TR: Shiribeshi, Hokkaido 2015/16

[Mike Pow]

Got back to Fantasy Island last Thursday (3rd).

Skied the one open run at Grand Hirafu last Friday (4th), Kiroro (5th, 6th, 7th, 8th), then back to Grand Hirafu & Hanazono yesterday.

More terrain opening every day.

Good snowfall last weekend and early this week.

Sunny and warmer the past couple of days, with a light drizzle at the base for a few hours.

Dry the rest of the week but more snow forecast for early next week.

A good start to the season.

Kiroro Resort

Monday 07 December 2015





Tuesday 08 December 2015

[Mike Pow]

SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015

Light rain and wet snow overnight turned to a cold, clear bluebird day at Kiroro.

A little granular down low but great packed powder off the Nagamine lift.

The off groomed had a light sun crust on it with a 1cm rain crust about 10 cm down into the snowpack.

Could be problematic with next storm cycle.

Tracy









Unknown skier





Tracy

[Mike Pow]

MONDAY 14 DECEMBER 2015

Still waiting on the snow.

In the meantime bluebird bumps and groomers for Tracy and me.

Tracy skiing Nagamine 2-C

One of the clearest days I've had at Kiroro.

You could see all the way to the Shakotan Peninsula around 50km away.









Tracy skiing Asari 2-A with Yoichi-dake in the background

[CaliKid]

Thanks for all the pics. Gonna be around 28/12 - 4/01. Just busted the binding on my touring setup on Sat so likely only bringing resort skis. Hope it starts dumping soon and doesn't stop.

[Mike Pow]

My pleasure.

Powder Express due this evening

[climberevan]

Indeed, thanks for the stoke. I'll be in Japan from 7-31 January. My plans are pretty much nonexistent, but I'm hoping to tour as much as possible.

[Mike Pow]

THURSDAY 17 DECEMBER 2015

38 cm in the past 24hrs at Kiroro

Old Man Winter Returns on Thigh High Thursday




And he's here to stay

[Mike Pow]

FRIDAY 18 DECEMBER 2015

23 cm in the past 24hrs at Kiroro

Face Shot Friday Part Six

[Mike Pow]

SATURDAY 19 DECEMBER 2015

13 cm in the past 24hrs at Kiroro

Tweaked a knee yesterday so having a few days off.

PowderZone opened for the first time yesterday and Tracy and Mika got the goods.

Richard Smith pics

Tracy









Mika

[Schnappi]

SATURDAY 19 DECEMBER 2015

pfft... I guess some people might think that's fun.

[Mike Pow]

TUESDAY 22 DECEMBER 2015

18 cm in the past 24hrs at Kiroro

It continues to snow top to bottom at Kiroro whilst the other resorts in the area get rain a good way up the mountain.

It was pretty miserable watching the rain wash away the snow in Hirafu village yesterday.

Heavy, wet snow transitioned to dry powder overnight to give knee deep turns and the odd face shot all day at Kiroro.

Skied solo testing my knee out, so no pics or vid. No repercussions yet

Bluebird forecast for tomorrow, so hope to get the cameras out.

[Mike Pow]

FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015

Merry Christmas from Hokkaido.

Santa's been and it was a white one after all.

10-15 cm overnight at Niseko Annupuri.

Superlight on a crust. 30 cm through the day and free refills each run.

Crunch gone by day's end

Fabulous day and more, more, more on the way.

[BFD]

sat down to buy tickets but had to hit pause. these are some pretty scary numbers http://www.snowjapan.com/japan-daily...-snowfall-data maybe stall a couple of weeks.

[Mike Pow]

sat down to buy tickets but had to hit pause. these are some pretty scary numbers http://www.snowjapan.com/japan-daily...-snowfall-data maybe stall a couple of weeks.

For Honshu maybe, although they're catching up pretty quickly.

Hokkaido is delivering

Richard Smith pic from Kiroro




Same in Niseko Resort Area and Rusutsu. Moiwa needs more coverage.

[neck beard]

sat down to buy tickets but had to hit pause. these are some pretty scary numbers http://www.snowjapan.com/japan-daily...-snowfall-data maybe stall a couple of weeks.

In the areas you and I have talked, stall. Or plan to only ski alpine, which is good. Or limited lower elevation treeless terrain.

Now back to the scheduled TGR groomer ski lesson stoke...

[Mike Pow]

MONDAY 28 DECEMBER 2015

Glen Claydon of 360Niseko at Kiroro today

https://www.facebook.com/GlenClaydon...8403833535233/

[Mike Pow]

TUESDAY 29 DECEMBER 2015

Ski school sucked today

[Mike Pow]

WEDNESDAY 30 DECEMBER 2015

Oh what a morning!

Sunshine, uncrowded slopes, views to die for, and smiles for miles at Niseko Annupuri with Graeme, Liz and John.





John, 89 years young and letting them run
















Liz

[climberevan]

I'm leaving tomorrow. First few days will be in Niseko area, but I'll be there for 3 weeks so I'm going to look for the best snow & most touring opportunities.

I'd love to hook up with folks for a trip to Asahidake next week. Pm me if you like to go uphill!

[Mike Pow]

Timed to perfection.

Conditions are great, with snow forecast for at least the next week.

[Mike Pow]

TUESDAY 05 JANUARY 2016

25 cm in the past 24hrs at Kiroro

Uh-Oh, Love(locks) Comes to Town




First day skiing with the Lovelocks & Craig and it was deep.

Craig in PowderZone









Neil in PowderZone

[Mike_Records]

Mike Pow bringing the stoke! Love it! Flying out tomorrow night. Ahhhhhhhh its gonna be so good!

[kungpow]

Yeah thanks Mike Pow! That video got me real excited. I'll be in Niseko the 25th... should be boatloads of snow by then and hoping its just full on nuke city the two weeks I'm there.

[Mike Pow]

Mike Pow bringing the stoke! Love it! Flying out tomorrow night. Ahhhhhhhh its gonna be so good!

Big numbers forecast for the next week. Bring layers, cold as.

[nortonwhis]

Just booked flights for tomorrow. 4 of us from Whistler heading out
Willing to buy multiple beers/whiskey/sake etc if anyone want to share intel/meet up for a tour etc