Weather in Hakuba April 11th 2008

Well the rain has gone and left us with a beautiful sunny day here in Paradise. Most people are thinking about getting out on their Mountain Bikes and into their canoes and kayaks now as most of the snow in the valley has melted off and the river are starting to look runnable. There is now and will still be good spring skiing conditions mid mountain and up for almost a month yet. The last day of operation for Hakuba Goryu, Hakuba 47, Happo One and Tsugaike will be May 6th. It is always novel to go for a ski in your shorts on a May morning and then enjoy a picnic lunch underneath the blooming cherry trees before getting a good Mt. bike ride in or enjoying a relaxing afternoon on lake Aokiko. Yep it’s that month of the year in Hakuba where you can enjoy all that Hakuba has to offer.

Take care if heading off piste or in the trees as there are open glide cracks in the snow, hollow sections that can collapse and wet snow avalanches on steep lines on any aspects. Those heading backcountry should be aware of also rockfall coming down from melting snow, rocks and trees on the snow surface and water flowing under the snow that can make crossing creeks and gullies potentially treacherous.

Avalanche Danger:

Below Tree Line: Low

Tree Line: Low

Alpine: Moderate

See Below for International Danger scale classifications or click on the Canadian Avalanche Association web page for the International Danger Scale.

International Danger Scale

TEMPERATURE IN THE VILLAGE:

7 degrees C.

TEMPERATURE AT TOP OF MOUNTAIN:

4 degrees C.

WIND:

Calm

VISIBILITY:

Excellent

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Goryu:

BASE DEPTH: 35 cm (at the base); 205 cm (at 1500m)

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LIFT OPERATION:

Goryu Toomi & Hakuba 47 (limited operation), Happo-One (limited operation), Tsugaike Kogen (limited operation)