IM

Zwelgen's road is Route 117 from Toyoda IIyama exit off the Nagano Expway, going toward Nozawa, then onto Tsunan. Get something to drink at a Loquior shop along the way, but have a designated driver (the one who can not hold alcohol type is the best). Yes, it is not a huge place, but nice and locally.

I was at Island Lake last week, and as we were riding a cat, 3 snowmobilers were burried and perished in back side of where we were riding. There are more than 25 deaths in British Columbia alone this season ralated to avalanches including Kelly et al. and this is extreamely high for them. Now Spring is here and some of the snow is getting stressed by Sun and temperature, so extream caution is required.

If you are looking for a lift served places, then you can pretty much forget about it. If you are willing to hike, there are many places. Yes, Gassan is one of them, and Norikura Galcier is another.

Hi Sachiko, I've only been to Tateyama in November. Are there many ski resorts there, on the other side?

For those of you frequent Nozawa, Iiyama castle park on the way, has some very good stash of sakura.

Gentem Stick will have a demo day on 3/14,15, at Hachimt.

I had to take a day off work and went to Kagura on Tuesday. Sure it was windy and the chairs were slow, but very very few people, and tracks disappear in half an hour. The snow was as light as Niseko in Janurary, and deep. Way deep. Today probably would be perfect condition. Guys get outta there, this probably will be the last cold spell of the season!

Try those sites (few of the many), Japanese only but you'll get an idea from the pics. http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~tt3k-ktd/taj-main/taj-main.html http://www.myokokogen.org/mbss/ http://www006.upp.so-net.ne.jp/henkz/ Free Heelers hang outs are Hokkaido, Tohoku, Niigata, Hakuba to name a few. Japan is the second biggest Tele market US being no 1.

If you mean "local" = Small 1. Chisenupuri -Hokkaido 2. Waise - Hokkaido 3. Mikuni - Gunnma 4. Kayama Captain Coast(dump day only)- Niigata If you mean "local"=near your home 1. Used to be Saws

I usually use convini bag to collect them scrapings. Just prop the borad with the bag at the bottom and try to shoot them into a bag. Of course having to do it in a windy parking lot is a bit tough, but once you get a hang of it, it ain't too difficult.

Hmmmm.... I hot wax my planks every time I go out. It only takes 10minutes on my work bench, just enough time to down a can of beer. Then at the partking lot, I'd scrape the wax off, brush, wipe. Ready to go. No need to spend that much money. Most of my friends do this in a veranda, living room, even out on a street.

As I look at the forcast for the weekend, it does not look good. Temp. may be too warm for snow and a low pressure may be hanging over Honshu = rain and wind. What do you people do in a day like this that you find at the parking that it is raining hard, except going to onsen or three?

I would like be able to drive up to snow, not to live in it. Tokyo still is not ideal place for me as fara as access to snow, but hey, compared to New York, I'd take Tokyo any day. May be place like Denver, Taos, SF may be ideal places (don't have a feel for European towns, thou).

I used to like it when a friend of mine was a DJ. Now they have changed the format, I don't listen any longer. I'd say stick with one language. They try to do everything in dual languages and it does not work for me.

OzOzOz, I am an American by citizenship, but lived in Japan till 9th grade attending local schools. When I came back 6 years ago, it took me some doing, but I am now very proficient, except I can't write kanji very well(thank god for the word processors). I prefer to read what's happening within Japan in Japanese, and the rest of the world in English (but not Japan Times)

I (try to) read Nihon Keizai Shimbum every morning and catch other news via the net.

Hope you will get some fresh snow, but powder in mid March is a bit of a push, thou. I am going this weekend, but not really expecting a powder looking at the weather forcast.

Split tail one may be Gentem DPT - this does great on powder as well as on groomed runs. It is expensive, thou. I do not have split board, but many of my friends do. From what I observed, split is great on hiking up like skis. But heavy because of extra edges, plates below bindings add weight to the board. And the special very wide seals, are quite haveyer compared to the ones for skis, and you still have to carry in your pack. So overall, the weight wise it may be a close equivalent to carrying shoes, and poles. Anyone has other comments?

Japanese brands tend to be well constructed compared to others (my opinion) but men!, their graphics, names (esp. uyoku like names) are really baaad! (ie: Yakuza Kaimikaze Kicks) The only JPN brand I like is Gentem Sticks for their quality, strategy, and target market (except their price).

Cho-uncool, as cotton turtleneck.

Funny, about half of my friends wear them (all Jpn) borders and skiers. I wear one when I board, not when I ski.

Amandanism, Have you counted the Japanes Forum? I see some are posting over there.

Off to Niseko tomorrow night for the long weekend.

Fattwins, Do you carry a snow saw? My BD saw that goes into a handle is alomst useless, too short. I am thinking using a twine with knots on them so that I can use it to cut the back side of the pit I dig (ARAI avy guys use them). Have you used something like this?

I think this would be a good start. http://www.avalanche.ca/