REPORT

That’s Shiga Kogen for you! Though light rain was falling in Nakano City, it had turned to snow as I climbed to Hasuike. I spoke with a staff member at the Yakebitaiyama Ski Area who told me, “Fog and heavy, wet snowfall are reducing visibility, so please ski with caution.” At the top of the No. 1 Gondola, thin fog drifted along with strong winds while fine snow blew across the ridge.
[Olympic Course]

The Olympic Course (pictured) and the upper to mid sections of the Giant Slalom Course were freshly groomed and set up firm with packed granular snow. Less than 1 cm of new snow lightly covered the groomer tracks. On the lower section of the Giant Slalom Course and on the Middle Connection Course (pictured, background), the groomed granular surface had already begun to soften.
[Olympic Course]

I shared the No. 1 Gondola with a father and his daughter (pictured) from Nakano City. He told me, “The snow was firmer than we expected, so my daughter’s a little disappointed, haha. Hopefully it softens up more. We really appreciate that lift tickets for elementary school students are free at Yakebitaiyama.” As we talked and I took photos, she relaxed and eventually gave me a smile.
[Giant Slalom Course]

Night skiing starts tonight at 6 p.m., and tomorrow, 3/1 (Sun.), the No. 1 Gondola will begin running at 7:50 a.m. for First Tracks. Shiga Kogen’s long season is far from over—its second peak is just beginning. By 10 a.m., when I wrapped up my coverage, the snow at the base had changed over to light drizzle.
[Giant Slalom Course]

＊The base depth at the top of this report reflects the maximum snow depth across all of Shiga Kogen. Currently, the highest recorded depth of 180 cm is at Takagahara Mammoth, while Yakebitaiyama is reporting 130 cm.
　
[Shiga Kogen Details on 2/28 (Sat.)]
*Fully OPEN (Except for Shibutoge Simple, Yokoteyama 5 & 6, Panorama In, Yakebi Wall, Maruike A)
*Available Lifts … Yakebitaiyama No.1 Gondola (8:30～) and totally 40 lifts
*Fees … 1 Day Ticket Adult JPY9,000, Middle & High school students JPY6,700, Under 12 y/o JPY4,100, over 60 y/o JPY6,900, 1 preschooler free per paying adult.

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi