REPORT

With three straight days of clear, sunny weather from 1/11 (Wed.) to 1/13 (Fri.), followed by a spring-like weekend, cold temperatures typical of January have finally returned as of 1/16 (Mon.). Furthermore, significant snowfall is forecast for tomorrow night, 1/20 (Fri.), and the strongest cold front of the season is expected to settle over the area around 1/24 (Tue.). Today’s beautiful, clear weather could be summed up as the “calm before the storm.”
[Distant View of the Ski Resort]

After a few less than ideal days, slope conditions have improved considerably. The Panorama Course, the Usagidaira south route, and the area alongside the Kurobishi 2 Quad (pictured) were all groomed with well-packed wet snow that had a powdery feel. A skier from Niigata Prefecture called out to me from the lift, saying, “I love your site! This is my first visit to Hakuba this season. I’ll stay overnight in my car tonight and ski Goryu tomorrow.”
[Kurobishi Slope]

First thing this morning, there were a considerable number of people heading to Riesen, as well as a large number getting off the Alpen Quad and heading towards Kurobishi and Skyline. That meant that the southern route of Usagidaira (pictured) was empty from the middle part of the slope and onward. The surrounding trees were tinted with rime ice, temperatures were comfortable, and I was able to repeat turns comfortably on the well-packed, evenly-groomed snow surface.
[Usagidaira Slope]

The groomed snow surfaces of the Skyline Course, Kitaone Traverse Cat Track and Sakka Slope consisted of hardpacked wet snow. The winding forest road of the Skyline Course (pictured) was in good condition for beginners. As I made my way down, I found myself stopping along the way the areas where I could take in the panoramic views of the “Hakuba Sanzan” (the three major Hakuba peaks), as well as the distant peaks of Amakazari, Hiuchi, and Togakushi to the northeast.
[Skyline Course]

　　
[Happo-One Opening Information for 1/19 (Thu.)]
*All courses are available!
*Available Lifts … Gondola (8:00 a.m.-), totally 16 lifts
*Fees … Adult JPY6,500, 6-17 y/o JPY3,200, Over 65 y/o JPY5,800

*Printable Rental Discount Coupons!
Carving Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY3,000 / Outerwear JPY2,500!
Carving Ski・Snowboard High Performance Model Rental JPY500 OFF!
Kid’s Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY2,500 / Outerwear JPY1,500!

*Click here to purchase photos found in this report
　
reported by Snownavi