Steep Deep Japan

Yesterday below 1400m had progressively poor snow quality even on northerly aspects. It was heavy and manky. Up to 2100m the snow quality was good, dry powder about 30cm deep with below freezing temps. However at around 1700m the mark the new snow was sluffing very easily on the previous melt freeze crust on all aspects. Natural single point releases were common, along with ski triggered sluffs. A good day to avoid terrain traps where seemingly harmless sluffs can accumulate a lot of snow.

Reports of deep dry powder up to 2300m with knee dep turns and face shots. Yesterday was a good day to go high and stay there, only coming down in the afternoon.

Temperatures forecast to reach +14C at valley bottom today with rain tonight.

Yesterday offered dense creamy wind buff in the gullies and ice on the ridges below 2100m on north aspects. Better than nothing. It remained colder than forecast at valley bottom and into the afternoon started to snow at all elevations.

Overnight more snow than forecast with 16cm in the valley at 800m – not the usual overload – and only 7% water. And it fell with very little wind. A pretty good turn around from previous conditions. Go and get some safely.