black diamond
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Posts posted by black diamond
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Yotei has a hut three quarters of the way up. Do it in fair weather, spend the night in the hut (has a wood burning stove). Ski the crater in the am, hike out and then take a lifetime memory run down.
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Niiseko Village Promotions Manager and darn good skier Tomoko-san neck deep in the good stuff. Photo David Levin
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Kiroro also has Yoichidake, a great hike with even better views if the weather cooperates...AND you're all but guaranteed pow, but I liken it to Asahidake. Everyone raves about the place and indeed it's the no.1 backcountry resort in Hokkaido, but I need more than six good turns before a long flat section. Maybe I should move to Hakuba
BTW Happy Birthday MP.
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Hello all. Been lucky enough to work with some great photographers, skiers and snowboarders over the past few years. Just thought I'd share these photos with the snowjapan crew and hope they help you get out on the slopes sooner than later.
Will start off with a doosie.
Pro skier and 2008 world freeski champion Henrik Windstedt photo: Mattias Fredriksson (Powder Mag Senior Photog)
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Hey Thursday,
Why not go to both? It won't be much more $$ and your family would love it. Stop in Sapporo too, awesome city an they offer day trips to a few resorts incuding Kiroro (but if I was with the fam I would probably stay at kiroro).
But if you had to choose one (and it was mid jan or later after everything fills in) I would do Tomamu just for the apres entertainment (again this with Sahoro a 20 min bus ride away) is much better than Kiroro IMO. You get easier snow at Kiroro, probably the deepest in Hokkaido, but for sheer awe factor (what were they thinking style) and sunny days, it's Tomamu. And if you just look around, you'll find good pow and longer, steeper runs.
PS. you can even rent your own run for the day!
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Here's an idea, go to both. Your family will thank you and it probably won't cost you much more to do so.
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Here's an idea, go to both and then you don't have to decide. Your family would love it.
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quarterpipe finish Photo Gasch
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How about yard kickers? Only in Japan can you build a pile of snow big enough for a run in to air a car. Marc Gasch photo
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Still have the cat and heli but it's really made for the "cat" or "heli" ride more so than the actual skiing but great for intermediates.
They also have a crazy "waterwold". crazy special double wide buses shuttling you around, a big snow village, snwombiling etc. I went many weekends in the "golden days" before they used to have cat and heli and a tree skiing bib system. It used to be tied in with the Kamori Super8 pass so lift tickets were free. My wife had a special membership where it only cost 3500yen/person pernight to stay in rooms up to the 33rd floor. And the penthouse complete with hottub was only 6500yen! it was amazing...and a bit creepy.
The place was like a ghostown and some days there were only a handful of guests. The last night of the season (still got great pow) we went in to the 200 seat buffet hall and I guess surprised the 30 plus staff who then proceeded to uncover the giant "fresh food" spread. They all just stood at their stations and watched us have dinner, Alfred Hitchcock style.
The place has 4 36 story towers and several other large buildings many connected with glass corridors. The "big picture" was interesting, just way ahead of it's time...what year was Bladerunner set in?
Normal resorts build in something we call "stages", not all at once. And NOT just as the country's bubble is reaching maximum burst. They could have stopped and surely knew this was a no win situation. Developers could learn from this, but I doubt they care as long as they themselves get paid. Niseko seems to have avoided this fate so far but bring on the Hanazono billion dollar project, Capella and Niseko Village boyz! (actually I think Niseko will work just because this is now an international market and is set to be "the resort" for asia).
Sorry I've got AADD.
Getting back to the good things that came out of Tomamu.
They have runs cut out on the next mountain for the "expansional phase two" which have now become great "out of bounds" runs and they also have decent night skiing. Good lifts and great tree runs, off the backside too (but you have to hike out). It stays cold there so you can usually find good snow somewhere. The Tomamu train station was even built connected to a double chair so that you can start skiing immediately, pretty cool concept.
I don't know why some diss Tomamu, I think it's an awesome resort and experience, especially when you do day trips to Sahoro.
The hotels were a bit dilapitated 7 years ago, and tiles were litterally falling of the outside of the towers' bubble era built walls but I think they have revamped the place (see the new pics and the new "colorful" accent tiles, like they did it on purpose) and are getting a large Asian following, one that doesn't ski the tress!
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How's this for a booter? Photo: Marc Gasch
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may be windy tommorow, but you never know until you go. Plan on low altitude hiking if it does or experiencing "Black Out" booze conditions by late afternoon at bar 1984.
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Kurodake (Black Mountain) 120cm base and snow in the forecast til Monday. The boyz are already up there and said it's been deep and snowy all morning but the sun just came out! Hitting the peak tommrow, big party night to follow.
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sorry three years as an "instructor" of some sort and the certifications to prove it. A Uni degree will help you get an Engrish teaching job. I did that for 8 years and worked my way up to teaching university. You get most of winter and two months in summer of so it's a bit of a dream job.
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Not many kickers in this vid but I can't figure out how to upload pics from my computer.
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If you guys are into backcountry booters, pillow lines, snowmbiling and hiking, and can handle Canadians and Kiwi accents, give me a shout when you move here. Despite what some people say, Hokkaido has some sick terrain, you just have to know where to go. Some people dismiss Hokkaido from having steep terrain but it's sitting right there..along with a long season, good snow stability and very few, if anyone poaching your lines.
And a road trip to Hakuba when it's on is as easy as getting on a ferry. 18 hours and 25,000yen for you and your car. You can get a great 4wd van for about 300-500,000yen.
Hakuba can get extreme and Hokkaido can get extremely fun, so you get it all.
If you want to get a visa, you need to have proper qualifications and at least 3 years experience in something. But if it were me, I would save up my bucks back home and come here to just ride and explore the first season.
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Higashiyama stills exists as an address and pension village. Intresting story is that it was changed to Higashiyama when the Prince group bought the area and made the ski resort many years ago.
Strange though that it's not easterly facing, but I guess Minamiyama didn't sound as good.
So I guess it's fair for the new owners once again to have changed the name, even though sme would argue that it's confusing. But in terms of marketting it's pretty smart, no?
Hey,people often call it Niseko Hirafu, when it's actually Kutchan.
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In the Japanese Hokkaido Shinbun last week. About 10 interested parties already, sale to the highest bidder in spring. Golf course, hilton, ski resrt, the works. Wonder if it will make yahoo auctions?
Last sale to Citigroup pushed back the Mizunosawa opening two years. I guess a new lift will take another two-twenty more. That sux but what did you expect citigroup to do? Run a sucessful resort with no previous experience? How about "sprucing" it up a bit, renaming it and flogging it? I guess it's better than thier other business model, dismantling companies and selling them off piece by piece.
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Announced last week. Any takers? Does that spell a mizu-no-sawa closure? No more village people?
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I always suggest to people to rent a car and do a Japan road trip. Ski resorts and buses/trains don't really mix too well. You miss out on to many first track mornings (unless you're travelling at night) and for myself at least I hate packing and unpacking. Your car IS your suitcase. Have you seen the Japanese snowboard movie series Car Danchi 1-4? These guys live in their vans and travel from resort to resort and sleep in the parking lots. Indeed with the ample amount of onsens and a nice heater with a long extension cord, you could spend a month quite comfortably. the ferry from Nigata to Otaru is only like 25,000yen with car and driver. If you look around you can find cheap rentals.
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MSR Denali ascent. There is no better snowshoe for the money which are specifically designed for the ascent. Every sohp I have visited and asked has agreed. I know I was scratching my head wondering how something so simple can be so good, sometimes simple is better.
As for a pack I would get one that carries both skis and a board, you never know when you might want to try skiing (and remeber why you snowboard) lol. Dakine has some great packs. Just make sure that the board straps are located properly so that the (your) board balances properly and it's not catching your feet when you're going up. Also make sure the straps are thich enough so that they won't wear out when rubbing on the edges of your board. Mst imprtant thing is to make sure you get yourself a good beacon, shovel and probe FIRST.
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Canmore ski village. You can take a run down the Marmott, Caribou, or Maple course and then have lunch at Restaraunt Alberta (if you can stomach the "cuteness"). Good thing is that it's a fast chair and they share a lift pass with Asahidake so when the weather is bad at AD, you can drive down to Canmore for the day.
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Santa Present Park
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If you look in Higashiyama, you'll find the real deal Chritmas holiday, complete with a full on Canadian style Christmas dinner and apres dinner hottub and street hockey.
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in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
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Black Diamomd of Black Diamond Lodge??
maybe...