Japanese holidays have started and everyone was treated yesterday to one of the best days of the season so far with bluebird skies after the last snowfall and sweet stashes of windblown powder all over the mountain. Ticket and gondola lines were super busy in the morning as everyone wanted to be the first up there.
Warm last night, no real precipitation but there was a real slight drizzle almost rain-like and water is dripping from roofs this morning with the mercury sitting at 4 degrees at 800m and measured at plus 1 this morning on the top of Goryu.
Forecast for snow today so hoping the temperature drops a few degrees early! Tons of snowmen on the radar though temperatures don’t look like they’re gonna stay fully in the minuses. The next snowfall is really what we need to get our base on.
TEMPERATURE IN THE VILLAGE:
4 degrees C.
TEMPERATURE AT TOP OF MOUNTAIN:
1 degrees C.
WIND:
Moderate Westerlies at altitude
VISIBILITY:
Good; limited above 2000m
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Goryu:
BASE DEPTH: 180 cm (at 1500m)
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LIFT OPERATION:
Most runs/resorts are open…check with resorts for details.
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AVALANCHE STABILITY AND BACK COUNTRY BULLETIN:
Stay out of steep conplex terrain as avalanches are likely. Especially on complex lee or cross loaded slopes.
Faceting has been found above and below the melt freeze crust of Dec. 23rd. These facets will be gaining in size in shallow snowpack areas‚ around rocks and on scoured ridges. However should start to bond in areas of deep snow pack. Tests on east facing wind deposits today found Hard or no compressions at the crust at a depth of 110 cm below snow surface.
Due to the strong winds a wind slab varying in thickness can be found across the Hakuba range.
Be aware of rapid changes in the snow related to solar radiation and rising air temperatures.
Extreme caution around cornices and below cornices on steep convex terrain.
High danger of falling snow from rooves
High density new snow over lower density snow layer
Rapid air temperature decrease
Cornice fall
rapid settlement of surface snow causing load on buried weak layers
Increased instability of solar aspect start zones especially under cornices and very steep slopes.
Development of cornices in lee slopes
Lee side loading
Windward scouring of ridges and rock out-crops creating uneven loading of slopes
Due caution on cross loaded slopes
Poor bonding at or around buried crust
Stay away from steep and convex terrain
Danger level 4 : High
Natural and human triggered avalanches likely.
Use this information as a guideline only.