First Tracks In Hirafu October 27 2010, 10:27pm via studio343.jp

This morning me and a few mates decided to hike up Hirafu and see what we could find. What we found was pure un-adulerated pre-season autumnal POW POW POW.

First Tracks Hirafu

As an old friend of mine said to me once, ‘fortune favors the brave’ so with those words in mind up we hiked. At the base of Niseko Hirafu there wasn’t a deep layer – maybe only 15 cm or so. Not that promising, but we figured if we
just stuck to the course we would be ok and hopefully score some turns.

First Tracks Hirafu

First Tracks Hirafu

After a few hundred meters the snow deepened, the sun came out and it looked liked pre season pow dreams were about to come true! YESSSSSSSS

First Tracks Hirafu

First Tracks Hirafu

First Tracks Hirafu

To give our dear studio343 readers some idea or how much or conversely how little snow is on the mountain take a look at this image and panorama taken from roughly the same spot and compare the snow levels !

First Tracks Hirafu

First Tracks Hirafu

The pano was shot on the last epic pow day of the 2008/09 season on the 25th of March.

The trees are still shedding their leaves the colors are spectactular looking across the village to Mt Yotei…

First Tracks Hirafu

Back to the task at hand – hiking.

First Tracks Hirafu

The weather turned quickly just as we made it to the top of the Alpen center 4 lift.

First Tracks Hirafu

Whateva. None of us really cared though as the snow was good and it was GAME ON – first turns of the 2010/11 season!!! Nick and Paul dominated!

First Tracks Hirafu

First Tracks Hirafu

First Tracks Hirafu

First Tracks Hirafu

First Tracks Hirafu

First Tracks Hirafu

First Tracks Hirafu

First Tracks Hirafu

First Tracks Hirafu

Not sure if the resort condone this sort of behavior as there are A LOT of barely hidden rocks / metal bars / pipes / ditches etc etc. Enter at your own risk… BAAAMM BAAAAMMMM BAMMMMMM FIRST TRACKS for real.

First Tracks Hirafu