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stumpalama

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Posts posted by stumpalama

    Tsugaike 1day after the storm

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    How does one "Do it wrong?"

    From a grainy (albeit sweet) snapshot?

    Looks to me like he had it right on... Laying fat lines in fresh powder with a picture to document it... Where are our pictures from the same time?

    It would have to come from your camera on your computer cause we definately weren't out there.

    I was up 24th an 25th, they could use another 2-3 dumps, it was pretty warm those two days, with a lot of resultant "sluffing". Plus the trees are too tight with the small undergrowth still whipping you in the face.

    Still good to get out. I will be back up tomorrow and Sunday. 47/Goryu, maybe Happo (Iheard the whole mountain is open now, trees and all).

    360

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    Now now, it's just gentle twisting pressure one the individual has clearly exceeded his welcome in the bar but protests being invited to vacate the establishment and thus slays his arms across the doorway. Abit if twisting pressure to the chin and its amazing how the shoulders just turn and the arms release the door jambs. Work smarter, not harder! Although, I'm not averse to Ocean 11's suggestion, that is of course as long as it helps Mr Matthews land that elusive 360. Heh, heh, heh.

    360

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    OK, I still botch a fair amount of 360's, but now it has turned into an issue of over rotating. First and foremost, you MUST commit to the trick. I know, it sounds like the standard pop psychology, but it is the truth. Come in confident that you will rotate, that tends to be the hardest part for people, is the spin, and getting their head around. Where your head goes, your shoulders and body WILL follow. As a former Bouncer (Bar doorman) I know that one for a fact.

    I much prefer to pull them of natural lips with nice powder landings (especially starting out, the awkward landings don't hurt at all), rather than terrain parks where the kickers tend to kick me back too much, not to metion the hard landings.

    (This is from a regular stance perspective)

    OK, the actual trick is not a true 360, because your rotation starts even before you leave the earth. The trick starts out almost as a toe side carve off the lip. By the time you come off the lip, your back is to your landing and all you have to do is turn your head to the right (as if trying to see if there is something on your back) and look to spot your landing. The head turn will speed your rate of rotation and the board will align naturally with your shoulders to nail the landing.

    Cheapest day trip tickets from Tokyo...

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    I drive (almost) every weekend from Yokohama to Hakuba. Often I pack the car when I get home from work Fridays and hit the sack around 6-7pm and wake around 3am and hit the road no later than 4 to avoid the Yokohama-shi and Hachioji bypass traffic (perfect so far). It's about 4-4.5 hours and 4500 yen door to door each way.

    I prefer the car because #1: I'm American and driving is what we do...EVERYWHERE!; #2: I can load up the subaru with whatever gear I need, and more. I used to skibum it in the States and sleep in my FJ60 (God I miss that!); #3: I hate lugging gear in and out of stations, and feel too reliant on others to get me where I need to go. #4: It is a beautiful drive up.

    For you economics types, I'd equate my analysis to "opportunity cost" that is cost (dollars, time, effort etc.) in terms of alternatives.

    ie. the cost of taking a car my be marginally more than the Shink, but add connecting trains to shink station, lugging gear, taxi's and relying on a shuttle from where I stay (lugging gear again), but with a car, all my gear is stowed (sprawled), cooler is stuffed with food (try that on trains), I have a base of operations on the mountain where my extra gear is locked up, I can drop/add layers if the weather changes, and last but most importantly, it's a great way to meet people... I can pick up and drop chicks off at the mountain/their hotel ;\) . Calculus: trains & shink: 14,600 + Taxis: 1,500 + food/beer: 8,000= approximately 219,000 vs. gas and tolls: 13,000 + food/beer: 6,000 - convienience of being self reliant = much cheaper.

    Just my .02 yen.

    Is there anything I missed/forgot?

    gloves or mittens?

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    OK, here's how I figure it... I believe in layering for your hands, just like your body: A wicking layer of polypro liners, an insulating layer (this is where you can adjust for different temps) 100/200 or 300 weight fleece, then a goretex shell gloves or mittens depending on the temperature. Mittens and gloves with built in liners are too hard to regulate temperatures and they take too long to dry.

    The best shells I've see are from Outdoor Research and Black Diamond.

    I always wear glove liners under mittens, that takes care of the dexterity issue. just whip off the mitt real quick, adjust and back in.

    This setup has never failed to keep my cabbage grabbers toasty and dry even down to -20F.

    What do you WEAR?

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    Hmmm...

    Anything made from polypropalene(sp?), ie Patagonia/mountain hardwear/chillis long underwear bottoms - light to mid weight, wicking t-shirt or zip-turtleneck (good for venting), a zip fleece shirt (insulation), fleece vest or jacket depending on temps. Definately go with the synthetics, cotton is a killer. Oh and wicking (read polypro again) sock and glove liners. I can't say enough about the glove liners, no mater how sweaty your gloves/mittens get, your hands stay dry and thus warmer. they like 500 yen at any ski store.

    split boards

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    I have a split board, a Voile 166, burton makes a very nice one as well, apparently. I got a good deal on this witth bindings, (soft boot), crampons and climbing skins. I just got the hard boot bindings for it so I can log some snowboard mountaineering with my Scarpa AT boots. I haven't used the board yet, but it's the best of both worlds... skinning up and one true edge down the mountain. It's not that much heavier than a regular board with bindings. All the reviews I read give it a thumbs up ad they have been in business for a long time. Plus the Burton is Hella expensive! US $850!! OUCH

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