7.30 Monday morning, 24 Dec, weather for the last 24 hours: very warm, 10C at 860m. The snow pack is isothermic at low altitude. Last nights rain turned to snow, currently 6cm new snow with a whopping water content of 14% (127kg/m3) with morning thunder. We will the give mountains a miss today. The forecast for later in the week is warm and rain above 1800m. That’s a nasty crust scenario, but also part of the natural variability of early season alpine weather. Its not a matter of yearning for what you want, it’s more about enjoying and working with the flow and flux of what you get. It is what it is - and that’s backcountry.
Blanche Takayama Ski Resort
I was at Shirakabako 2-in-1 ski resort on Dec 22 Saturday, and
Blanche Takayama ski resort on Dec 23 Sunday, both in
Tadeshina area, Nagano.
The 1st day had cloudy with a little snow fall, warm and wetty.
I skied on hard packed slopes on snow mostly made by
snow machines seeing tips of dead grasses in sides of
tracks.....was frustrated.
We had new snow on Dec 22 night, then B.Takayama of
Dec 23 had apx. 20cm fresh snow let me enjoy powder.
....GREAT!, JOY! and BANZAI! The weather was fine
partially cloudy, sometimes foggy meaning still WARM.
Slalom course was open, but Panorama course was closed.
However, I saw three bad boys skied down three times
on Panorama course with enjoying 20cm deep fresh powder.
Me? No, no, no ducking...NEVER. I am a really good boy.
I enjyoyed playing tennis on Dec 24 Monday a national
holiday when brave BCers went to Yari, Neko, Fuji within
BLIZZARD condition....wet, heavy, cold, & windy....oh, guys,
you may love them ...me? NEVER.
Tadeshina area has not so much snow, but cold temperature,
where you can enjoy snow rather after January end to March.
Blanche Takayama SR is the best where SKIERS ONLY.
HP: http://www.blanche-ski.com/
Map: http://4url.in/?sA1cvh
Note:
- You may have parking lot No.2 (upper location) if it is avialable.
- Snowboard is not allowed.
SC