Queen Cosmo

Lookin' good!

Yup, you can get a points ticket, or an 8-hour ticket late in the day, both of which will apply to the "nighter."

Haven't uploaded photos in a while, it seems much easier these days, let me know if you have any trouble viewing them K? Headed to work now, come see me at BD and I'll pour you a beer

Hey Guys! Just wanted to share some recent photos from our recent romps around Niseko and Rusutsu. It's been dumping non-stop, as most of you probably know, and the snow is just incredible...

Thanks guys, yeah it was a very real reminder, as was the vid I just watched that someone posted of a guy falling in a hole. That happened to me last year at Chisenupuri, in the pillow lines skiier's left of the chair lift. Backwards, head first, down a huge rock well. Managed to get myself out (delicately) only to lose a ski 5 meters down the hole in the process. The whole event was made more sketchy because as soon as I slithered my way out of the hole, I realized that what I was standing on was an unstable snow bridge between several gigantic car-sized boulders. We reinforced the snow bridg

So yesterday I was riding at Higashiyama and I experienced a **mini** slide in the wooded area to the right of Miso Shiru, near the bottom half of the run by the old gondola. Scared me right good, but I really need to stress that it was a small, mini avvy in one of the rollovers in that area, which should probably just be avoided to begin with due to obstacles and the fact that the whole thing is kind of a terrain trap. So this is what happened... (and I'm not proud of it but it's worth sharing!) Imagine Miso Shiru, the slope to skiier's right of the Mori-no chair. To the skiier's right of M

Thanks for the kudos, guys! Sorry if I`ve kinda gone MIA for a bit- honestly we have been in Niseko since before Christmas and we`ve been so busy skiing and enjoying our stay at the BD Lodge that I haven`t really made time to get on the computer lately. I should post something soon, though, because it has been absolutely wonderful here. We hiked and skied Yotei last week -what a hoot- and it is positively DUMPING DENDRITES right now and has been falling sideways for the past 30 hours. Like get out a shovel every time you have to move the car kinda dumping. I hear Hakuba is getting nailed too!

OK guys, here's a viddy: Malunuma Fluffies

Had to get our fixins last week, so we headed over to Malunuma. We had low expectations, but pleased to say we were pleasantly syrup-rized. Did a lil' hiking, a lil' poachin', got some freshies, gotter done. We are still road tripping (in Kyoto currently!), so therefore internet access is limited. Catch you guys on the next update, or hope to see you on the slopes! Cheers Jen

Hakuba or Niseko Hakuba or Niseko Whichever has more snow ...ya know? Aren't any of you guys skiing over the holidaze besides Mitchpee? Mitchpee- wee will see you over yonder

Nice photos, BM! Have you ever skied it? I have found info on where the good ski lines are, but then I've also heard it's pseudo-illegal?

Totally sick!!!

Originally Posted By: MitchPee I'm from New England as well New Hampshire to be specific! Skied everything you are talking about. Nice to meet ya Heck yeah, Mitchpee! Nice to meet a fellow Hampshirite. I most recently lived in Manchester, where I busted my butt at an architecture firm to get where I am now (on extended sabbatical). Did I read earlier that you're working at Black Diamond Lodge this season? Good luck with your new gig. We'll stop in and say hi when we get up that way. I think we want to trade in the Nissan rental for a Hiace, budget providing. I hear they rent those

Originally Posted By: Tubby Beaver I hate when they have Natto for kyushoku, the classroom is stinking of it, the kids have the trailers floating from their mouths and chopsticks.....talking with their mouth full of that nasty shit......bleurgh!!! For crying out loud, I've been having freakin' nightmares ever since I read this. Thanks a lot, TB.

Hey Metabo, yeah I've def been keeping an eye on it. Yesterday the report and photos didn't look stellar, and with the latest rain I wasn't sure... *Update* OK so it appears they are opening more terrain this Saturday. They are talking about having 7 trails by then. We'll see. If so, we're heading up, but I'd love to go Monday and beat the crowd; praying to Ullr for a Sunday night dump. Cheers!

I am definitely lookin' forward to it, BM! Yeah I'm from the US, Maine is where I growed up, to be exact. Lots of very friendly folks up there. When I'm home I ski anywhere, typically the White Mountains for the BC. Up there, we gotta hike/climb to get to the real steeps. There's a forum similar to this one that we use for backcountry in the Whites, actually. A few of us have fun competing with each other in the late spring, after most people have moved on to mountain biking, boating, or parenting, to see who can get the most vert in a day. An entertaining thread here with a vid a... the e

Nice nabbin', Metabo. Way to get after it. Rider69, Sounds like you've been out having some fun. I'd love to see some photos as well. Surprised more people aren't hiking up to access the high BC (yes this includes me, but ). Do folks genearally wait for resorts to open? Or just busy at the office? Hoping for lots of snow this season!

Thanks BM. Not sure how many posts I need to have in order for PMs to work. I assume it's also not a such a great idea to provide an e-mail address on here. Hmm... I'll keep posting and see what materializes. Catch up with you later, BM. Thanks for the 411! Jen

Yeah Yama, I hear ya about the weather. Everyone back home has been getting the goods since Thanksgiving. In fact, I skied in Maine on Oct 24th, just before departing for Japan. Don't worry, the snow gods will bless us shortly! I also am very interested in Hakkoda. I would love to take you up on your offer. Particularly in the early season, so please holler if you get the mother lode up there and I'll come runnin'. Cheers!

Originally Posted By: Black Mountain If you settle into a place for a month or so they usually can give you a really good deal. One place I stayed in last season was 1500Y a night. Thanks BM, that's exactly the kind of beta I was looking for. Much appreciated. If you have a second to disclose your other "alternative" places to stay, such as the one mentioned above, it would be much, much appreciated. If not allowed to do this on the forum, see if you can send a PM, though I'm not sure I'm authorized to PM yet since I'm a newbie on SJ. Thank you thank you thank you! (BTW, are yo

Hey folks- From the views I've had during some recent hikes, it appears that there could be a lot of snow at some of the higher elevations. Tanigawadake and the Alps are looking nice and white up high just to name a few. Isn't anyone out there getting after it yet? Jen

Originally Posted By: Tubby Beaver hotel Nissan?? Yup.

To all you folks who are planning trips to ski destinations for a month or two at a time, etc; I am curious to know more about the kind of arrangements you make for where to stay. Do you camp out, stay in hostels? Couch surf at friends' houses? Or just kind of sap your $avings? I am starting a fairly lengthy road trip here pretty soon- here's to hoping some of you might have some insight on the subject. I'm not usually one to commit to a set plan and reservations; more of a storm chaser, me. I like to go where the gettin's good, when it's good, get face shots and maybe brag about it late

Looks like it could be some fun skiing to Sukayu onsen, maybe hike up and ski from the peak. Map (pdf) I'd be willing to meet some folks up there on the way to that Hokkaido ferry, maybe early Jan?

14-ML-20421-ML- Moved to Trip Reports section