REPORT

New terrain is being steadily opened up across Happo thanks to the continued heavy snowfall. After the opening of Panorama and the Panorama Forest Road (pictured) on 12/19 (Fri.), Usagidaira and Kurobishi on 12/16 (Fri.), and Skyline on 12/17 (Sat.), noon today marks the scheduled opening of the Riesen Slalom Course, the Public Course, and the descent course that returns all the way down to the gondola base station! The Nakiyama 3 Triple and Happo Riesen Quad are also now in operation as of this morning.
[Panorama Forest Road Course]

The temperature has continued to drop since yesterday, and the high-elevation areas above the Panorama Course were covered with a beautiful layer of rime ice. Dry snow was falling silently this morning, and there was between 3 to 5 cm of fresh snow topping off the moderately firm, groomed powder snow of the Panorama and Panorama Forest Road Course (pictured). A fluffy cloud of snow smoke rose from the sides of my skis as I pressed my edges into the snow surface.
[Panorama Forest Road Course]

The Alpen Quad got off to a late start at 9:25 due to maintenance and inspection of some frozen parts. The ungroomed area of Usagidaira (pictured) had about 35cm of silky fresh snow, and I was able to enjoy fantastic floating powder runs with almost no bottoming out!
[Usagidaira Slope]

The Kurobishi Slope and the Skyline Course were both opened up today at 10:00. The Riesen Slalom Course is one of Happo’s most famous runs, along with the Usagidaira and Kurobishi Slopes, and is a 3 km long downhill course with an average slope of 20 degrees and a maximum gradient of 30 degrees. Incidentally, the tiny figure seen in the distance on the far left of the photo is a ski patroller performing a course check.
[Riesen Slalom Course]

[Happo-One Opening Information for 12/19 (Mon.)]
Open Course(s) … Panorama Course, Panorama Forest Road Course, Usagidaira, Kurobishi, Skyline, Riesen Slalom, Nakiyama South, Shirakaba South
Open Lifts … Gondola (8:30～), Panorama Pair, Kokusai 1 Pair, Kokusai 3 Pair, Alpen Quad, Kurobishi Quad, Skyline 2 Pair, Nakiyama Triple, Happo Riesen Quad
*Fees … Adult JPY5,000, 6-17 y/o JPY1,500 (Until 12/23）

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Carving Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY3,000 / Outerwear JPY2,500!
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Kid’s Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY2,500 / Outerwear JPY1,500!

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reported by Snownavi