It's a cloudy but bright morning in Hakuba village - no rain falling, and a temperature of around 15 degrees, with a high of 17C forecast. It actually looks like there's some nice blue sky on show once you get above the cloud line on the mountain. Sounds like an excuse to get up there!

We still might be on the receiving end of some rain later today according to the forecast but should see more of the sun tomorrow. A possibility of rain showers at times on Sunday and so tomorrow would seem to be the pick for the weekend if you have a choice and want to get here for that last slide of the season.

Official snow depths and operations @ Friday 4th May 2012 AM:

Hakuba Goryu:
Gondola and Alps daira No 1-4 lifts are all operating. Ride the Gondola to get back down to base.
Official snow depths:
Alps daira - 125cm

Hakuba 47:
Top areas open, lower Route 1 and Route 7 now closed. Ride the Gondola to get back down to base.
Official snow depth:
Upper - 55cm
Lower - 5m

Happo-one:
Most of the top area open (lower slopes are now all closed). Ride the Gondola to get back down to base.
Lifts normally operating daily until 6th May are:
Gondola
Grat quad
Alpen quad
Panorama pair
Skyline No2 pair
Kurobishi No2 quad
Kokusai No3 pair
Usagidaira pair
Kurobishi No3
Official snow depth:
Usagidaira - 110cm

Tsugaike Kogen:
Planned lifts operating are Ropeway, Gondola, Tsuga No2 pair lift and the Hannoki pair. Ride the Gondola to get back down to base.
Official snow depth:
Upper slopes - 158cm

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Hakuba Goryu, Hakuba 47, Happo-one and Tsugaike Kogen all plan to remain open until Sunday 6th May.

The Hakuba Cortina, Norikura, Iwatake, Sanosaka and Minekata resorts are all now closed for the season.