Cooling nights

7 October 2007

Back in Europe for a final 3 weeks, then the long anticipated relocation (back) to Japan and the start of my Next Chapter. It is also a significant next chapter for Mio, and for the relationship.

I have been watching the daily weather station in Hakuba, see the real time weather observation link in the weather book to the right of screen. Since summer started to fade away, the coldest overnight temperature in town was hit at 3am on 7 October: 6.6C. Unfortunately it is still reaching 20C during the days.

I really want o be there for the first snowflake in the valley. It’s a small dream of mine to start a season with the very first flake.

The seasonal long term forecast is still for a winter that is as cold as a typical winter and just as snowy.  Local farmers are predicting a deep snow year, based on the high numbers of enormous moths. Mio and I saw one attempting to get into Jusco the other weekend. It was dark brown and almost as big as my hand. I tried to help it escape from the shop but couldn’t catch him. It could easily have flown away with a 6 pack of beer, which thank god is sold in supermarkets in this country, unlike Australia and Canada where it is controlled like a dangerous substance.

Comments

Submitted by montoya on 7 October 2007 - 11:30pm.

Is this same db that used to post on sj.com and splitboard.com? If so, I was in Hakuba a few weeks ago and Nick mentioned you were relocating there. Good to hear you're back. The plan is to ping-pong between Yuzawa and Hakuba this winter, so I hope we can hook up sometime there.

-g

Submitted by Ocean11 on 9 October 2007 - 4:53pm.

Fucking stink bug innit. We don't trust no stinking moth prognostication, not we country seers.

Submitted by Damian on 9 October 2007 - 10:49pm.

Hey Montoya, that me, thanks for the note and yes, i hope we get some touring done in Hakuba. I will be there full time and on the snow full time, self employed and earning nothing.

Did you do Nicks website?

Ocean11, this is for you. 

Submitted by montoya on 9 October 2007 - 11:47pm.

yep, we did the site for him.

I have to say it was our first time to hakuba as well, I can see why everyone is moving there these days...

Submitted by Damian on 11 October 2007 - 4:55pm.

Good job.  Its a really nice looking site, also easy on the user and informative.

Hakuba seems to be attracting a lot of attention.

Lots of altitude and steeps, although slightly limited touring options. Lots of side country for those that want it.

Hakuba makes a good alpine community and hub for lots of action. But what I like best is that Hakuba is only one pin prick in the greater Kita Alps range; there is so much more.  For alpine terrain I would rather live down near Kamikochi area. But for alpine terrain + alpine community + accessibility to the town, Hakuba is almost the only choice. Pretty good one too.

It will be good to see you there. Will you be free on weekdays like you were in past seasons?

damian

Submitted by Damian on 11 October 2007 - 7:07pm.

New low for Autum. October 10th, 3am: 5.4C at 700m. But it was still followed by a 18C high the next day.

Submitted by Ocean11 on 11 October 2007 - 8:33pm.

Montoya, is this the one?

http://www.hakubapowderlodging.com/

It's very nice. Nick asked me to do a logo and I'm glad I turned him down because the pro-done one is so much nicer than what I would have done.

Did you/somebody do the sketch of Nick's place freehand or do I detect Google SketchUp? (bastard of a program, I can't figure it out beyond a certain point...)

Hakkers shaping up nicely....

 

Submitted by montoya on 15 October 2007 - 12:31am.

The plan is to devote the winter to touring, so we'll probably be free on both weekdays and weekends.

Up to now 100% of my Nagano BC touring has been around the Kamikochi area (mainly Yarigatake). The last trip in April we hiked in from Kamikochi just before Golden Week, used the lodges, and rode Yarisawa, then Obami-dake's bowl, then up over Yoko-ridge and then down to Karasawa. If you can read Japanese here are some pics from my wife's blog: http://www.backcountryjapan.com/tr/
(look for ???)

1st year, we used splitboards. The 2nd and 3rd years, we used snowshoes, crampons and ice-axes. One of my friends often tows his board behind him via a short lease, and I might try that as well.

During Feb/March, I have thought of approaching Yari from the backside, via Shin-Hotaka onsen. I would stay overnight at the Yari-hira hut there half-way up (it's open during the winter as an emergency hut), and approach/ride the backside of Yarigatake the next day. This route is called Hida-sawa.

Yakedake is also do-able during the winter. We did it from the Naka-no-yu onsen approach due to lack of snow last year. If it's a regular snow year, I would instead go up the tunnel, cut across Azusa-River and hike up.

There's something called the Yama-ski mailing list. Tons of touring info and trip reports if you can read Japanese:
http://www.coara.or.jp/~suyama/yamaski/

Submitted by Montoya on 15 October 2007 - 12:40am.

Ocean11, yes that's the one. We just did a free-hand sketch of the lodge, no Google SketchUp involved.

Logos are hard and time-consuming! That's been our experience so far.

Submitted by Damian on 16 October 2007 - 1:44am.

This sounds promising! I'll be available for touring almost every day. Besides learning Japanese and helping out with a few things, time in the back country is my main 'employment' until May.

Mio and I are both really looking forward to getting out there with your and your wife. We I converted to splits last season and for the long hauls we did, we liked them. For short and steep and hard packed/icy we prefer MSR shoes. When I get a chance this week I will start mapping up those approaches you mentioned.

And yes, logos are more hassle than they are worth, which is one of the reasons I don't have one here. I cant do logos.

As for backcountryjapan.com, when I registered this domain I checked that one and remembered you had beat me too it. Which prompted a bit of hope in me that you were planning a Japanese back country resource. Actually, I was really hoping you would given that there isn't one and how much touring you web gurus do. Perfect candidates to fill the gapping void.

Submitted by montoya on 17 October 2007 - 11:54pm.

Ok, we definitely will be up there during the winter (thinking of moving there next year actually) so it should be pretty easy to hook up.

backcountryjapan.com - yep I registered that quite a few years ago. Right now we just have a bunch of photos up. Maybe someday we will do more with it.

Submitted by bruno_vr on 13 November 2007 - 5:58pm.

Hi Damian,

so you left the old continent ... I'm sorry that it has been impossible to meet you before you leave, but I wish you all the best for your New Chapter.

Keep in touch,

Bruno

btw: tons of snow just delivered in Austria ... ;-)

Submitted by Damian on 15 November 2007 - 2:17pm.

Hey Bruno, nice to see your comment.  Sorry we missed meeting up.  I miss the food in your area already.  Wld boar stew, polenta....  I miss it!  I hope the carbon splits are put to good use this season and the kids won lots of races over summer.  We are starting to get a few storms here now, but I have a feeling that I left the Alps one season too early.  I think you will have a good one.

Damian

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