18 Dec 07
This picture was not taken after I crashed. It was taken after I choked on powder for a few hundred vertical meters of hauling ass in deeper than deep.
Still very poor avalanche conditions for backcountry travel so I stayed close to home in resort facilities. It kind of paid off: remember that Goryu closed their top lifts at 10cm on the first day after the big storm. Then yesterday, they were still closed. Last night and all morning the clouds gave us more snow, all on top of mostly untouched terrain due to consecutive lift closures. Well, not today. I rode my 167 Dupraz, a board that floats like a magic carpet on helium… yet I still had waist deep lines and choking face shots in fall-line terrain with almost no competition. Skiers were getting deep - nothing more than heads moving quickly down hill with a vapour trail. It was uncrowded and snowing hard, still is.
In steeper rolls off-piste in the trees, and on the edge of the runs, it was very easy to cut out 30cm deep soft slabs on micro terrain features. One even came down onto a chairlift dismount area that had the patrol all worried. Ironically, it was a patroller that cut it off, when he was putting up another ubiquitous Japanese “don’t go here!” fence. Good work. But back to the topic of stability: there were signs everywhere that backcountry terrain over 30 degrees should be avoided by those who like life. The sluff alone from 100cm of unconsolidated powder is enough to very quickly pile up around you if you get stuck in a little dip.
Oh, another thing. Today was the first day this season when I rode from the top of the resort to my front door in one uninterrupted run. When it flattened out on the driveway I bogged down, but that because it was knee deep. Powder turns to the door steep. Terrible.
yeti
nice beard snowman! wish I could enjoy the pow with ya....
well...
Pretty soon you probably will be. Theres a yakiniku waiting for us, well overdue.
Wakatta!
Now I know who the Yeti/Saru-sama is!
I bet you hate Japan Damian. All that snow ... just awful. I wish I was riding pow right nowwwwww! Aaahhhhhhhhhhh
nice mate glad to see that
nice mate glad to see that you like lifts again.
For storm days
Lifts are pretty good for storm days. But its not where I want to be given the choice. If conditions permit I will always go touring over hit lift served powder. I went up again in the pm - did another 4200m of vertical. One thing I will say about lifts: riding without a big heavy pack is so easy. Legs go forever after being conditioned for mule work
NPM - don't complain, it was you that went to Sydney for xmas... could have been here. I hope the surf makes up for it.
Im still here in the office
Im still here in the office toiling away ... Go to Sydney Sunday.
Do you have a season pass for Goryu or something or?
What's the best way to get to Hakuba from Tokyo on a Fri night? I think there is a Super Azusa from Shinjuku at 7pm ... but it doesnt get in till 11pm at Hakuba-eki
or....
Which "or" can I choose? Lucky you aren't in sales mate.
Yes, I have a seasons pass for Goryu because I live a few meters from there piste and can ski down to the gondola. Perfect for days when bc is a no-go. I also have a seasons pass for Tsugaike Kogen because that give the best access to multi-option touring. If I didn't live at Goryu, I wouldn't have a pass for it.
wakaranai
who is the mysterious NPM?
Hakuba Ikitai!!! Tomete kureru kana???
Legin ... I know you are Oim! What is the best way to get to Hakuba QUICK SMART on a Fri night???
ok ok
I dont think you guys have met before. Perhaps a long time ago.
Best way to Hakuba on a Friday night is shinkansen to Nagano-shi followed by a bus to Hakuba.
Maybe I was wrong ...
Ah, maybe I was thinking of someone else.
Anyway, I guess Mio does the shink to Nagano each week then or has she got a better way to get up to your Goryu cabin?
Yes
She does.
BTW, I dont know your definition of 'better' or 'best'. Shink+bus is fastest. I assumed that is what an employed city man would define as best.
Sidhis
Sidhis beat shikansen and bus if you're talking 'best'. Once you've progressed beyond short hops, it's a very reliable means of getting about. What has employment got to do with it?
Hey NPM
We can travel together from Tokyo to Hakuba on Friday...
Happy Christman in Sydney!
looks nice out there. glad
looks nice out there. glad you boys are enjoying the goods :)
g is never silent
///
CB - see you tonight probably.
Ocean - city workers tend to value time over money => shinkansen