5 May 09

Back from my second week-long trip to Hokkaido, this time with Mio my wife. We had not seen each other in 5 weeks and so the trip was a great chance to cruise through life slowly enjoying each other company.

Lloyd chases Mio down some ice on Shokanbetsu Dake

We used our little Suzuki Kei Van as a campervan and based ourselves in trail head/onsen/ropeway carparks at Shokanbetsu Dake, Asahi Dake and Tokachi Dake.

Mio sooths her feet in a hot foot onsen after a long traverse around Asahi Dake. The volcanic pond is in a wonderfully remote area high on the flank of the range. From there we continued our ascent and had a good descent in a new area for me

What a great time! Easy backcountry touring, exploration, relaxing by the campervan in the afternoon with a beer and the dog. It was almost just like our old times spring campervaning through the Alps in Europe with the added bonus of a long relaxing ferry ride to and from Hokkaido.

No big write-up needed this time.

I went fishing for Hokke, a famous Hokkaido rock fish. No luck.

Up next... some serious exploration into the Kita Alps and one or two ambitious outings above Hakuba that I have been thinking about all winter. There is a lot to do, a good 5 weeks of snow left, or more. I am impatiently excited.