REPORT

On 12/12 (Fri.), the official base depth at Happo jumped from 80cm to 120cm, but strong winds forced the gondola to remain closed all day. After calm weather returned to the area on 12/13 (Sat.), conditions shifted again with light rain on 12/14 (Sun.), followed by heavy snowfall today, 12/15 (Mon.)—a rapid series of weather changes. Under the Alpen Quad, which began operating five minutes ahead of schedule this morning, smooth, untouched snow stretched out beneath the lift (pictured).
[Usagidaira Slope]

Dropping from the south-side route at Usagidaira—where 10 to 15cm of new snow sat atop a moderately firm, powdery groomed base—into Sodeguro (pictured), I found 40 to 50cm of deep, fluffy new snow. With a soft underlying base, I never felt the undulations of the terrain and enjoyed a wonderfully buoyant, floating sensation. A moment after people began dropping into the run along the Alpen Quad, cheers of “Woooo!” and “This feels amazing!” echoed here and there.
[Usagidaira Slope]

Along the Kurobishi Quad (pictured), 15 to 20cm of fluffy new snow sat atop a moderately firm, powdery groomed surface. On the Panorama Course, where the groomed base was made of well-compacted wet snow, about 10cm of new snow had piled up and felt slightly heavier compared to Usagidaira and Kurobishi. Later on, the snowfall intensified further beginning around 9 a.m.
[Kurobishi Slope]

Following the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the entrance to Wadano no Mori at 4:30 p.m. yesterday, the “Wadano District Christmas Event” was held—marking the long-awaited revival of a tradition that had taken a 10-year hiatus. Admission was free, and attendees were treated to cola, toasted marshmallows, cookies, hot chocolate, hot wine, and more.
[Wadano no Mori]

　　
[Happo-One Details on 12/15 (Mon.)]
*Avaiiable Courses … Kurobishi, Usagidaira, Panorama, Upper portion of Panorama Cat Track
*Available Lifts … Gondola (8:00～), Panorama Pair, Kokusai 3 Pair, Alpen Quad, Kurobishi Quad
*Fees … Off peak 1-Day Pass Adult JPY5,000, 6 to 17 y/o JPY1,700, Over 65 y/o JPY4,600

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi