Beautiful Back Country here in Nozawa Onsen by Hiroshi Suganuma
Base up top: 240 cm Temperature; -5 Degrees
Base at bottom; 160 cm
New Snow: 10 cm
Snowed fairly consistently yesterday getting heavy at times. Then, as forecast was a beautiful start to the day today with sunshine and good powder coverage on the slopes.
A few of the guys got on the Gondola first thing this morning and hit up some of the steeper ungroomed runs early for first tracks. They said was waist deep in spots and beautiful conditions.
A bit if a news worthy event last night in Nozawa, when 3 snowboarders went missing. They were not found until 8am this morning by a helicopter over the back on the way to Maguse Onsen. Looks like they found a bit of shelter on the side of the mountain and are in decent shape but must have been a long cold night up there.
Just a warning to be careful if venturing off the beaten track. If you stand up the top of Mount Kenashi there is a vast amount of wilderness out there and same as anywhere in the world it can be beautiful but dangerous too.
Good news is the Ski School will be running Back Country tours again this season. Mainly on the weekends, starting late January when the snow pack is a bit more settled. Local skier Take Ueno a Japan champion Telemark skier will be one of the guides so should be some amazing tours. Just ask at Lodge Nagano or Villa Nozawa if would like to book.
It has just started snowing here now lightly and from the forecast quite a bit more to come over the next 2 days.
Maguse Onsen awesome outdoor onsen near Nozawa. Can go with a guide later in the season.
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Where it is? and How to get there? I am going in Feb 2012.