REPORT

Yunomaru Ski Resort opened for the season on 11/23 (Sun.) with the No. 2 Slope (pictured, back center) and the No. 1 Slope skiable from the start. Thanks to the powerful cold air mass that arrived yesterday, snowmaking was progressing steadily, and grooming work was focused on the lower section of the slope where snow coverage had been limited until now. Because of this effort, the No. 5 Triple chairlift, which has been operating since opening day, began running later than usual this morning at 10:15 a.m.
[No. 1 Slope]

The No. 2 Slope is a gentle run with a maximum gradient of 12 degrees, an average of 10 degrees, a length of 400 meters, and a width of 40 meters (expanded to 80 meters in peak season). A snowboarder from Aichi Prefecture whom I rode the No. 5 Triple with (pictured) told me, “I’ve seen Snownavi before. At the start of the season, I often come to Yunomaru because the slope angle is perfect for getting my legs warmed up.”
[No. 2 Slope]

Although the official snow depth was listed as 30 cm, there were no bushes visible at all on the No. 2 Slope. The ground is naturally flat here, so there were no bumps or undulations either, making for a smooth ride. With about 10 cm of dry new snow on top, the packed-powder surface offered excellent conditions: the shaded side of the slope (pictured, foreground) was firm and well-set, while the sunny side was moderately soft. Both provided good conditions that my skis glided effortlessly on.
[No. 2 Slope]

I met a group of three people now living in Nagano, who told me, “We moved from Shimane Prefecture to snow-rich Nagano. The snow here is so soft and feels great.” A member of the ski resort staff also told me, “We’re hoping to run the No. 2 Pair lift this weekend, and we plan to open the No. 3 Slope next week.” As light snowflakes drifted down, patches of blue gradually spread across the overwhelmingly gray sky.
[No. 2 Slope]

　
[Yunomaru Details on 12/4 (Thu.)]
*Avaiiable Course … No.2
*Available Lifts … No.5 triple (10:00-, 12/5(Fri.) 8:30-)
*Fees … 1-Day Ticket Adult JPY4,000, 6 to 12 y/o JPY2,000, Senior and junior high and high school students JPY3,000（Until 12/19）

*Early-bird Lift Tickets (Sales period: 9/20 to 12/24)
Adult 1-day pass JPY5,400円 → JPY4,200!
　
＊Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi