Its started!!!
Usagidaira (Happoone Ski Resort) Altitude 1400m
Usagidaira (Happoone Ski Resort) Altitude 1400m
Was thinking... what is this crazy Hakuba microclimate?!I'm not sure if it makes sense. 14.3 degrees in the valley, no cloud on the radar. Freeze level at about 3500m. No cold air forecast until Tue/Wed next week.
I'm thinking bugs flying right near the camera.
You do get some unexpected local snow falls. Whilst not Hakuba, we have driven home from Joetsu with snow falling most of the way. We were thinking we would have to dig the car park out. Get to Sekiyama and it stops. Almost no snow at my place but Sugi was fresh tracks all day.Was thinking... what is this crazy Hakuba microclimate?!
Very nice - seems so early when viewed with Aussie eyes.Down to 1400 meters overnight. I still get that feeling when I see the snow for the first time each winter. Kid in a candy shop feels. Talking to the converted here no doubt.
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Great pics, vibe LP.Went and checked out the snow moths at Happo Pond this morning. It wasnt warm#notlongnow
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I see these sort of stats often in Japan which are very interesting. Are the 20 or so lifts running occupied at high capacity all day every day in summer like winter?Counter intuitively Happo moves more people in the green season than winter, which suprised me too when I 1st heard that.
No just the gondy and two upper lifts.I see these sort of stats often in Japan which are very interesting. Are the 20 or so lifts running occupied at high capacity all day every day in summer like winter?
Fwiw: The top of Happo lifts have a nice high feeling. Even better in the winter!No just the gondy and two upper lifts.
Very nice, cheers. Winter is closing in?Snow to almost the top of the Gondy at Happo this morning. It sure feels like November here. Cold, rain/snow and still quite a few chores to doThis pic is from our place above the Gallery, will try and get a better pic later when I go over to our Apartments as the views there are much better.
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I think this is statistically selective. It probably refers to:Counter intuitively Happo moves more people in the green season than winter, which surprised me too when I 1st heard that.
It's gone from early September weather during early October(3-4 weeks later), to early November weather from mid October. (2-3 weeks early)Very nice, cheers. Winter is closing in?![]()
I think this is statistically selective. It probably refers to:
1. Just the gondy & the 2 upper chairs only.
2. Green season runs from May to November, while the winter season nominally runs from December to May, the bulk of the snow riders only use the lifts from January until the end of March.... so 7 months vs 3 months.
3. The top chair is often not open in winter, so the total number of days running in the winter is small compared to summer. So if you compare just summer to winter, I think the gondy would have more total traffic in the winter, but the top chair would have more traffic in summer.
I've climbed to the Happo Pond in June, and there were not a huge number of people using the gondy compared to winter.
But you said that "Happo moves more people in the green season than winter".Nope, based on what members of the management team have told me and others they sell more tickets in green season than winter. Its not how many times a bum gets on a chair. There are lots of days here in March and April where Happo has relatively few skiers, particuarly during the week.
Someone I know is on the ferry from Niigata to Otaru Did the same trip a fortnight ago. Vehicles not tied down. This time vehicles are tied down. So if it is coming from that direction there could be a bit. Apparently Shiga looks skiable already.Weather is closing in again this afternoon, not sure on temps up top but its cool in town. Wont be surprised to see more snow up top and lower again in the morning. Sure feels like early/mid November. Best go put my tools away and start thing about pulling snowboards out and find my waxing kit![]()
Last time i hiked up there was Oct 2019. Cool, but not cold. Nice Autumn colours everywhere. Then sitting in the sun watching the Paragliders take off. An elderly Japanese couple struck up a conversation with us and shared there sweets with us. Ahh, memories. F##k you Covid.Went and checked out the snow moths at Happo Pond this morning. It wasnt warm#notlongnow
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It's a huge game changer for Norikura. Looking at the photo, you can see where the lift goes. Here's what it looks like IMO:Ok, so it DOES run between the Alps No.3 and No.4, higher above the Highway course.
Looks great...New Norikura lift from the Japan tourism thread:
It's a huge game changer for Norikura. Looking at the photo, you can see where the lift goes. Here's what it looks like IMO:
Runs from just near the top of Lift No.5, and along the southern side of the ridge. It can only come out on that south facing slope.
Green lifts are Cortina, blue lifts are Norikura & red lift is the new lift.
View attachment 240109
Red outline area is the main area. Dotted red are tree runs. Green outlines are the main hazardous areas. The left green area is the one that had lots of glide cracks and snow slides. The right area is the current avalanche zone.
Since the bottom of that whole area is really flat (runs back onto the very flat Lift No.1, I assume that they will groom a cat track along the whole length of the marked road, to make it accessible for lower skilled snow riders.... Otherwise the lift is not a cost effective option if it only caters for off piste riders.
Looking from Tsugaike:
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Hazardous part of area. It's not usually as bad as that, but the glide cracks are often there. You can just the the top of lift No.3, so you can see that there's always been access to this lower area.
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Note that only a single short lift from Tsugaike is enough to join Norikura & Tsugaike.
Yeah, true. I'll fix that. The last 2 seasons before COVID, that lift's been as busy as.Looks great...
You're missing a lift at Nori.
Runs upto Cortina.
The fun lift.
Down to 2.1 deg in town. Will be white before too long.Should be waking up to a pretty white town in the morning. Will be interesting to see how it pans out. Forecast up high looks good. With a meter forecast prior to Sat will be interesting to see if anything opens....
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Ah, where was this forecast in mid Feb 2020?Should be waking up to a pretty white town in the morning. Will be interesting to see how it pans out. Forecast up high looks good. With a meter forecast prior to Sat will be interesting to see if anything opens....
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That season was a once in 60 year strike out, so you shouldn't keep saying that any good snow in Japan is just "lucky".Ah, where was this forecast in mid Feb 2020?
…Regardless of the vagaries of 19/20’ - I hope you get ‘lucky’ wth the snow Pete.![]()
Fair call Sandy - I say luck with a smile - with my interest in met stats and climate, I’m the first (second after you!) to admit 19/20 Honshu winter season was remarkable for its mildness and reduced snowfall.That season was a once in 60 year strike out, so you shouldn't keep saying that any good snow in Japan is just "lucky".![]()
Happo bus stop?Looking a little like winter.
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Fux!Woohoo Goryu opened today at 12pm. Got a phone call at 11 it was going to happen and was in line by 11.30 with some friends like Steve from Hakuba Connect and Patrick from Powdermania, was in the 2nd Gondy going up. Only the top little double and about 50 people max but great vibe and some fun turns. Check out their instagram page for live vids etc.
With snow in the forecast tonight Im thinking we may see Tsguike open tomorrow and I wont even guess when the muppets at Happo will open.
Big thanks to Never Summer Japan, Bern Japan and Wax Hakuba.
@snowgum that pic is the Hakuba Train Station
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