REPORT

Mid-season cold temperatures are still lingering. With tightly packed isobars on the weather map reflecting a classic winter pressure pattern—and live cameras suggesting strong winds on the upper mountain—I opted to try the Nakiyama Slope (pictured). There, I ran into a Happo regular who told me, “Nakiyama is the right call today. Even with winds like this, the Nakiyama Triple and the Happo Riesen Quad should still run.”
[Nakiyama Slope]

Right on schedule, nine lifts began operating across the resort: the Nakiyama Triple and No. 2 Pair, the Happo Riesen Quad, the Shirakaba No. 1 and No. 2 Pairs, the Kokusai No. 1 Pair, Sakka No. 2 Pair, Sakka No. 3 Triple, and the Sakka Kita-One Quad. On the Riesen Slalom Course (pictured), 1 to 3cm of light new snow sat on top of a well-set groomed wet-snow surface with a powdery feel.
[Riesen Slalom Course]

Blue sky began to appear around the time I headed back up on the Happo Riesen Quad. Dropping from the well-set groomed wet snow of the Panorama Course into the Central Course (pictured), I found wide, lightly tracked slopes with the same firm, smooth surface. When I dug my edges in, the thin layer of light new snow on top drifted softly into the air.
[Central Course]

The Shirakaba Slope and Nakiyama Slope also had well-set groomed wet snow. With a scattered 0 to 2cm of light new snow on top, both were comfortable for repeating turns. As the morning went on, the winds gradually eased, allowing the Kokusai No. 3 Pair to open around 9:00 a.m., the Panorama Pair around 9:20 a.m., and the gondola at approximately 10:30 a.m.
[Shirakaba Slope]

　
[Happo-One Details on 2/9 (Mon.)]
*Fully OPEN!
*Operating Lifts … Gondola (8:00～) and totally 19 lifts
*Fees … 1 Day Ticket Adult JPY8,700, 6-17 y/o JPY4,350, Over 65 y/o JPY8,400

*Printable Rental Discount Coupons!
Carving Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY3,500 / Outerwear JPY2,500!
Carving Ski・Snowboard High Performance Model Rental JPY500 OFF!
Kid’s Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY2,500 / Outerwear JPY1,500!

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi