A Short Season Or Just A Lull

Rosco wasn't impressed with the Hokkaido winter season and now Peter reports only 7cms in past 8 days and says "...the resort is done..." and so is resorting to back country walks.

Well, I've seen this all before, in fact last season in Thredbo ... then came a big finish, so it may not yet be all over in Rusutsu. Unfortunately for ski resorts on Hokkaido the altitude is only metres above sea level so when the thaw comes, it comes quickly and severely.

Lucky Phil has now left the building and I include some of his photos as well:-

Taking the ski-doo out to test the backcountry snow quality

The higher the backcountry, the better the snow

Stunning shots

Fantasic vistas - Mt Yotei

I love a good sense of humour

Prepared for anything? but not another shredded ski-doo drive belt.
Time to put out the safety ducks ;-)

Andrea's snow measuring snow bomb has colapsed - first time Peter has ever seen this.
Signs of life - signs of Spring

Lucky Phil has left the building

Last seen hitching towards Chitose ;-)

Click here for the big picture and here for more details

It was another horrid night of heat and humidity in Thredbo last night. I eventually got off to sleep after midnight only to be woken around 3am by a massive lightning storm followed by heavy rain that pushed the humidity even higher. It is cooler outside this morning with occasional sudden downpours and a humidity level to match.

Up top the temp is now some 10C cooler than at 6pm last night and that feels about right in the village too. The week's forecast looks pretty good temperature wise :-)