REPORT

The Nagasaka Gondola base station was shrouded in thick fog at 8:00 a.m., but I soon emerged above the clouds as I rode the gondola up. As I approached the summit station, I was thrilled to see the forest before me beautifully covered in rime ice. I spoke with a staff member at the Rest House Yamabiko, who commented, “The scenery is all most too good to be true!”
[Kokenashi Slope]

The Kokenashi Slope (first photo) had a moderately firm, groomed powder snow surface throughout, while the Skyline Course (pictured) was also groomed with well-packed snow up top, and a firm, “powdery” wet snow base towards the end. By the way, a special First Tracks event will be held here on 2/19 (Mon.)! It was wet snow conditions on the groomed Tanuki Course down to the Karasawa slope and the ungroomed Grand Prix Course leading down to the Nagasaka Slope.
[Skyline Course]

I skied down the Nagasaka Slope, which had a moderately firm, groomed wet snow surface that had the feeling of powder, before taking the Nagasaka Triple and heading to the Hikage Slope. Night skiing is scheduled on the Nagasaka Slope for 2/10 (Sat.) and 2/11 (Sun.), along with a fireworks display on 2/11 (Sun.) to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the resort’s opening.
[Hikage Slope]

I was greeted by a couple from Saitama Prefecture who were the first to board the Nagasaka Gondola, and was asked where I was shooting first thing in the morning. I stuck to my original plan of starting from the Skyline Course, but I couldn’t help but feel drawn towards the Yamabiko area (pictured) as I looked up at the overwhelming scene spreading out before me from the Nagasaka Gondola summit station.
[Yamabiko No. 2 Quad]

　
[Nozawa Onsen Availability Information on 2/8 (Thu.)]
*Almost all courses are Open (Except for Mukobayashi, Hachiman, Kandahar)
*Available Lifts … Nagasaka Gondola (8:30 -), Hikage Gondola (8:30 -) and totally 14 lifts.
*Fees … Adult JPY6,800, Under 15 y/o JPY4,100, Senior JPY5,400

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reported by Snownavi