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Believe it or not it snowed on Mt. Yotei last night. The mountain was covered in clouds for most of yesterday and the temperature was low, then this morning the tell-tale signs of a hefty dusting were visible.
Niseko News (6th May 2012 – 12th May 2012)
Friends, tourists, Nisekoians, lend us your ears. We’ve had the best season in a long time, but the party is well and truly over now and it’s time to move on.
The now famous Niseko Snow Report will return next season, but to keep the ball rolling we’re in the process of hatching several ideas to provide you with as much information about Niseko as possible, so even when you’re not in Niseko, and counting down the months, weeks and days until your return, you’ll have access to what’s going on in the Land of Pow.
To start off we’ve decided to start posting a weekly wrap up of Niseko news so you can get a nice chunk of information all in one hit.
7th May 2012
Niseko Now! Daily Reports Wraps Up The Season [Snow Japan]
A look back at the Niseko Now reports from November of last year and I see that the first ski lift of the season started moving on Saturday 27th November. So that’s nearly five and a half months of resort operations.
Final Flake Count For The 2011-12 Season [Australian Alpine Club Niseko]
It was probably the snowiest December in Niseko since the first lifts started turning fifty years ago, with over five metres snowfall recorded…
9th May 2012
The 3rd Niseko HANAZONO Hill Climb – 2012 5 August [Niseko Promotion Board]
The 3rd Niseko HANAZONO Hill Climb 2012 will be held on 5 August in conjunction with the Kutchan Jaga Matsuri…Race capacity: ~1000 ※Registration will close as soon as capacity is reached or on 21 July. Participants will receive hot spring tickets and other gifts.
Niseko Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) [Niseko Promotion Board]
Every year since 2007, the Niseko wo koyonaku ai suru association (represented by Mr. Hideo Nakajima), is carrying out a cherry tree planting event at Miyayama hill, close to the literary museum dedicated to Takeo Arishima, the famous writer so inseparably connected to Niseko. The name of the event is “Niseko thousand cherry tree project”.
Road blocked [Niseko Promotion Board]
Due to a mudslide, part of National Highway 230 had to be closed.
Garlic – A Good Short Season Crop [Niseko Green Farm]
It’s not popular just because it’s delicious and healthy but also because it’s relatively easy to grow. Planted in autumn and just about a week free from snow these garlic shoots are already bright green and loving life.
10th May 2012
Niseko Flowers In Bloom [Niseko Promotion Board]
Flowers are starting to bloom all over the area. When exactly the flowers start blooming differs from place to place…
Opening date for Niseko Tokyu Golf Course, 19 May [Niseko Promotion Board]
Niseko Tokyu Golf Course’s planned May 12 opening date has been postponed due to the heavy snowfalls and remaining snowpack this year. The Golf Course opening date will be delayed by one week: New opening date is : Saturday May 19, 2012
11th May 2012
Asparagus [Niseko Green Farm]
The first spears are piercing through the soil. They still look purple from the cold and lack of sun,but they will soon turn green. We also have got a purple variety, but it is still one year away from harvest.
A look back at the Niseko Now reports from November of last year and I see that the first ski lift of the season started moving on Saturday 27th November. So that’s nearly five and a half months of resort operations.
It was probably the snowiest December in Niseko since the first lifts started turning fifty years ago, with over five metres snowfall recorded…
The 3rd Niseko HANAZONO Hill Climb – 2012 5 August [Niseko Promotion Board]
The 3rd Niseko HANAZONO Hill Climb 2012 will be held on 5 August in conjunction with the Kutchan Jaga Matsuri…Race capacity: ~1000 ※Registration will close as soon as capacity is reached or on 21 July. Participants will receive hot spring tickets and other gifts.
Niseko Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) [Niseko Promotion Board]
Every year since 2007, the Niseko wo koyonaku ai suru association (represented by Mr. Hideo Nakajima), is carrying out a cherry tree planting event at Miyayama hill, close to the literary museum dedicated to Takeo Arishima, the famous writer so inseparably connected to Niseko. The name of the event is “Niseko thousand cherry tree project”.
Road blocked [Niseko Promotion Board]
Due to a mudslide, part of National Highway 230 had to be closed.
Garlic – A Good Short Season Crop [Niseko Green Farm]
It’s not popular just because it’s delicious and healthy but also because it’s relatively easy to grow. Planted in autumn and just about a week free from snow these garlic shoots are already bright green and loving life.
10th May 2012
Niseko Flowers In Bloom [Niseko Promotion Board]
Flowers are starting to bloom all over the area. When exactly the flowers start blooming differs from place to place…
Opening date for Niseko Tokyu Golf Course, 19 May [Niseko Promotion Board]
Niseko Tokyu Golf Course’s planned May 12 opening date has been postponed due to the heavy snowfalls and remaining snowpack this year. The Golf Course opening date will be delayed by one week: New opening date is : Saturday May 19, 2012
11th May 2012
Asparagus [Niseko Green Farm]
The first spears are piercing through the soil. They still look purple from the cold and lack of sun,but they will soon turn green. We also have got a purple variety, but it is still one year away from harvest.
Flowers are starting to bloom all over the area. When exactly the flowers start blooming differs from place to place…
Niseko Tokyu Golf Course’s planned May 12 opening date has been postponed due to the heavy snowfalls and remaining snowpack this year. The Golf Course opening date will be delayed by one week: New opening date is : Saturday May 19, 2012
Asparagus [Niseko Green Farm]
The first spears are piercing through the soil. They still look purple from the cold and lack of sun,but they will soon turn green. We also have got a purple variety, but it is still one year away from harvest.
Niseko Hirafu – Downloading for the Final 3 Days
What a difference one day makes.Yesterday it was shirts off weather and today gloomy grey skies and the end top to bottom skiing in Hirafu.
Telemarker enjoying top to bottom turns yesterday in Hirafu, 2 May 2012
Looking up what remains of the Alpen course, 3 May 2012
It's over, 3 May 2012
With the coverage on the Alpen course finally succumbing to spring this signals the final death-knell for top to bottom skiing in Hirafu for the 2011-12 season.
Skiers struggling, 2 May 2012
Downloading, 3 May 2012
Can't get enough - all smiles, 3 May 2012
Fun skis!! , 3 May 2012
The group descends, 3 May 2012
The final pitch, 3 May 2012
Still smiling, 3 May 2012
Until next season Alpen Course!
Spring shoots emerging on the Alpen course, 3 May 2012
Posted in News
Tagged Hirafu Ski Runs, Mt. Yotei, Niseko, Niseko Ski Runs, Skiing, spring
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Shirts off weather on the Niseko slopes
The last couple day’s in the Niseko region have been unusually warm but amazingly the snowboarding and skiing is still really good. Today Kristian Lund one of the owners of Powderlife was it town and we ventured up Hirafu to catch up and get some final turns in.
Kristian all set for his first snowboard in 2 years, 2 May 2012
Loving the view, 2 May 2012
In the zone, 2 May 2012
Spring style, 2 May 2012
Threading the needle down Alpen, 2 May 2012
Great to see Kristian ripping it up on the hill again. There is something special about riding without a jacket or hat after suffering through a long cold winter. After nice run back to the bottom of Hirafu we made our way back up the lifts and ventured over to Annupuri Ski Ground. Thumbs up.
Heading up King #4 lift, 2 May 2012
Sinking an edge into the corn snow, 2 May 2012
Annupuri - controlled burn , 2 May 2012
After working up a sweat it was on (or off) …..shirts off weather!
Shirts off weather, 2 May 2012
Vitamin D YES, 2 May 2012
Working it, 2 May 2012
Gliding down lower Shirakaba, 2 May 2012
Kristian with dynamic turn down Dynamic, 2 May 2012
Sweet as Annupuri, 2 May 2012
Excellent conditions in both Hirafu and Annupuri. Fours days left and all of the areas in Niseko United will close for the season on 7 May 2012.
Posted in News
Tagged Hirafu Ski Runs, Mt. Niseko Annupuri, Mt. Yotei, Niseko Ski Runs, Niseko Snow, Snowboarding, spring, weather
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Haru-no-taki 春の滝 Spring Waterfall
This week in Hirafu Haru-no-taki 春の滝 (in english Spring Waterfall) has started flowing in volume which is another sign that spring is well and truly here. Haru-no-taki is between Hirafu Ski Ground and Niseko Village Ski Ground and is strictly off limits during winter. It is possible to get a partial view of Haru-no-taki from our virtual tour of One Ridge which is above Super course.
Hirafu Ace Quad Lift #2 with haru-no-taki in the background, 27 April 2012
Haru-no-taki at 8:30, 27 April 2012
Hoping to get some better shots later in the day headed back down the hill and shot this clip – not much snow left in the village.
Later in the day the clouds disappeared so rode back up the hill for a better view.
Haru-no-taki wide shot, 27 April 2012
Haru-no-taki close up, 27 April 2012
Patchy coverage down low under the Ace #2 Quad Lift, 27 April 2012
Haru-no-taki will flow for around another month or so – loving spring!
Hirafu skiers with Haru-no-taki in the background, 27 April 2012
Posted in News
Tagged Hirafu Ski Runs, Mt. Niseko Annupuri, Niseko, Snow Level Niseko, waterfall, weather
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