REPORT

This morning, I met a couple from Gifu Prefecture (pictured) amid the background of the dim pre-opening sky, who told me, “We always read your reports! We’re Cortina & Hakunori joint season pass holders, and we’ll be car camping and skiing through 1/2 (Fri.).” Slushy snow had accumulated on the access road leading from National Route 148 to the parking area, making driving conditions slippery.
[Ikenota Slope]

On 12/28 (Sun.), the 3rd Quad (pictured) began operating, opening up three additional courses: Rabbit, Snake, and Kamoshika. Night skiing also kicked off on the same day on the Ikenota Slope (※5:00 p.m.; ¥2,500 for adults, ¥1,500 for elementary school students). Night operations run daily from 12/27 (Sat.) to 1/3 (Sat.), as well as on Saturdays in January and February, plus 1/11 (Sun.) and 2/22 (Sun.).
[Rabbit Course]

I caught up with three guests from the United States (pictured), who commented, “We’ll be staying in the HAKUBA VALLEY all winter. The scenery is beautiful.” On the ungroomed upper half of the Rabbit Course and the Snake Course, around 15 cm of moist new snow had accumulated. Tall silver grass could be seen here and there along the course edges, but there were no bushes within the runs themselves. The lower section of Rabbit featured a mix of moderately firm, groomed moist snow topped with about 3 cm of wet new snow.
[Rabbit Course]

On the Ikenota Slope, 3 to 5 cm of moist new snow sat on top of soft, forgiving groomed snow, making it easy to carry speed and enjoy smooth turns. Conditions were similarly good in the well-maintained Kids’ Park, where children’s sleds seemed to be running nicely. The mother of a child from Hyogo Prefecture (pictured) told me, “We’re staying at Hotel Green Plaza Hakuba. The hotel meals are delicious! Dad and big brother have gone out skiing.” (By the way, his gloves are adorably huge.)
[Kids’ Park]

[Hakuba Cortina Details on 12/30 (Sat.)]
*Most Courses are OPEN (Except for Hiedayma 2 & 3, Hiedayama Ridge, Itadaira Ridge)
*Operating Lift … No.2 Quad (8:30～) and totally 6 lifts
*Fees … Adult JPY5,700, 6 to 12 y/o JPY3,200, Pre-schooler FREE
　
*Request for the original data of our photographs
　
reported by Snownavi