Postcards from Niseko is a new series for ’17-’18 we have developed with Rome SDS Ambassador, Evan Wilcox. He will be sending us digital postcards from Niseko, sharing images and videos of the famed japow, and detailing the adventures he gets up to.
The most snow I have ever seen.
If you follow any social media or news focused on the Niseko area, you would know that we are having a very snowy start to our season. But how much exactly? As of December 21, 2017, well over 5 meters of snow has already fallen at the base! Long-time locals are saying that is the most snow they have seen fall so early in 20 years. If the true locals are impressed, how do you think I feel?
This is undoubtedly the most snow I’ve ever seen. I’m clearing the snow off my car 3 times a day
and it’s often hard to make it in and out of my driveway that gets professionally cleared. It can be a lot of work living in the snowiest place in the world, but it’s more than worth it. Every single day in the past week has been essentially bottomless. Refilling wholly every day.
I can say that I am one of the luckiest people in Niseko as my job has allowed me to ride this
incredible snow every morning. Moreover, I have access to Hanazono’s lifts before the public.
During the past week, I have been able to join Hanazono Powder Guides several times to lap the
famous “Strawberry Fields” one hour before the public has access. A bottomless pillow
playground. I’ve been doing the shooting for many aspects of the resort during this time, but I have also had the camera pointed at me a good amount.
The snow has been relentless, and because of this I still haven’t been out in the backcountry properly yet. There is already a massive base, and the backcountry is ready. However there is no visibility up top and it won’t stop snowing, so the resorts have not opened the backcountry gates yet. But the way I look at it is: Why do you need hike when the resort is essentially empty and bottomless every day?
I’m living in the legend of the famed JAPOW, and I couldn’t be happier! Here is a fun plunge on one of the plentiful hits in Strawberry Fields at Hanazono.
Hello from Hokkaido! I'm Evan. I'm from Portland, Oregon, but now call Niseko my home. A few uninspiring snow years in the US left me with a hunger for deep snow, which let me to pick up and move to the snowiest place on earth. I now work marketing for Hanazono Niseko Resort and have the freedom to ride and explore these incredible mountains blessed with that world-famous japow. Follow my adventures here through Japan Grabs' Postcards!