IM

Ocean11, There are two large snow banks seen on the first photo. The first one comes from center of the top curves to the right, the second one below. You ski about 900m vertical to 7th station then you have to hike down. Typically, you can ski to the parking on 5th station right about till now, but this year melted away pretty fast. Trails are very rocky and vegitation almost none. Since it has been snowing at the top this week, it may be icey up there.

Two of us (fairy fit) took 5.5 hrs including rest stops. It gets harder after 8th station (altitude and rough trails). I think guide book show about 6.5 hrs an average in Summer.

The blue ones are my friend's Salomon Pocket Rockets, 175cm don't know the dimensions, but they are fat. I had Rossi Bandits 168cm. They are fat/carving. He had Chili, and I had 7tm bindings. Since we didn't have light skis, so brought what we thought the lightest. Cheers.

Looks like my photos are up at: http://www.skijapanguide.com/2002/gallery/readers-im.html Funny, thou, I can't get to them from Reader's Gallery page. ??

You can babble the same thing on other countries or people. I don't belieave Japan is so special that requires special explanation. I think most foreigners live here knows it.

I recall watching a news and was around end of September? By the way, TenjinTaira opens its season with both natural and man made snow.

Karuizawa, Sugadaira,and Naeba makes snow and open a very small/narrow trails in early/mid November. Many goes to Tateyama at the end of November. The resort that open earliest is Tenjin Taira in Gunma(end of Nov.)

Yeah, I have taken lessons at Iwappara this season when I first started to board. They would start off with how to carry, place and put on the board, then how to get off the lift, and some very basic bording tecniniques. I found the instructors competent and very very friendly. After I have ridden a few more days, then I took another lesson at Sheesa's riding camp in Niseko. They were very good at teaching ungroomed tracks. My 2 Yen.

OO, You ain't missing much at NASPA. Try Iwappara or Kandatsu across the valley.

Photos from the trip will be up at Readers Gallery in the next couple of days.

I agree with NoFakie, the book contains all the vital info.(HP, access, vertical, etc..) with aireal photos and even comes with very handy road map that covers all Honshu.

When we went on 18th, it was storming (rain/wind) and we only made it up to 8th station and only skied about 200m vertical. It was miserable! Last Saturday, 25th turned out more than the best we could hope for. During the week, it actually snowed at the top to 8th station and snow was in good shape (no poweder, though). I will see if I can put up some photos.

I think Japanese resorts are more honest about number of runs. You know many US resorts put multiple names on a sigle run like Upper XX, Middle XX and Lower XX and count them as 3 runs. I just look at their trail maps, don't really give a **it on what they bragg. But snow reports are somewhat of suspect, though. I don't know where they measure (top, middle, bottem). The best info. probably comes from Ski Japan Guide!

We have hiked up Fujisan two weekends in a row. If you are anywhere near, this is the time to ski. Snow is getting thin every day.

Belle, Are you looking for terrain park types or back country types?

We first pick a landing to make sure it is on a fairly steep incline to avoid flat landing. Then use the borads/skis to maka a form. Pile on snow, spead some salt (I think they call them "Ryu an"). Jump away! Make sure to take it down at the end of the day.

This may not be the energy source, but I use Amino Vital and this suppliment works for me. Anyone has use them?

Yeah, They have one chair and rest are T's. I believe 2-3 below the chair and 2 above.

I have a samll back packing gas burner from UniFlame (which I carry it in my back pack also). With a piezo igniter it is a piece of cake to make a grilled sandwich. If I remember, I bring a dab of butter for better taste. Here is another tip: I also bring a samll camping pot to boil some water to eat instant noodles. Key is to also buy at combini a stalk of onion(negi) and chop 'em up and throw into the noodles (carry a samll swiss army knife) - makes the noodle soup surprisingly edible. With the left over hot water, you can also make some hot coffee.

Grappa!

For me it is NASPA. Looks big, but really small, runs too shallow and short. Firends of mine had free tickets, but I felt I wasted a day there.

There are many outdoor shops, and groups do host avvy awareness classes in Fall. This is a great opportunity to lean how to use a beacon (you can't really practice with just one) as well as meet folks in the same mind sets. Prey for Sky Hoy for mucho snow next season!

My experience in mutiple burial cases (on land or snow during training sessions) was given a training, digital finds the second burial faster than analog consistently. When I say digital, it is BCA tracker with signal strength filtering. Other beacons claim digital, but they are not true digital. Check out Tech library on: http://www.bcaccess.com/fmain.html If you are versed in analog search, there is no need to switch to digital. I am marely saying, if you are to decide which to buy, I recommend digital.

Went to Mt. Fuji last wkend skied down from hachigoume, going to Gatusan in June. My season hasn't ended, just yet.