gti
-
Content Count
38 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Never
Posts posted by gti
-
-
thanks, rach, just did.
Wade, just choose your line. what's good about Kurumayama is it's 'open bowl' skiiing (not trails, cut into the mtn), w/ good steeps, where basically everywhere along the face of the ridge is ski/ridable. There were still nice pockets of untracked, to the right of the 2 lifts going uptop furthest in (to the rigth). had fun going between the big swath and the 2 lifts furthest in...you can definitely see nice lines everywhere...you'll see, if you go.
cheers
-
Kurumayama last weekend, Sat, Sun, was excellent. There's a loop road off the Chuo Expressway which isn't well marked w/ signs leading you there, if you're coming from Suwa IC, counterclockwise. We actually missed the turn and started going downhill back towards the expressway, but noticed the line of cars going the opposite drxn, asked drxns, and eventually made our way there. Once there, parking sucks. There are at least 5 different parking areas, all w/ varying degrees of closeness to the base area. The later you arrive, the farther you park. We parked at the pension we stayed at, which kindly ferries its guests to the base area, but on departure day, to get a head start(close to the slopes when heading back), even before 8am, lots 1 and 2 were already full and had to park in lot 3. They do have shuttle buses from the base area parking lot, to all of the satellite lots though, a concession.
Kurumayama itself is a very nice mid-sized mtn, w/ some good steeps off the main ridge up top, served by 3 chairs, w/ lift-accessible off piste (untracked). Saturday the snow was excellent...by Sunday, it had condensed but conditions were still great. (It's been another nice week this week, don't know what conditions must be like now though.) They do groom one huge swath up top, but everything else was left as is, and there's one lift I could have ridden all day, but had 'family service' duties to attend to etc...The lower part of the mtn has wonderful, fairly long, gentle terrain, perfect for our 5 yr old, just beginning to snowplow!
Liked the layout of the mountain, it doesn't take 5 or 6 different lifts to get to where you want to ski, if you're w/ others and want to break away for a run or 2.
A lot of boarders were there, though the mix was probably 2/3~3/4 skiers.
One other 'plus alpha' thing about Kurumayama is there's a weather stn at the very top. You take your boards off to hike up, but it's well worth the stunning 360 view you get from going up there, particularly if it's a clear day!...took some great pictures and video when we were there. Fuji-san is off in the background, as are the Alps, etc, simply a gorgeous view!
Overall liked the actual mtn. A great place for families, w/ good terrain for all levels and is close enough to Tokyo to make for a fairly convenient day trip. Hope to return sometime.
-
started skiing when 2.
Took our 5yr old up over new yrs to Joetsu Kokusai for the 1st time and he's a natural!..well, not quite, but the ski school there was great w/ little ones and he had such a great time and all..Kurumayama is also supposed to have good, "long gelendes for small children." We're going tomorrow..should be an awesome weekend. worried about the crowds though...
Happy trails
-
going up tomorrow to Kurumayama Kogen. Has anyone been there?
-
going up tomorrow to Kurumayama Kogen. Has anyone been there?
-
Sting went commercial when he went solo, yada yada, but, his vocals are hard to beat. The Police (1st 2 albums especially) were in my opinion, 1 of THE BEST rock bands ever...but then egos started exploding etc..and where is Andy Summers nowadays??
-
i'm new here. hope this isn't a repeat thread, but where is everyone from (originally)? i'm originally from northern CA in the States but have been here - in Japan now - for...drumroll, please...close to 10yrs! my 'home' resort back home, Sugar Bowl (used to patrol there), but also love Kirkwood and Squaw. Haven't yet 'adopted' a home area over here yet. Haven't been that many times either. ...GREAT site btw. Cheers and c ya on the slopes
-
..i work in import operations at a major japanese manufacturer (translation: sit behind computer and phone all day)
-
..jus 2 more now!
-
..at work in Ebisu
w/ abode in Itabashi -
-
..JUST signed up. Great site.
..in response to Ocean11's original query, an awesome run down a difficult mogul run is a rush, duuuude
boarders have their own rushes, am i not right?..when you're in the zone and everything clicks and you've had a particularly satisfying run gliding thru say a knarly bump run, THAT's part of what makes skiing what it is, something I'm sure other skiers can relate to...and as well, I'm sure, in a different way, what makes certain aspects of boarding such a rush for boarders. SKIING rules btw, but I HAVE tried boarding ONCE..w/in a couple of hrs was able to do 360s - yeehaw! (on the snow, not in air) just haven't had any further inclination to pursue boarding is all.
Peace and happy trails to all.
Under-rated resorts
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
Posted
Madarao Kogen in Nagano, another great place you never hear too much about...and Kurumayama Kogen (also in Nagano).