Harris slams Trump’s “enemy from within” comment. Early voting begins in Georgia. What a La Niña winter could mean for the US.
Not for beginners: Though most of the runs at Zao Ski Resort are ideal for beginners, the section that leads through the snow monsters at the top of the mountain is best reserved for experienced skiers.Zao Onsen snow monsters: Every winter, as Siberian winds rush through the Zao Mountain Range, trees begin to collect thick, juicy layers of snow and ice. The trees freeze into these fascinating forms, which have been dubbed ‘snow monsters.’Juicy juhyo: The snow monsters, called juhyo in Japan, sit at the top of the Zao Ski Resort and are accessible by cable car.An unenviable job: View from the lookout point at the observation center. Men clean snow off the top of the cable car towers.Analyze this: Much like staring into the clouds, part of the fun of exploring Zao’s snow monsters includes playing the old ‘what do you see’ game. Here, we see a wild cat roaring at a zombie as a large woman looks over it disapprovingly.Stunning landscapes: As the cable car slides up the mountain, the trees become less recognizable.Nightly illuminations: Every night until March 4, the Zao Snow Monsters are illuminated.Small window: The best time to see the monsters is late January to early March, before the spring warmth seeps in.Powder monster: A snowboarder cruises through the powder amidst the snow monsters at the Zao Onsen Ski Resort.Zao after dark: Those searching for a party will be out of luck. Barring the odd small establishment like this, the nightlife in Zao Onsen is pretty sedate.
