JP-two

18 Jan 2012

Continuing with my journal of trips to the JP area, this was my second outing worthy or recording. This particular trip was not really onto JP, rather we skid it's little brother which offers good fun skiing without serious terrain traps from 2100m down to 1600m. A steep upper section that pans out nicely into the run out, unlike most tight terrain in Hakuba. 35-40 degree chutes and ridges give a lot of options wrapping from north into east. This outing was particularly good since we had near perfect conditions for the zone, and good company.

I joined Rich Marshal (ACMG Mountain Guide) and his customers who had flown to Japan for 2 weeks of backcountry. This was one of the few times I have had the chance to be on that area with other people. It is always nice to share the experience, rather than being alone. Conditions were stable and the group was strong, so this gave me the chance to see what a professional guide will do with the terrain given these somewhat lesser constraints.

After hiking in from 800m, we filled the middle of day with two ascents of the main ridge line which leads to The Ponds. The first run was down Number 1, which is has the fastest access. After that we went back up past Number 1 almost all the way to the ridge summit near The Ponds. It is a narrow ridge that doesn't offer much room to move, however conditions on the climb were better than I have ever seen later in the season with no cracks across the ridge at all, no significantly challenging solar aspect snow, and stable snow to the north east which allowed some movement out onto large pen faces, rather than being confined to the ridge. It was good to watch Rich work.

In seasons past I have been in crampons with wind scour, step-up cracks to ground and either refrozen or very weak snow on the sunny side, and less stable snow on the north east. I've had some scary moments along it in the past where the wind lip that lines the ridge was little wider than the width of my foot. One step in front of the other. For me, confidence and competency comes from being in the mountains as often as possible, and seeing more experienced people operate.

I seldom bother taking action shots as the movement and company of people, snow and weather conditions and terrain are far more interesting to me from the perspective of good memories than the actual skiing action. Plus who wants to interrupt good skiing , consume valuable time, and assume added risk just to take a picture of someone skiing? You can get that in any magazine.

We finished the day with a final ascent up to the summit of Obi and a descent down what os without doubt one of my favorite ridges that broadens half way down to offer a seldom touched area of very nice tree skiing. It went pretty well, though was a bit too scrubby at the bottom due to conditions in the earlier season.

It was a good day with good people and a good guide.

I have since had a few other perfect days for another JP trip, however have had the company of a variety of other experienced people visiting Hakuba and wanted to make the most of those opportunities, rather than head off on my own again. Plenty of time for that.