Snow report Niseko, 12/24/2017

Snow condition

It seems to have not stopped snowing since I arrived in Japan in lat November. There have been only one or two days it has not snowed very much, and many days with over 20cm.

Snow quality

The infamously blower Hokkaido snow has not let us down. Every day it is cold, light, and fluffy. And with more than enough falling to completely cover tracks, there is little concern of finding hard snow even when on the pistes.

While there is significant wind loading up high and on ridge lines, stability is overall pretty good down low in and in the trees. Because it has not stopped snowing, there are no layers of note in the snowpack as of now. The primary hazards that exist are falling into creeks and holes that have developed because the snow has piled up so quickly. If snowfall continues, these will be covered shortly though.

Overall impression

This is the best start to the season Niseko has had in a very long time. People that have been living in the area for over 10 years say they have never seen a December like this, and those familiar with the area say the snow depth is on par with our average in late January already.

With no foreseeable end to the snow in the forecast, we may be seeing new zones that are rarely skiable open up soon. Look for new formations, and a whole lot more shots of deep powder riding!