, it turned out to be real—a snow park at Shibutoge! The Yokote Shibu Springpark officially opened today on the Waver Course and will be open until 5/6 (Tue., holiday). “It doesn’t feel like spring at all today—kind of ironic for a ‘spring’ park! (lol) We’ll be adding more features as we go, so come check it out!” was the comment from Mamiko, one of the park diggers (pictured, left).
[Shibutoge・Waver Course]

The Gemuet Course and Waver Course had a hard, groomed granular snow surface with a light layer of slightly damp new snow between 1 to 3 cm. Meanwhile, the King Course (pictured) and Yokoteyama Second Slope had powder bases with about 5 cm of fresh, fluffy snow! It goes without saying that after this, I headed back up on the Yokoteyama Second Sky for another run.
[Yokoteyama・King 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, while Yokoteyama and Shibutoge are reporting 150 cm.
　
[Shiga Kogen Details on 4/1 (Tue.)]
*Most Courses are OPEN (=Except for Sunvalley, Maruike, Hasuike, Giant, Higashidateyama, Nishidateyama, Hoppo Bunadaira, Ichinose Ymanokami, YAKEBI WALL, YAKEBI VALLEY, Yokoteyama Queen No. 5 & 6）
*Available Lifts … Kumanoyu No.1 Pair (8:30～) and totally 16 lifts
*Fees … 3/31- Spring Fee 1 Day Ticket Adult JPY6,500, Middle & High school students, over 60 y/o JPY5,900, Under 12 y/o JPY3,200

＊Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi