gti
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Posts posted by gti
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...just 3 times so far " title="" src="graemlins/cry.gif" />
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Kintaro, have only been to Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole in WY. GT isnt actually that big of a resort, area-wise, and from what I recall seemed relatively tame. it seemed to be more a local area but the snow that day was out of this world..
aside from areas in Europe that are linked, etc, you're not going to find many places w/ the magnitude of terrain and the mountain itself at Jackson Hole. the place is huge. We went when it was a bad snow yr and almost half the area was closed..didn't get to ski down the whole left, bottom side though what was open was a lot of fun. you lay tracks where you want. everything is basically off piste. Definitely hope to return some day.
Maybe others can provide insight into other areas in WY...
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Grand Targhee Wyoming, after an overnight dump of the lightest, coldest dry stuff I'd ever - and to this day, still - ever experienced. We were up at Jackson Hole for a few days and just decided to check out Grand Targhee for that one day. What a day it turned out to be...
Have not made it to Hokkaido yet though either. am itchin to go.
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float and turn, baby. sublime. woohoo.
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haven't seen Prophecy but shaky coming down steeps?? hontodesuka?
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..yankee ('yunkee-poi') seems to describe people closer to the gutter than the rest of the population here, though the nuance may be a bit off.
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an oji san?? you're still a pup, Serre. It sounds like you just happened upon a really bad movie.. don't know if you'd be able to find a copy anywhere, but keep an eye out for Aaahhs, released, either in the late 80s or early 90s. Greg Stump was the filmaker. a true classic. Peace.
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Scary stuff, avis.
..the Blizzard of Aaahhs, a GREAT movie!!...Went and saw Touching the Void last weekend. I shXX you not, a must see movie. They shot on location, parts of it anyway, around Chamonix… I’ve always liked suspense-thriller flicks. Having mother nature as the source puts new meaning into the genre of film...Haven’t seen a good flick like that in quite some time..
Ran into Plake skiing at Kirkwood about 15yrs ago. Cool guy. Was skiing down the Wall when I noticed a few – at the time, thought they were pretty damn awesome – dudes just taking HUMUNGOUS air off the top of the huge cornis along the ridge to the right. turns out they were warming up for a shoot. I came down one run and Plake, takin a breather, said something to the effect, hey man, we’re going to be shooting and so ll be closing this area off, or something like that. Thought, cool..so such was my brush w/ a ski legend..Scott Schmidt also used to make in person appearances at ski movie screenings, etc. A real low key, down to earth, real cool guy.…I’m dating myself, but still think Scott Schmidt is and has always been one of the BEST, true, pure, smoothassmXXaXXXXin SKIERs of all time, here on this planet. He is one smooth skier.
..all this really doesn’t have a lot to do w/ avis and sort of went off on my own tangent - sumimasen - but noticed an article on CNN:
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/02/16/extreme.skier.death.ap/index.html
Rip, Alec.
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sven.thnxman.itslooknmorpromisng
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What sort of training / licensing is required to patrol here in Japan, Patrol?
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wannamakitupferatleast1daybutdunnoifimgonnabable2.wishmeluck.
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minor quakes have been hitting northern CA since Sunday morning over there (Sunday night over here).
http://www.sacbee.com/state_wire/story/6735774p-7686930c.html
The quakes that hit San Jose (3:01am, Monday and aftershocks), would have been just after the quake up in Tohoku.
..eery.
Has anyone else noticed a rash of quakes it seems everywhere?
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went up at the insistence of the Mrs at "more of a reasonable hour," (after 9)..if only time could be rewound. If you drive up in the mornings, be ON the kosoku no later than 6, probably, would be a good bet. We drove up to Joetsu on the 2nd of January, thinking everybody would already be up there during New Years week, and so we thought we'd take a liesurely drive..it took 8 and 1/2 hrs, including rest stops, and having to put chains on before the tunnel, then off at the entrance to the tunnel, then, putting them back on at the other side of the tunnel!Grrr.and it seemed there'd be stretches where there had to be an accident or something, but no, everyone would just come to a complete halt, for minutes at a time. That evening though, after checking in to our ryokan, I think I may have had the best night skiing ever. Fresh pow, NO wind, w/ the air as still as can be. as you're going up the lift, you hear nothing except the squeak of the lift and occasional snow falling from a nearby tree. It somehow felt 'warm' as well. It was surreal and it really made up for the long ride...We actually left on departure day at 7:30, to beat the u turn rush and were glad we did.
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..mmm, Gusto is good. so is Skylark.
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..mmm, Gusto is good. so is Skylark.
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..never tried Percodan but badmigraine great analysis and post. Everyone else as well. SnoboYaro, sorry to hear about your knee. I did something to my left knee, it seems, to either the ACL or medial catilage. It was tender for awhile, but the last time I went on the slopes I tried a brace, and had no ski-associated pain the whole day (~3 weeks ago). It sounds like you do need to go get the knee checked out though. if you do go to Tohoku, I would suggest trying a brace, but really, you need to take it easy there on the knee there.
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..never tried Percodan but badmigraine great analysis and post. Everyone else as well. SnoboYaro, sorry to hear about your knee. I did something to my left knee, it seems, to either the ACL or medial catilage. It was tender for awhile, but the last time I went on the slopes I tried a brace, and had no ski-associated pain the whole day (~3 weeks ago). It sounds like you do need to go get the knee checked out though. if you do go to Tohoku, I would suggest trying a brace, but really, you need to take it easy there on the knee there.
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I wanted to comment in response to Ocean's column, having patrolled (though only a couple of yrs), back in the States, now more than 10yrs ago, my first yr as a Candidate, in training, then as a Basic National (volunteer) Ski Patroller at a resort in the Tahoe region of northern CA.
Patrol in America are there to promote and emphasize skier / boarder safety and awareness, and there's an element of enforcement, when necessary, where if someone is endangering others/his and/or herself, it is the responsibility of patrol to promote, enlighten, or in worst case enforce the aspect of safety to such individuals. Such instances though are few and far between.
All countries, regions and even resorts, have their own patrol regulations and policies they follow, even w/in a patrol organization, but there is, at least in the States, a governing body, under which all guidelines, policies, etc, are outlined and followed. In my case, as a volunteer patroller, the NSP was the governing body, though all patrols, at each ski area, have their own uniqueness about them, due in part to a combination of the patrol director, area managment, terrain of the mountain itself, etc.
With the above as background, the only actual time I've had any first-hand encounters w/ patrol here in Japan was when a young patroller was very friendly and gladly stopped and took our picture when asked, so I've had nothing but (one) positive experience w/ patrol.. I'll comment on a few patrol-related items I've noticed though, as well, as follows.
Others have noted questions relating to the level and form of training and qualifications needed to patrol here in Japan. I've noticed little things where certain practices / procedures appear to either be thought of, or are probably practiced, differently, over here. Overall, I'm curious as to what governing body patrols here are under, and what guidelines, policies, procedures are in place as things seem to be contrary to what would be expected, though this point too, I'm relating from a Stateside view on patrol.
Two examples...One is where a major purpose of patrol is to be able to come to the aid of any skier or boarder, injured or in need of any help as quickly as possible, anywhere on the mountain. You'll usually find patrol stations located at the tops of mountains/peaks, ridges, lifts (at North American resorts), enabling immediate response to any injury or anyone needing any form of assistance, anywhere on the mountain. It's easier to ski down, than to have to lug anything up, then descend, etc....I've noticed looking on ski maps here of the tendency of there NOT being any patrol stations located at the tops of peaks, etc..is this due to some clause in ski area design policy, or some patrol guideline which might be in effect??
Another example, as a 'national,' at the area I was at, we worked closely w/ the pros, doing things the skiing public normally doesn't or wouldn't see, before and after each ski day, all keyed towards enhancing the safety of the area for the skiing public. Wherever there may be thin spots of snow, in particular, early-season, we'd be out (during morning setup) clearing rocks from such runs, or marking areas off, for everyone's safety. The boulders that were dumped below a landing in Ocean's notes would be UNTHINKABLE at resorts in north America..There is genuine concern for even the remotest possibility of any injury to anyone (due to any aspect of a resort's terrain/facilities, in particular), for ski area managment in adddition to patrol, as there's an underlying phobia of lawsuits of sorts that pervades (for ski area management in particular.) At the very least, as Ocean suggested, such obstacles, would be marked off, well in advance...to further illustrate, any time a snow rider is cared for, no matter how minor the attendance may be, a (patrol) incident report is filed, w/ an emphasis on documenting details (partly, but also in the event such documentation would ever be needed in court somewhere).
Just two examples really that came to mind. I was real surprised, hearing of the boulders at the blind landing in Ocean's column. Also, on the story of the one reader who was literally assaulted!?? by patrol, which doesn't make any sense.
And so I think Ocean, relating his and others' experiences w/ patrol here in Japan, has provided his own, unique frame of reference, and I enjoyed reading his thoughts as always, but generalizing 'patrol' in the way they're portrayed, does in no way mean patrols everywhere are the same, or even remotely similar.
I'm interested in hearing more on patrol practices and experiences w/ patrol - from both sides - both good and bad, any insight at all really, from others who'd like to share their knowledge / experience on this board. Questions and comments are also welcome. I'll try and respond the best I can, but keep in mind, it's been over 10 yrs since my certification/licensing has lapsed (be easy on the questionning, please
) As the NSP in the States as an organization are constantly striving to improve and upgrade their policies, curricula, etc. I'm sure, things are probably a lot different than they were when I was patrol. I just wanted to relate my thoughts on the issue and 'll add too that all the people I've ever met thru patrol have been some of the best people anybody would ever want to meet... There've been a couple recent threads on proudest and worst moments, I've a whole list of proudest/best moments on snow - small and large - w/ my patrol yrs having provided some of the best, most memorable ski seasons I've had to date.
Just my two cents worth.
Cheers to all!
gti
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Stayovers preferred but both.
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-54F wind chill at Squaw back in '87 (or 88). had a facemask on and my face was fine, but my ears sticking out beneath my hat felt 'exposed' to the elements. otherwise was fine..anything below a certain point all starts feeling the same though. brrr.
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danz, where have you been?!...the dream of every skiing OL is to hold their kekkon-shiki at the Naeba Prince Hotel...or, to have their kareshi take them up for the weekend - staying at the Naeba Prince of course - for a romantic skiing shu-matsu in Naeba experience.
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Ian, you graphically bring up good points about the realities of major incidents and what patrols and resorts have to deal w/...but so does mogski, and so does Ocean 11...my thoughts on the subject: if people would just stick to the basic tenets of the Skiers Responsibility Code ie ski defensively, w/ common sense and logical assessment of risk - both of the terrain and your own abilities - for any given descent one might be contemplating, there would be less incidents of all types, both for the snow riding public and patrolling/ski area management to have to deal w/...if only we lived in a perfect world eh?!
we should all 'try our best' to ride responsibly, but this I think includes assessing potential risk of certain areas even w/in resort boundaries, eg, if not blatantly marked off, of areas one might consider a place one should perhaps not go, so that if you do go, do so responsibly, as YOU ARE AT YOUR OWN RISK..this is inherent, and most skiers/boarders I assume realize this. There's only so much we can do, to alert one another/look out for each other. Resort management also needs to take responsibility for keeping customers well informed and alerted, of conditions on site. Skiing and riding by their very nature have risks involved as activities and this is all theoretical, i know, and may be heavy-handed, but things we should all keep in mind when out there on the slopes, for the safety of everyone, yourselves included...sorry, I sort of rambled on but these are my thoughts...and i'm spent!
Cheers and happy trails to all
The most ridiculous question
in General off-topic discussions
Posted
...Mboy, sheesh...you're such a kiwihead