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The peak is open!

By 28th December 2011June 28th, 2014Niseko Snow Report

This morning peak gates No. 2 and 3 opened for the first time this season. A stream of hikers could be seen all the way to the top of Mt Annupuri starting at 9.30am when the always eagerly anticipated opening was approved by the ski patrol.

Last year the peak opening day was January 21, but thanks to the record-breaking snowfall this December, skiers and riders are able to make the now famous twenty minute hike and drop into the powder filled bowls of Mt. Annupuri before the New Year.

Gate 6 in Moiwa opened on December 20, and gate 4 and 5 in Hirafu and Hanazono opened December 21, but due to the snowstorm during the Christmas period all gates were closed from December 23 to 26. Yesterday, thanks to calmer weather and stabilizing snow conditions, ski patrol was able to open all gates except the peak, and today’s clear skies, light wind, and relatively low avalanche risk finally allowed to peak to open for the season. Locals were hailing the past two days as some of the best conditions of this bumper season.

Gate status changes from day to day, and even hour to hour. Please remember to follow the Niseko Rules, don’t go through closed gates, and taking a course is highly recommended if you are planning on spending time in the backcountry. Remember, outside the gate is outside the ski resort; you’ve stepped into an un-patrolled area and you are at your own risk. If you are interested in becoming more backcountry savvy, Black Diamond Tours offer free backcountry information seminars every Tuesday from 6-7pm. And always read the avalanche report and Powderlife’s own snow report before heading out in the morning.
 

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