Glad you got to get over to Rusutsu - it is pretty gosh darned special isn't it!! Sorry to hear about the Lodge Managers injury - that is gonna cramp his plans for the next few months!

The figures reported each morning in the 'Niseko Now' - new snowfall is that compiled from the previous 24hr period? say from 7am to 7am.

Hello ratherb@thesnow

Basically it's the amount since the last report. So it will depend on the time of the that previous report. If it's later in the day then it will take into account what fell through the day, not just the amount overnight. So not always a 24hr period, sometimes less and sometimes more.

A few shots from today at Rusutsu. Havn't got much to choose from as we seem to be taking video this year rather than photos.


Rusutsu back bowl.

and again.

Looking good!

24mm- 70mm / 70mm - 200mm ....sometimes 16mm

Something that is easy to put out of your mind when living in Hirafu in winter is snow clearing... she'll be right..no worries...i'll do that later and by then it's TOO LATE !!!!


Had to call in the cavalry as i had ice about to smash all of the windows on one side of my house.
Fun fun. Spent 5 hours chipping away yesterday and was hating snow by the end of it.

So spare a thought for the unsung hero's of Hirafu our snow clearers !
I'll spare you the details of the fun i had a few weeks back when i had to dig down through the snow and then the top soil to get to the drain !

Very interesting, got my curiosity peaked !
I don't know what you were doing with the drain in the middle of winter, lookes like you needed a jack-hammer.
I do notice the collection of picks and shovels in the pic.
Sorry to be entertained by your misfortune, but good value hearing about down-to-earth stuff.
cheers

that's a heavy backpack.

I've actually given up trying to keep up with snow clearing at my house. Will probably pay someone to come clear the snow at the back of the house as it's up to the roof line. Just keeping the front door and a space for the car clear.

I thought the same thing for the last 2 years Ive been up in Hokkers, until we went further north. Go up to Asahikawa, you wont look back. Trust me.

was the fun fair open at Rusutsu?

Change is as good as a holiday so they say and Nozawa Onsen is an awesome change of scene.

One of the oldest resorts in Japan steeped in history ( excuse the pun)
and really does have the best of both worlds - fantastic skiing / riding set in beautiful village.

I could go on and on but....

I love Hokkaido but really cool to check out some of the stuff around Nagano - love the steeps !

OOOH

More, more we want more. Please.

how easy is it to get to Rusustsu from Hirafu?

it's 45 mins TB. Get your mate to take the car.

Could be a shout....we aren't there for very long, only a few days but def play it by ear

Well worth the trip, especially after some fresh falls of snow

Have spent a lot of time in old growth pine tree runs.
Really high trees 20-30m

Found myself on a south facing steep slope yesterday in warm conditions which was a bit freaky ! got out of there quickly.

Nozawa Onsen hasn't dissapointed. Moving on later today to Shiga Kogen.

Classic !

Some great get up's down here - love this one ! 'Fast Skiing Team'