REPORT

The winter season at Sugadaira Kogen Snow Resort is coming to an end this weekend, on 4/12 (Sun.), leaving only a few more chances to enjoy “Sugadaira Blue” (pictured). Currently, just the Stage 3 Lift is operating, with four courses open: Uratataro Family East, Family West, Kamoshika, and the Taroyama Summit Access Route. With warm temperatures from the start of the day, I took off my jacket before heading out to the slopes.
[Uratataro Family East]

All four courses featured groomed corn snow that had loosened into a soft, granular surface. On Uratataro Family West (pictured), there were a few thin snow spots near the top and again toward the bottom, but they were easy to avoid. Directly beneath Stage 3, the exposed ground was widespread, so moving between courses was only possible via the midsection.
[Uratataro Family West]

Uratataro Family East had no exposed ground, allowing me to ski with confidence and carry speed. A single, well-shaped mogul line (pictured) ran from the upper to midsection, and the soft corn snow made it approachable and fun to take on. Even after the groomed surface became heavily tracked, it continued to ski smoothly.
[Uratataro Family East]

On Uratataro Kamoshika, the skier’s right side was reserved for gate training, while skier’s left remained open to the public. Across the valley, the Davos area and at Pine Beak, which I visited after wrapping up my report, showed almost no remaining snow. For reference, Mt. Neko (2,207m, pictured upper left), one of Japan’s 100 famous flower mountains, is best climbed starting from late May.
[Uratataro Family West]

　
[Sugadaira Kogen Details on 4/6 (Mon.)]
*OPEN Courses … Urataro Family East, Urataro Family West, Uratao Kamoshika, Taro Yama Renraku
*Available Lifts … Stage 3 (8:30-).
*Lift Fees … Spring Discount start from 3/23: 1 Day Pass Adult JPY5,000, 4 y/o to 12 y/o JPY2,800, Over 60 y/o JPY4,400, Children 3 y/o and under are free
　
＊Request for the original data of our photographs
　
reported by Snownavi