Is this the last of it or not? will check the weather and download the photo’s and get back to with some shots and the week’s weather outloook.

Spot of day goes to Kamui Ski Links. Kamui is approximately 2 hours from Sapporo via the expressway (with a toll) and about 1 hour from Asahikawa. This ski area is as low key as you will ever find and sits in above acres of snow covered farmland near fukugawa.

The resort has competitive prices and offers passes at hourly rates. Don’t expect the Hilton at the base or even a fancy restaurant but you can expect terrain for all levels, it’s particularly well suited to intermediate / advanced skiers and riders who enjoy powder in the trees but there is also plenty of groomed terrain for the less adventurous.

The mountains management has a relaxed attitude to off trail skiing and I’m told the mountain manager actually removes trees from some off piste areas for your riding pleasure! Over all it’s a great little but not so little resort, Get There.

http://www.kamui-skilinks.com

http://asahikawa-tourism.com/asahikawa/asahikawa_winter/kamui_ski_links/kamui_ski_links.html

Kamui Skilinks near Ashikawa Hokkaido

After a slightly slow start to the winter here in Hokkaido things are now well and truly in full swing. The snow banks in Sapporo continue to grow and surrounding resorts such as Sapporo Kokusai and Teine Highlands are in superb condition. In Niseko it appears someone once again forgot to turn off the powder machine as the whole mountain has been regularly blanketed in snow for the last few weeks.

Teine Highlands has a new chair lift running up the existing Kitakabe lift line, unfortunately the cable car has been retired after many years of service. The new lift is a high speed quad complete with bubble for your comfort. Now that the cable car is out of action punters wanting to ski the mighty 1^st 2^nd and 3^rd bowl now have to hike a little to get the goods.

This years winter seems to have gotten off to a slightly unusual start, firstly a late start had a few worried, secondly there have been an odd number of warm days amongst the usual frigid temps, thirdly some of the storms that have passed through have been accompanied by slightly warmer temperatures meaning the snow is not quite as dry as previous years. This may sound a little negative but fret not everyday I’ve had has been powder and everyday has been no less than epic, ask anyone who’s been in Niseko over the last week!

Teine Links

http://www.sapporo-teine.com/

http://nisekosnow.net/niseko-snow-features/sapporo-teine-ski-resort

Niseko Links

http://www.niseko.ne.jp/en/

http://nisekosnow.net/niseko-ski-areas/niseko-united

Checking some spots around Niseko in the last week

poppin' off a mushroom at Chisenupuri the other day

Road barriers on the road out to Chisenupuri on the 9th