REPORT

Yesterday was the warmest day of the year so far throughout the prefecture, with many observation points recording temperatures on par with late April, including a reading of +20.2°C in Matsumoto and +20.5°C in Nagano City. Today also marks the seventh consecutive day of sunny weather since 3/3 (Fri.). Hakuba Iwatake is scheduled to be open this season until 3/26 (Sun.), and spring discount prices (1-Day Tickets for Adults: ¥3,800 / Elementary School Students: ¥2,000) will go into effect on 3/20 (Mon.).
[South Slope]

I was able to ski fast on the South Slope (pictured), where the firmly packed, groomed granular snow surface was starting to wet out from the beginning of the day. The groomed East Slope, which is exposed to the morning sun, had a spring-like, slushy granular snow surface. Conversely, VIEW D is largely in the shade, so the snow was slow to soften up, and the slopes held their firm, groomed granular condition for quite a while.
[South Slope]

The groomed Sunny Valley Course (pictured) had a well-packed coarse snow surface in the shade and loose granular snow in the sun. Despite the recent string of sunshine and warm weather, there were almost no areas of thin snow or exposed soil all the way to the gondola base station (*there was only one small area to the skier’s right side at the bottom of the old Paradise Slope), so it was no problem to ski from the top to the bottom of the resort.
[Sunny Valley Course]

This weekend, there will be a cosplay event hosted by JIBA (Japan Ita Board Association) on 3/11 (Sat.) and 3/12 (Sun.), and a Snowboard & Binding Test Event (*from 10:00 a.m., ¥1,000 fee) hosted by Hakuba Sports on 3/12 (Sun.). Also, between 3/12 (Sun.) and 3/17 (Fri.), competition in the technical alpine disciplines will be held as part of the 50th Annual National Student Ski Competition.
[Sunny Valley Course]

　　
[Hakuba Iwatake Snow Field Availability Information on 3/9 (Thu.)]
*All courses are available. (*Except for VIEW A, VIEW B, North)
*Available Lifts … Gondola (8:00-), totally 7 lifts
*Fees … Adult JPY4,800, Over 60 y/o JPY4,500, Over 70 y/o JPY4,200, 6-12 y/o JPY3,000 (Until 3/19) *A preschooler will be free per adult.
　
＊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