montoya

Are you getting lots more site-access since you added the new functionality? I find myself browsing the photo-section much more, would think others are doing the same. Btw, I was going through some old old posts and it was interesting to see the different directions the forum has taken. Lots of names no longer here, lots of new people in their place, topics that come up only once, topics that come up again and again. Where do you see the forums evolving from here??

looks like the birth of a snowpack btw is "sierra cement" just a US thing, or do you use that term also in Canada?

not all the cams are updating, but there are some good ones on this page: http://www.sizenken.biodic.go.jp/pc/live/html/live_01.html

Quote: Originally posted by Yamakashi: I generally use ほんじゃあね！ with my mates and what gamera said for others... hmm, don't hear that too much around Tokyo. btw, did you take the JLPT? Get your level 1?

totally stoked by Toque's photos, but in another month, we won't need this thread and I'll be so happy. We can move on towards topics like "face shots", "big monster powder board", "skins vs. shoeshoes", etc.

yeah, definitely would like a get-together, just have like a gazillion things to do this month. maybe we can get me jane to come up to Tokyo later this month...

congrats to you, hope your new husband is also a skier or boarder.

those are the best-looking pics I've seen in a while. thanks for the morning-stoke how steep do you think is that couloir? +40 degrees?

Picked up some gloves for the wife at Sakaiya, then bumped into a Niigata friend at the same shop, he was in town for the Tokyo Auto (Motorcycle?) Show. We ride with him all the time at Kagura; he mentioned Niigata is still kinda warm. Walked around a bit and played some pool later. Here's a pic of Jinbocho, tons of snowboard/ski gear wherever you go. Just need the weather to get a bit colder:

hey serreche, could've sworn I saw your car today in Tokyo. by chance were you parked in the Jinbocho/Suidobashi area, near Sakaiya?

yesterday I think. it only took me +4 years to reach it.

Dadguins, Momguins.. pretty good Gamera! what is the Japanese equivalent? pengin-okachan?

SerreChe, have you heard of Pierre Tardivel? He's a French extreme skier, and skied down the North face of Yarigatake in 1994. I think that is a +70 degree face. Have you seen any photos of that anywhere? here's some background info.. http://www.bivouak.net/articles/Tardivel.php?id_sport=1 http://www.montagnes.com/grimpeur/tardivel.asp

Tairappyo is a place I really want to explore this season, I think you'd enjoy it. Hike up is around 4-5 hours, I think there's about 700 meters vert: Another route is going down the backside to Tsuchitaru via Sennokura, with a long hike out. Even more vert, I think 1200-1400 meters. Here are some pics: http://minminsroom.fc2web.com/shikeyzawa.htm The view from Tsuchitaru looking back is this:

A friend with a 195 has this routine for the gondola there: Have someone get in first and open up one the side-windows, slide the board in, then get in. So, it can be done. Btw, here is what I am thinking for this season. Base will be Kagura, but am planning to hit lots of other places as well: *Regular-Season Kagura, Tanigawadake, Tairappyo, Nippaku, Tairappyo-Tsuchitaru, Hakkaisan, Naeba, Kandatsu *Road Trip Nozawa Onsen, Hakuba *Spring Shibutsu, Yarigatake, Karasawa, Tateyama

so did you get your powder board serreche???

yeah, wasn't planning to take a tour with them, just wanted to say they are good guys, say hello to them if you see'em there. I don't think they are going to hit the same steep lines as you guys though. that Fattwins tour sounds inviting, too bad we are just too busy this month..

Not sure where to put this, but just noticed that the Warp guys from Gunma are running a tour at Tateyama this month (19,20,21). We see them all the time at Kagura, they are pretty cool guys (Shin-kun, Ken-kun): http://warp-mtex.com/bc/tateyama.html Serreche, if you want to check out photos of Tanigawa-dake, they have lots of pics here (look for 谷川): http://www.photohighway.co.jp/AlbumList.asp?un=32521&m=2

Stores in Tokyo (most should be able to do online ordering) Largo / Shinjuku http://www.largo99.com/index.htm Calafate / Mejiro http://www.calafate.co.jp/ Kojitsu / Shinjuku http://www.kojitu.co.jp/ ICI Sports / Shinjuku, Okubo, Jinbocho http://www.ici-sports.com/ Kamoshika / Takadanobaba http://www.kamoshika.co.jp/newHP/online_shop/online_findex.html Sakaiya / Jinbocho http://www.sakaiya.com/ Shuzanso / Ikebukuro http://www.syuzanso.com/top_nn.html Shops in Jinbocho (some have websites, some mig

latest 3-6 day:

here's a list and map of shops in the Jinbocho area: http://www.sports-kanda.com/kameitenlist.html

ok here's another pic, this time with Kasagatake(?) nice post to reach #1000 on

Quote: Originally posted by Toque: I can do better than that Montoya I just took this picture from my school here's the reverse angle of Toque's shot. I think Shin-Hodaka Onsen is in the middle, and maybe Toque's city is in the upper right(?). we brought along some tennis shoes to use around the hut-area. that's what we used to climb Hosaki. 999 posts. just 1 more to 1000. only took me 4 years..

I think it's "Yarigatake". Like Toque mentioned the wind is pretty severe up there. I haven't seen much snow stick on the top, which is called "Hosaki". Even if it did, would be pretty steep (+80)

am guessing it's part of the same cold front hitting yari. looks like snow to me: