REPORT

Only five days remain in the season for Giant (pictured), Hoppo Bunadaira, Sun Valley, Maruike, Hasuike, Nishidateyama, Higashidateyama, Ichinose Yamanokami, and Tanne-no-Mori Okojo. I spoke with a patrol staff member who told me, “Yesterday it was raining below the summit at Nishidateyama, but it was snowing up top at Takamagahara and Ichinose. We use snowcats after the lifts close to cover any exposed dirt caused by melt. Hopefully the snow lasts through closing day.”
[Giant・Giant]

Giant (pictured), the lowest-elevation ski area in Shiga Kogen, had firm, groomed granular snow, and the snow began to soften first on the sun-exposed skier’s left side. Snow coverage remained complete across all groomed terrain, with no thin spots in sight. I set my edges and skied the full length of the steep pitch with peace of mind.
[Giant・Giant]

I parked near the Higashidateyama Gondola base (pictured) this morning. From that starting point, I had the Hoppo Bunadaira Slope to myself first thing in the morning. Roads were mostly clear on the way, but refrozen meltwater created icy patches here and there, and winter tires still felt like a necessity.
[Higashidateyama Gondola]

(pictured). They said, “We’re warming up on the gentle Bunadaira slope and then heading up toward the summit.” The Bunadaira Slope (pictured) was freshly groomed and firm with packed granular snow at 8 a.m. When I returned at 9 a.m. though, the surface had loosened and turned slightly granular.
[Happo Bunadaira・Bunadaira Slope]

　　
*Starting 4/1 (Wed.), the Nagano Prefecture 150th Anniversary “Shinshu Experience Discount” will offer 50% off one-day lift tickets for residents of Nagano and 20% off for visitors from outside the prefecture.
*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 140 cm is shared by Takagahara Mammoth, Ichinose Family, Ichinose Diamond, and Shibutoge, while Giant and Happo Bunadaira are reporting 70 cm.
　　　
[Shiga Kogen Details on 3/27 (Fri.)]
*Fully OPEN (Except for Shibutoge Simple, Shibutoge Weber, Yokoteyama 5 & 6, Panorama In, Yakebi Wall, YAKEBI COAST, Maruike A)
*Available Lifts … Ichinose Quad (8:30～) and totally 39 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. (Spring Discount from 4/1: Adult JPY7,000, Middle & High school students JPY6,500, Under 12 y/o JPY3,500, over 60 y/o JPY6,500)

*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi