REPORT

We’ve now officially crossed over into the second half of the winter season. However, Hakunori’s final day of operations is 4/5 (Sun.), slightly later than many other ski resorts, which means there are still nearly 50 days of skiing left to enjoy. With no wind and strong radiational cooling overnight, temperatures dropped to -8°C early this morning, but by the time the Alps No. 3 High-Speed Pair started running at 8 a.m., it had risen to -4°C and felt much more comfortable.
[Highway Course]

A light dusting of fresh snow on the Wakaguri Central Slope and Wakaguri Forest Course sparkled brilliantly in the morning sun, drawing an involuntary “wow” from my mouth. I met a group from the Kyoto Institute of Technology (pictured) who told me, “We always read your reports! We’re here for a training camp ahead of the National Student Ski Competition Iwatake (Technical Skiing Division). Once camp wraps up, we head straight into the competition.”
[Wakaguri Forest Course]

The upper half of the Highway Course and the Kamoshika Course had groomed powder with a slight mix of granular snow, while the lower half of the Highway Course (pictured) offered moderately firm powder grooming. The Wakaguri Central Slope and the Wakaguri Forest Course both featured moderately soft groomed powder surfaces that enabled me to carve comfortably. Each turn sent up a delicate spray of the thin fresh snow on top.
[Highway Course]

The Satomi Central Slope (pictured), where grooming had been completed later than usual, had no fresh snow cover. The groomed powder surface, which was lightly mixed with granular snow, was moderately soft and easy to ski. Around 8:30 a.m., when the No. 8 Pair began running, there were still only a few people on the wide, flat slope, allowing me to ski it as if it were my own private run.
[Satomi Central Slope]

　
[Hakuba Norikura Onsen Details on 2/17 (Tue.)]
*Fully OPEN!
*Operating Lifts … No.3 Pair (8:00～) and totally 9 lifts
*Fees … 1-Day Pass Adult JPY6,200, 6 to 12 y/o JPY3,500, Pre-schooler FREE

*Print and get a great deal! Discount Coupon!
Paper Coupon → Adult 1 Day Ticket + JPY1,500 Meal vouchers or store coupons = JPY8,700 → JPY7,500!
Paper Coupon → Child 1 Day Ticket + JPY1,500 Meal vouchers or store coupons = JPY6,000 → JPY4,800!

*Request for the original data of our photographs
　
reported by Snownavi