IM

Natto、of course.

You can not expect a consistent powder in March, but I would suggest Hakuba Happo. The view out there is spectacular. I do not have accomodation info. May be SJ does or contact Kankou kyoukai. BTW, the indoor resort just outside of Tokyo is closed last Sep.

Oh, I guess you guys were in a black car? In the morning at the ticket booth, there were 3 people with different tour company flags, and out come the herd of people with BC gear. Never seen such a huge group in Kagura before.

May be there were separate groups of 40 each. They were obviousely back country newbies on a guided tour. The hike up was like a traffice jam on Kanetsu Sunday night. Yes, my car is a bugger green MB SUV, how did you know?

They had an avalanche on the run 7-8 years ago and they are closed most of the time. I have seen the chair running only in Spring and even then only a few times. Last weekend there were AG tours and saw a group of 40 hiking up there. A buddy of mine and I hiked up to Kagura peak and did the powder run towards Tashiro area. The snow was just fine both Sat and Sun. For me I prefer that the lift is closed. That way only those who is willing to earn the turns will enjoy.

I'm going up this weekend, too. Looking at the weather map, it looks like snow/cloudy over the weekend, although high presseure is approaching from China.

Simply put, you ride on a cat(apillers). You know snow groomer with the cabin on its back. They will take you to a spot in the back country, then you ride the verticals. Cat ski is less dependent on foul weather than heli(coptor) skiing. Like heli sking, it is not very popular in Japan, but there are many operators in North America and Europe. I recall Iwaki san, and Niseko Wise used to operate cats. Simple enough?

You may have found that tele skiing uses essentially the same techniques with Alpine. If you want you can ski, do air, tricks just as hard as alpine folks. See videos like Unparalleled or Laying it down/Total telemark. I have been teleing for the last 6 years and changes in equipment has pushed telesking to a viable way to ride in all kinds of conditions. I think it is just as fun as bording.

But remember, you need to have something to dig your friend with - a shovel and to pinpoint your burried friend with - a probe.

The most common form of avalanches are triggred by humans (skiing, bording) giving a "stress" to the weak layer of snow below. That is this weak layer acts as a ball bearing under the newly fallen snow layer of 20cm to 80 cm in depth. Recently, there was a slide in Niseko that 12/24 layer was deemed to be the slide (weak) layer. Of course the weak layer today doesn't mean it stays weak forever. The layer stability changes almost daily, if not hourly.

A few ideas tha worked for me in Hokkaido winter. 1. Line the floor with layers of silver insulating mats (gin matto). 2. Put two Hokalons just above your tail bones. 3. Use yutannpo in your sleeping bag 4. Use a sleeping bag liner 5. Leave open a hair one window (so I don't die) 6. wear warm clothing to bed, a knit cap to socks. 7. Have a thermos with hot drink by your side. 8. Get drunk (helps fall asleep fast) I didn't plug the windows, but it may increase your comfort. What really helped was the knit cap (I used balclava), fleece gloves and a pair of down tent socks

A bit of info. I've been going to Kagura for the last 3 weekends and if you go off piste, there are still some bushes are out, but this week's snow will cover most of it. Still go there early to catch an early tram (they start at 8:00 AM) the place gets croweded very quickly.

I'll be in Niseko 21/21-1/3 (Hirafu)

Kagura last weekend - beautiful weekend! Base was 1.2 m at the top, but the parking quickly became full around 9:00 am. Since Tashiro was still closed, it got pretty crowded as the day progressed. They did run a special pre-season lift rate = 3000 yen/day, but they would go back to regular pricing starting next weekend.

Most of teles go where resort riders do not, where people can not see us. Actually, you would see them in Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, and Nagano.

It is a quite small place compared to Happo or other areas and not so steep either. It is good for intermediate riders but not quite challenging to experts and terrain no friendly for biginners. I wonder if its worth it to spend mucho yen to fly up from Honshu.

I think you need to be certified(SAJ, JSB, SIA) to apply for an instructing job in most schools.

Shinjuku - Tokyo via Chuo Kaisoku ~12min. Close: Fujimi Panorama, Sugadaira, Kurumayama Far: Happo/Shiga area via Matsumoto Why don't you take an overnite ski bus from Shinjuku directly to the resorts?

Nighta (and reverse nighta) in Iwappara has no one on the slope (well, almost). Quite a good place to lean to ride - I did.

Snow condition changes hourly in BC. You need to spend time now to lean how to assess avalanche danger, how to use beacons, etc.. You have to decide go/no go and take the risk. Leaning how to dig a pit and a simple test will give you the up to the second info. for that particular slope you want to ride. David Enright, in Nagano does do clinics for avvey safety - somewhere in this guide? I would hate to see the tragety in Hakuba repeated.

Happo (then called Hosono) was the first one. Developed by Takayuki Fukuoka back in 20's. The place originally was moutaneering ski school to get some cash imcome during the winter for this small farming community.

There are better resort that you can spend your limted time/money than Niseko for the same(or better)type of snow and terrain. The place, I think, is way over rated. My 2 cents.

Just last week, Nikkei reported that it will be a warm winter again except Northan Japan (Hokkaido, Tohoku).

Goggles for riding for protection from tress and branches. Sunglasses for hike up - to keep goggles from fogging up. Once in Togakushi BC, I forgot to put my goggles to travers for a few minuts, bamm! a tree branch hit my eye lid. Just a bloody eye, thank got I still have my vision.

Akibun, These have thumb, index, and the rest, thus 3 finger mitts(inner golves are regular five finger fleece, thou). They are warm, and still have dexterities. My favorite for Hokkaido Back country.