Cloudscape over Iiyama
Base at top: 360 cm
Temp at Top: -2 Degree
Base at Uenotaira station: 270 cm
New snow since close: 5 cm
Weather: Rain, snow above 1200m
There is absolutely no sugar coating this, it is horrible weather outside right now. It is snowing at the top of the mountain (freezing point at about 1200m) however you cant actually get there thanks for strong westerly winds shutting down the upper mountain. So if you want to ski or board today it’ll be in the rain. Ill admit it can be awesome skiing in the rain with fast snow on piste but sometimes you just need to take the hint from nature and call in a rest day.
Otherwise on the agenda, a soak in one the thirteen free onsens in town. If you can manage all of them with the stamps from out the front for proof, then you can claim a free onsen towel. Wicked! Perhaps a stroll through the winding narrow streets that make up this remarkable town, I can recommend checking the natural cooking onsen up near the temple district. But its not all bad news as heavy snow will move over the resort later tonight. Maybe we will wake tomorrow with 30cm on the ground?
Yesterday the isolated snow showers quickly cleared into a fine day. The sun was shinning for much of the afternoon making for an excellent day to explore the resort. Off piste was dangerous with a sketchy crust layer and death cookies littering the gullies. Luckily on piste was fun to make up for it and the natural gullies up at Yamabiko were in fine form. To finish things off, a nice sunset over the Myoko-san volcano.
Looking ahead at the forecast after tonights heavy snowfalls we are due for some very cold temperatures tomorrow. Snowfalls will continue during the day adding nicely to what was lost today. For Wednesday, some sunshine may make an appearance. Later in the week another tropical low will influence the region bringing weather not too dissimilar to today. Luckily snowfalls will once again back up the warm influx.
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