Earthquake Off the West Coast of Japan Shocks Hakuba Ski Areas Reported January 1, 2024 At 4:10PM local time January 1, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit Noto in the Ishikawa Prefecture of Japan. Tsunami warnings are in effect for Niigata with the swell expected to be over 10ft. This coastal region directly includes the route between Hakuba and Lotte Arai. Two ski resorts frequented by Americans on the Epic and IKON pass […] Weather Brett Ploss | January 1, 2024 0 Comments
Magnitude 7.5 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Main Island & Hits Ski Resorts, 16’ Tsunami Expected, Evacuation Orders in Place A magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit Japan’s west coast on the main island, Honshu, on New Year’s Day at 4:10 p.m. local time near the Ishikawa prefecture. The earthquake was felt in the entire central part of Honshu, Japan’s largest island, which is home to ski resorts in the Nagano prefecture like Hakuba. Following the earthquake, between 15-20 aftershocks have been […] Industry News Julia Schneemann | January 1, 2024 0 Comments
You Can Own This Swedish Resort for Less Than $500,000 Anyone in the market to buy a ski resort should check out Gruvbacken in Huså. Göran Folkesson has owned the resort for the last 25 years. The 75-year-old has a great passion for the sport but has been trying to sell the resort for the previous two years, hoping that someone younger with new ideas can propel it into the […] Industry News Brent Thomas | December 31, 2023 0 Comments
Niseko Hanazono, Japan, Report: Light Snow Overnight, Holiday Crowds Arrive Report from December 31, 2023 I looked out my window this morning to finally see snow coming down. Typically a usual sight in Niseko, but any trace has been absent the past few days. Being New Year’s Eve, the crowds came. Lines aren’t often found in Japan, but since Niseko is rated as the #1 resort in the country, people […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | December 31, 2023 0 Comments
Mt. Hood, OR, is Experiencing the Worst Start to a Ski Season in 34 Years The snowfall across much of the U.S. this winter has been disappointing. Although plenty of resorts are open, the average snowpack is well below historical averages. Perhaps nowhere else is this more apparent than on Mt. Hood, Oregon. The current settled snow at the base at Timberline Lodge is a measly 26 inches. Typically, by January 1 at the resort, […] Industry News Brent Thomas | December 31, 2023 0 Comments
Niseko, Japan, Report: Softer Snow with More on the Way Report from December 30, 2023 Drove over to Niseko Grand Hirafu this morning. The snow was better than at Annupuri due to having less sun exposure. Niseko United is the umbrella that combines four ski resorts which are inter-connected by lifts and all available on the IKON pass. From left to right in the above trail map are Annupuri, Niseko […] Conditions Report Brett Ploss | December 31, 2023 0 Comments
The State of the Snowpack: Hope For More Snow in 2024 This winter has brought a slow start to the ski season for ski resorts across North America. With few storms delivering a mix of rain and snow, many ski areas are struggling to open terrain. On top of little base snow, many resorts have also suffered from warm temperatures, precluding the use of snow-making systems to make up for the […] Weather Zach Armstrong | December 31, 2023 0 Comments
Bergman Express at Keystone Resort, CO, Opened Today, December 30, 2023 The Bergman Express at Keystone Resort, Colorado, is officially opened today, December 30, 2023, for the 2023-24 season, offering guests the chance to access Keystone’s high alpine via chairlift for the first time ever. To commemorate the milestone and pay homage to the legacy of Bill and Jane Bergman, members of the Bergman family cut the official ribbon on the […] Industry News Julia Schneemann | December 30, 2023 0 Comments