REPORT

It’s hard to believe that a slope with a base of just 10 cm of snow yesterday morning was skiable today. More than 50 cm of new snow fell across Alps Daira from yesterday afternoon through this morning, allowing Goryu’s Telecabin to start operating at 10:30 and the Alps 1st Pair to begin running at 10:40 — opening the Panorama Course for the season! Strong north winds blew snow across the mountain intermittently, making for a cold, midwinter-like morning.
[Panorama Course]

On this all–natural-snow slope, about 60% of the skier’s-left side (roughly 80 meters) was groomed into a moderately soft, powdery packed snow surface, while the remaining 40% was left ungroomed. The groomed section (pictured) offered what I can confidently call “the best of the season so far” in terms of smooth, easy glide. In the ungroomed zone, I enjoyed the more than 50 cm of deep, fluffy powder.
[Panorama Course]

I ran into Sato-san (pictured, left) from Monster Cliff — the company behind Snowboard KAITORI Monster, THE DAY. HAKUBA, and Hakuba’s popular “Mura Gacha” — who told me, “I’m looking forward to another great season. I’m out riding today with THE DAY. HAKUBA users, and riding on natural snow like this really is the best — it feels amazing!” My thanks as well to everyone else who stopped to say hello to me on the slopes.
[Panorama Course]

At Escal Plaza (pictured), the Information Desk, Ticket Center, and Goryu Rentals opened at 8:00 a.m., followed by the Escal Shop at 8:15 and the Burton Store Hakuba Goryu at 8:30. At Alps 360, light meals and drinks were also available starting today. Meanwhile, grooming and preparations continued along Hakuba 47’s Line E, which may open as early as tomorrow.
[Escal Plaza]

　　　　
[Hakuba Goryu & Hakuba47 Details on 12/4 (Thu.)]
*OPEN Course … Panorama
*Available Lifts … Tele-cabin (10:～), Alps 1st Chair
*Fees … Early Season Discount 1-Day Pass Adult JPY8,500, 13-17 y/o JPY6,500, 6-12 y/o JPY3,800 *JPY500 deposit will be required

*Advance Discount Lift Tickets (*Available 9/1 to 12/19)
Adult 1-day pass JPY9,000 → JPY7,000!
Child 1-day pass JPY4,000 → JPY3,300!
(*A JPY500 deposit is added at purchase, JPY7,500 for adults, JPY3,800 for children, and refunded when the IC card is returned.)

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi