Haven’t posted for a few days but what a few days its been. The 5th was deep all over the mountains with the runs from the day before sporting bottomless powder again the next morning.

Cortina was closed due to too much snow but opened its top lift for the 6th with 55cm of fresh lying in wait. The sun obliged with a bluebird day.

Last night we got another 20-30cm at the snowy end of the valley on top of the settled metre or so from the last few days. The combination of the settled fast and springy underlayer with 30cm of fresh on top was just perfect.

Here’s a brief video montage of the last few days.

Hakuba – Jan5th-7th from morinolodge on Vimeo.

Another 40cm overnight followed by a bluebird day. The New year hordes were out today and the forest turned into a mogul field by lunch!

Not before Morino and Wadano guests David, Paul and Rich had staked their turns.

Something I hadn’t noticed when filming – If you look carefully in the last sequence with Paul riding, in the foreground there’s an arctic hare running up the mountainside.

Untitled from morinolodge on Vimeo.

Intrepid staff members Pat and Alanna braved the whiteout conditions at Happo to bring you the good news – It’s dumped!

Alanna kicking up a faceshot

15cm at the lodge translated into 30-40cm at the top. little snowmen every day in the forecast for the next week and a possible Hakuba megadump on the cards for the 23rd. Looks like the season is really getting under way

Pat advertising for Salomon

A bit more fresh snow last night – maybe 10cm at the bottom and 20cm up top to add to the dusting we had the day before. Goryu are reporting 45cm base up top and temperatures of -4C

The Morino & Wadano crew headed up to check it out.

Morino & Wadano lodge crew up top

The wind had picked up since the morning and was whipping across Alpsdaira leading to slow lifts and line-ups but the snow was powdery and the views were good.

A windy Alpsdaira

The bottom of Goryu had maybe 15cm so a way to go before the lower runs are open but the 16th/17th/18th is looking very promising for decent snowfall in the valley.

View at the bottom

The Hakuba 2012 season has officially started!!

Hakuba 47 and Goryu decided yesterday afternoon to open today for the 2012 season.

I arrived at Goryu to find all 3 car parks completely full. Obviously the word had got out. The Weather couldn’t have been better with stunning views once up on top. The base was about 50cm with the runs packed powder and the sides sported 20cm of nice powder with the temperatures staying below zero all morning.

The view awaiting at the top on the first day

All the locals were out in force and everyone was enjoying the stunning opening day!

Me getting excited for first tracks

The better half and the sprog came up too

After a fine morning of snowboarding and drinking coffee in the panorama cafe, It was time for the after party.

Liberty skis had their 2012 season opening party with free BBQ, beers, local hip hop dancing team and prize draw.The lucky winner got a pair of 2012 Liberty powder skis.  Thanks to Joe and Tomoko for the good times!

Liberty skis season opening party

Here’s to a fantastic 2012 winter season!

Snow flurries have been spotted in the Hakuba region. Wax your skis and boards!

Hakuba 47 showing some extremely white slopes especially at the top.

A view of Happo.

The system coming though on Thursday may lay enough snow on the upper slopes for some early season turns. Both Happo and 47 are on standby for opening operations so we’ll keep you posted.

We were fortunate at Morino to have the good people of beardo for an extended stay with us this March………and they were fortunate to get some classic Hakuba conditions (its been a powder-filled March)……..& they made this killer video to back it up………thought i`d share it with you all.

If its a hassle-free, warm & stylish hybrid beard-hat you`re after, check out http://www.beardowear.ca/

A nice touring hike today despite mixed resort conditions. Hiked up the first peak and then dropped into a nice north facing sheltered chute then up the next peak and down through perfectly spaced trees.

Conditions were great in the chute as no sun had got in there!

Not so good conditions on the 2nd lower descent but the views made up for it.

Looking back at the chute on the first peak

The view over to the happo north faces

The rare sunny February conditions look set to continue so get out there and enjoy them!

Or do they exhibit fractally generated spacing by natural iterative processes that the brain is able to compute and predict…Something to ponder when hurtling through them.

Have you ever tried skiing through a plantation?

Here are some more pics of randomly spaced trees from the Finns.

Conditions have been great and another 40cm is coming tonight.

Hurtling through randomly spaced trees

Half of Morino and Wadano lodge joined us today for a day of lapping easy trees at Cortina. Once again the snow gods smile on Cortina which gets a decent 30cm since yesterday morning whilst Hakuba village only gets 5 or 10cm

Thanks to Heikki, and the Finns, staying at Wadano lodge for their pics!