Sparrows Report
Light snow has started again this morning. Just a dusting in the village and top so no new to report over the last 24hrs.
Good quality powder up there yesterday to be found and best in the sheltered areas away from the pesty SW wind.
Short periods of sunlight were quickly extinguished by very heavy low cloud / mist cover over pretty much the entire resort where visibility at mid to upper mountain was limited.
The forecast for today is a bit milder than what we have experienced in recent weeks. Not much snow in it, yet as the system moves to our north east later today tonight, it will draw in the jet stream air flow back to the North west as the pressure systems here in the northern hemi rotate in an anti-clockwise direction as opposed to clockwise in the souther hemi. This cycle will bring temps way down and following up with good falls of dryer snow. Thats the way it works up here in these parts.
The further outlook by Wednesday has a very cold mass out of Siberia headed our way and jet stream temps forecast at minus 18 at top and chill factors of 30 below zero !
Temps currently around minus 10 C at top and neg 3 C at base. Winds expected to be around 15 -25 k's from the SW at top. Always a good idea to pack an extra layer.
25 lifts expected open across the resort today with 3 gondolas. Top gates will be interesting to see if they open today. Keep your eye on the avalanche report.
Hard copies are also posted at the top of various lifts and gate points so we shall see !
Strong Advice Always to take extra caution beyond the boundaries and please NEVER poach ropes. Always respect and adhear to the patrol rules of the mountain and the avalanche report. The link is supplied on this page.
f you havent been out back before ..or wanting to explore some new areas ....strong advice is to book a guide that knows this region in detail and certified in back country awareness.... guiding@skijapan.com can point you in the right direction.
If your in town this week, perhaps spare some time and visit the awesome ice carved displays at the world renowned Sapporo Ice Festival.
Well worth the journey to view some truly incredible carvings where in this part of the world they have more than enough produce from which to carve their ice menagerie's.
The SkiJapan.com front desk here in Niseko can help you book and transport you there. We are doing tours today the 7th and Friday 10th Feb. It's a great day out.
A good opportunity to perhaps clean up shop, do some stretching, trace out some super quick tight lines on the tarmac groomers or maybe lay like a lizzard in a nice hot onsen here in the village or visit the awesome cracker ice carvings at the Sapporo Ice Festival.
Enjoy your day, please ride wisely and I'll check back in later with a wrap up of the day as it was on the mountain here in Niseko and the latest forecast details.