Hokkaido Snow 2008/09

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  Thread Started By:   Mike Pow   On:   Wednesday 29/10/2008 @ 04:07 Show Newest First    
Mike Pow
Posts: 1129
Mid Glamorgan
  #1  Hokkaido Snow 2008/09  Posted 29/10/2008 @ 04:07
Revision #4 (Last edited: 23/11/2008 @ 12:06)
Wednesday 29 October 2008
Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area

Started snowing on Monday. Down to village level this morning.

Hiked to 1,000m for my first turns of the season. From nothing to knee deep powder. There were pockets of pow up to 64cm deep.

Was able to ski back to approx. 500m

Barely a scratch on the skis

First day of this season is 20 days earlier than last season

MIKE RICHARDS
Passing on the Passion for Powder since 2002
CSIA (Canada) Level 2 Ski Instructor
PSIA (United States) Level 2 Ski Instructor
Canadian Avalanche Association Level 1 - Ski Operations
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Sinbad
Posts: 1105
UK - Scotland
  #2  Re: Hokkaido Snow 2008/09  Posted 29/10/2008 @ 08:19
In reply to post #1 ...
wish i was there...[sigh> - natsukashii
www.SnowSphere.com | For Fukui's Sake: Two years in rural Japan | JAPAN T-SHIRT | Russian Heli Ts | Russian Bear
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daywalker
Posts: 1484
London
  #3  Re: Hokkaido Snow 2008/09  Posted 29/10/2008 @ 10:34
In reply to post #1 ...
hang on.........er............wait...............YEP......its confirmed.......i HATE YOU

i am gonna get out there next year........its a new promise i make to myself NOW!!


Andy
I do NOT fear Death - I fear not living..........er.........and small people with very large hands!

www.bushidokaikarate.webs.com
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secondecho
Posts: 289
London
  #4  Re: Hokkaido Snow 2008/09  Posted 29/10/2008 @ 13:01
In reply to post #3 ...
what the hell were you doing on skis?!?!?!?!
snowboarding was invented for powder!
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Mike Pow
Posts: 1129
Mid Glamorgan
  #5  Re: Hokkaido Snow 2008/09  Posted 04/11/2008 @ 11:18
Revision #7 (Last edited: 23/11/2008 @ 12:06)
In reply to post #4 ...
Tuesday 04 November 2008
Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area

Better late than never

Went to bed last night and it was puking wet, heavy glop at village level. Went to bed with a smile on my face.

Woke to the sound of the snow sliding off the roof of my cabin and somewhat clear skies.

Walked to the Ace Family area and then onwards and upwards to the 1,000m hut for my second day of the season.

5cm of snow at the base of the hill soon became boot top and knee deep as I ascended higher.

Blowing a gale at 1,000m but this will only help fill in the cracks between the Sasa.

Nasty little windpacked crust mixed with a frozen crust on the convex rollovers on Center Course. Won't be an issue avalanche wise as it looks like it's concentrated to the piste areas. They'll soon be bashed and all mixed in.

Skied Center Course and bounced along at a fair lick. Sinking in to boot top with the occasional pocket of knee deep.

Snow was much more solid and packed (the wind) than last week. Depth was between 40 and 80cm at 1,000m with approx. 20-25 cm over night.

Got to the Ace Hill and met up with local photographer Glen Claydon.

Did about 10 laps off Ace Hill to the base of the King Triple lift.

Glen Claydon Image


Glen Claydon Image


And then headed home. Was hoping to get down about half way before having to bootpack the remainder back to the Alpen Hotel, but the morning's snowfall combined with the wind created a base solid enough to support my bulk all the way to the bottom of the hill.

Glen Claydon Image


Happy days.

Still snowing now, with more forecast tonight.

Happier days ahead

Over and out.
MIKE RICHARDS
Passing on the Passion for Powder since 2002
CSIA (Canada) Level 2 Ski Instructor
PSIA (United States) Level 2 Ski Instructor
Canadian Avalanche Association Level 1 - Ski Operations
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secondecho
Posts: 289
London
  #6  Re: Hokkaido Snow 2008/09  Posted 04/11/2008 @ 12:06
In reply to post #5 ...
looks glorious. happy days Mike!
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Mike Pow
Posts: 1129
Mid Glamorgan
  #7  Re: Hokkaido Snow 2008/09  Posted 05/11/2008 @ 07:01
Revision #2 (Last edited: 23/11/2008 @ 12:06)
In reply to post #6 ...
Yes indeed.

Wednesday 05 November 2008
Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area

Stopped snowing mid-evening and got much colder than of late. Clear sky promised bluebird turns for today.

And there were. If you could get out of bed early enough. One lucky soul did and had glorious turns on aplenglow snow.

Glen and I set off around 7:45 in the am and each step upwards the sky became darker.

Yesterday's tracks had disappeared, with a consistent 10-15cm of new snow over the mountain.

Hiked to the top of the Swinging Monkey chair and skied the bottom part of Jumbo. Best turns of the day. Snow was still powdery.

Below Ace Hill the snow became spongy, wet and slow.

Still if we don't get rain today or tomorrow as forecast then it will make a great base.

Glen Claydon just below Ace Hill



Glen about half way down



Glen into the finalish stretch



Me in the goldfish bowl (fisheye lens)



Me later in that sequence



Glen and I. Another great morning in Hirafu.


Day off tomorrow.

Due to snow again Friday and through the weekend.

Stay tuned.
MIKE RICHARDS
Passing on the Passion for Powder since 2002
CSIA (Canada) Level 2 Ski Instructor
PSIA (United States) Level 2 Ski Instructor
Canadian Avalanche Association Level 1 - Ski Operations
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Mike Pow
Posts: 1129
Mid Glamorgan
  #8  Re: Hokkaido Snow 2008/09  Posted 06/11/2008 @ 02:25
Revision #1 (Last edited: 23/11/2008 @ 12:07)
In reply to post #7 ...
Thursday 06 November 2008
Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area

Rained from yesterday afternoon through to the early hours of this morning. Torrential at times.

Woke to glorious sunshine and Indian Summer temperatures.

Reminded me of my forays into the snow back home in Wales. One day it's there, the next it's not.

Hard to believe Glen and I made turns on the hill yesterday.



Perfect day for a day off snow.

Snow forecast for the weekend. And more importantly colder temps.
MIKE RICHARDS
Passing on the Passion for Powder since 2002
CSIA (Canada) Level 2 Ski Instructor
PSIA (United States) Level 2 Ski Instructor
Canadian Avalanche Association Level 1 - Ski Operations
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secondecho
Posts: 289
London
  #9  Re: Hokkaido Snow 2008/09  Posted 06/11/2008 @ 08:05
In reply to post #8 ...
hey Mike

When do the rain storms cease in Hokkaido? or are they a steady occurrence throughout the season?
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Mike Pow
Posts: 1129
Mid Glamorgan
  #10  Re: Hokkaido Snow 2008/09  Posted 06/11/2008 @ 09:22
Revision #1 (Last edited: 06/11/2008 @ 09:23)
In reply to post #9 ...
In the 2 winters that I've been here we had 4 days of rain between opening day and closing day.

All in early January for some reason.

Not a regular occurrence, as in Whistler or Fernie esque
MIKE RICHARDS
Passing on the Passion for Powder since 2002
CSIA (Canada) Level 2 Ski Instructor
PSIA (United States) Level 2 Ski Instructor
Canadian Avalanche Association Level 1 - Ski Operations
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Mike Pow
Posts: 1129
Mid Glamorgan
  #11  Re: Hokkaido Snow 2008/09  Posted 08/11/2008 @ 04:16
Revision #1 (Last edited: 23/11/2008 @ 12:07)
In reply to post #10 ...
Saturday 08 November 2008
Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area

Started snowing around 5ish last night.

Coming down pretty good but very small 'flake' size.

The village is covered this morning (2-5cm) but temps have risen and there is melting going on.

Still snowing as I write, but not enough to make turns.

Maybe tomorrow
MIKE RICHARDS
Passing on the Passion for Powder since 2002
CSIA (Canada) Level 2 Ski Instructor
PSIA (United States) Level 2 Ski Instructor
Canadian Avalanche Association Level 1 - Ski Operations
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Sinbad
Posts: 1105
UK - Scotland
  #12  Re: Hokkaido Snow 2008/09  Posted 08/11/2008 @ 11:14
In reply to post #11 ...
Lovely autumn colours in the pic below mike - damn I miss Nihon!

Keep em coming.
www.SnowSphere.com | For Fukui's Sake: Two years in rural Japan | JAPAN T-SHIRT | Russian Heli Ts | Russian Bear
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Mike Pow
Posts: 1129
Mid Glamorgan
  #13  Re: Hokkaido Snow 2008/09  Posted 09/11/2008 @ 03:26
Revision #1 (Last edited: 23/11/2008 @ 12:08)
In reply to post #12 ...
Cheers Sinbad.

Sunday 09 November 2008
Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area

Cold, damp, grey, miserable day in Hirafu. Rain not snow.

Typical Sunday in Wales

The snow from earlier in the week is all but gone between the village to the top of Ace Quad. Above that is in the clouds so no idea.

Warm temps and sporadic rain forecast through to next Friday.
MIKE RICHARDS
Passing on the Passion for Powder since 2002
CSIA (Canada) Level 2 Ski Instructor
PSIA (United States) Level 2 Ski Instructor
Canadian Avalanche Association Level 1 - Ski Operations
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Mike Pow
Posts: 1129
Mid Glamorgan
  #14  Re: Hokkaido Snow 2008/09  Posted 10/11/2008 @ 04:14
Revision #1 (Last edited: 23/11/2008 @ 12:08)
In reply to post #13 ...
Monday 10 November 2008
Grand Hirafu, Niseko Resort Area

Much nicer day today.

Sunny, windy, dry, colder.

No snow below the top of Ace Quad. A little above.

Yotei seems to have fared better with the rain and milder temps.
MIKE RICHARDS
Passing on the Passion for Powder since 2002
CSIA (Canada) Level 2 Ski Instructor
PSIA (United States) Level 2 Ski Instructor
Canadian Avalanche Association Level 1 - Ski Operations
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FredL
Posts: 2
  #15  Re: Hokkaido Snow 2008/09  Posted 12/11/2008 @ 00:20
Fantastic photos Mike and Glen, keep em coming!


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