Happo-one / △185cm / Cloudy2021.Apr.07
The recently announced extension of the Skyline course’s opening reflects Happo’s stance this season that, as long as there is enough snow, the slopes will remain open. In fact, although the scheduled season closing date is 5/5 (Wed., holiday) even that might be pushed back if conditions allow. I was able to get some fun, comfortable turns in on the Panorama Course (pictured) first thing this morning, where my skis slid nicely on the groomed, firm granular snow surface.
[Panorama Course]
The Grat Quad got started 25 minutes earlier than scheduled, with the first skiers getting on a chair at 8:35 a.m. On the Riesen Grat Course, where cloud cover was rapidly rolling in and out, the granular snow surface was every so slightly softer than on the Panorama Course. The snow on the gentle aspect towards the upper part of the slope (pictured) was groomed flat, however the subtle undulations of the underlying terrain could be seen reflected on the snow surface on the steep portion at the course’s latter half.
[Riesen Grat Course]
As the day went on the clouds began to clear, revealing a beautiful blue sky. I spent some time talking to a group of 3 skiers who got my attention with the familiar, “We love your site!” They went on to tell me, “We’re from Chiba, Hyogo and Fukushima, but we always get together to ski here at Happo. We’ll all be staying and skiing here until Golden Week, as we’re currently here on ‘workation’.”
[Kurobishi Slope]
There was a thin layer of soft surface snow on the groomed area along the Kurobishi No. 2 Quad (pictured, 3rd photo), but over on Usagidaira the loose layer of snow was noticeably thicker. At the beginning of the Usagidaira Slope (pictured), where many skiers and boarders could be seen braking and slowing down due to some rough-looking patches of snow, it turned out that conditions were actually pretty good with the soft snow making for a pleasant run.
[Kurobishi Slope]
[Availability Information for Apr. 7]
* Available Area … Riesen Grat, Usagidaira, Kurobishi, Urakuro, Panorama, Skyline
* Available Lifts … Gondola (8:00 a.m.–), totally 6 lifts
* Lift Price … Spring Discount from Mar. 20: 1-Day Pass Adult JPY4,500, Child under 12: JPY1,000
*Request for the original data of our photographs
