YOUR ABILITY?
Iwanai CAT skiing is designed for advanced skiers and snowboarders with deep-powder and varied-terrain experience. It is not suitable for beginners or those new to powder. Deep snow, steep terrain, and traverses can be challenging, and participants who consistently struggle to keep up may be asked to return to the lodge for safety.
Conditions change throughout the day, so fresh tracks are not guaranteed. Our guides always work to find the best available snow and terrain.
ATTENTION SNOWBOARDERS
Some of our best terrain requires traversing from the drop point to a ski zone and back to a CAT pickup point. These traverses are generally easy for experienced skiers but can be challenging for some snowboarders.
Our CAT experience is recommended for advanced riders only. If you’re unsure about handling traverses and deep snow, we recommend a Private CAT or another experience.
Prefer former course runs? A Private CAT allows us to tailor the terrain more closely to your group.
TERRAIN
A nearly forgotten ski resort transformed into a CAT skiing powder paradise. Explore old-growth forests, steep glades, and challenging fall-line terrain, with minimal traversing and enough terrain to ski for days without repeating a line.
Much of the mountain offers a consistent pitch with few flat sections, meaning more time skiing and less traversing. Our guides select the best terrain based on conditions and ability.
Hokkaido may lack the extreme cliffs and technical lines found elsewhere, but it makes up for it with deep, consistent powder.
SEASONAL SNOW CONDITIONS
THREE SEASONS OF INCREDIBLE POWDER
EARLY SEASON | DEC 20 – JAN 10
Expect deep, consistent powder, with terrain focused on our retired course runs and select glades. One snow CAT typically operates during this period, giving smaller groups access to the best available snow and terrain.
MID-JANUARY – FEBRUARY END
This is our peak powder season. Deep powder days continue, with access to the upper drop point and secondary CAT road expanding the terrain with each storm. Explore old-growth glades, greater variety, and fresh lines as the season builds. If you’re targeting these dates, contact us early.
MARCH ONWARDS
Don’t underestimate March. Some of our best powder days happen this time of year. Longer daylight, fully opened terrain, and frequent bluebird conditions create more opportunities to explore the entire mountain and enjoy long days in the snow.