Teledude

Ok, so where the hell is Norikura? I want to go. Also near me, Gassan doesn't open up until April. Haven't been there yet but will go as soon as the road opens up enough to get in.

I usually will check all day if I'm out. Every once and awhile, just stick your pole as deep as you can and feel the layers. It's not hard to feel a crust and it only takes a second. Do this every half hour or so. But everyone should know the area they are going into and what type terrain, general snow conditions etc BEFORE they even leave home. If you don't think you have time to dig a pit for just one run, you shouldn't be there in the first place. Agree with Toque, even a bad day in the backcountry beats an excellent in bounds day. The peace and beauty are worth it alone.

Wish I could say I was up there but alas I'm a good long ferry ride south. Hopefully sometime this winter I'll get up there.

Sorry not Japan related but I see many people are still in the states so here's one for them... http://backcountryalliance.org/

Sore knees? Start telemarking! Seriously! The work you need to do to telemark actually strengthens your knees. But you need to remember to be in fairly good condition before you hit the slopes. I'm 33 and while I'm not in the same shape I was in Colorado, I can still get out there no problem. The key is just to stay in shape doing other things and don't push it early in the year if you haven't been on your board(s) much yet. It definitely takes longer to recover and get warmed up but that's half the fun as well. But that said, one of the best tele skiers I know is my British friend who

I've got both really, one for "work" and one for play. Play is plastic lifelink and work is Voile aluminum extreme. I don't like the BCA combo shovel. It's too heavy and cumbersome and the probe inside is too small. Shovelling through avy debris is exactly like concrete, it's next to impossible to dig in. Aluminum I much prefer to use but not to carry. The life Link blades are lexan which are really hard to break but they do break. I'd say the best advice is to take as many avy classes as you can and practice reading the snow so you can avoid ever needing your shovel to dig anyone out.

Maybe if there were less "resorts" there'd be better skiing? Wait, I guess not, the land would be bought up, sectioned off and made into a dump, or pachinko parlor or something. I think less "resorts" would be a good thing if they left the mountain as it was-no cutting down trees, building base lodges, etc. Learn to ski how it was meant to be-in the quiet backcountry. Free yourselves from the resorts!

For most people that's too high to ski but not for the Bolivians, if they can afford to. I'm sure they have better things to do most of the time though. 14,000 feet isn't too high either, there's plenty of places in Colorado to ski from that height if you don't mind climbing to get there.

Fatter=shorter for sure. Alpines vs dedicated teles are a matter of debate but for sure alpines are much stiffer and heavier and can usually only be thrown around with big boots. Many crossovers from the alpine world prefer them beacause they are used to the flex pattern and just the way the feel. but for most people they have to be used with BIG boots. This would be just like taking your apline boots and cripming the toes and making them flex a little. Alpine skis can usually take more abuse but there are plenty of new tele's out there that can take the same and perform much better than

All good beacons. I've used them all at one point and although they are all a bit different, if you know how to use a beacon, they are all fairly easy to learn. Our team uses mainly Ortovox as we get pro deals on them but BCAccess has been selling tons of theirs due to it's ease of use. Just remember that the point is that you never should have to use them if you are smart enough to stay away from danger in the first place. If you have to use one, most likely you didn't do your homework. Also if you have to use one, there's a very high probabiliy that it wil be a body recovery and not a r

I refuse to buy North Face. Worst gear I've owned (and I've owned alot) But it all depends on what you need it for. Columbia is alright if your life doesn't depend on it. Lowe Alpine make great stuff if you can find it outside of the US/Canada. I love Montbell stuff. Mainly because I could get it cheap at the North American HQ in my hometown of Boulder, CO. But, it's very light and you have to be careful to not rip it. As far as ski clothing go, Arcteyx make excellent gear, if you don't need that downpayment for the house that is. Marmot, Mountain Hardware as well. And then there's my

I remember BMX Bandit's! She was a chubby little kid back then. I saw The Others too and thought it was ok, I did figure out exactly what the plot was in about 5 minutes but it was ok. She's a good actress, but I don't think she's hot per se. I can't stand Uma Thurmond or Kylie. Neither does anything for me talent wise or otherwise.

Oh yeah, I wasn't talking falling off the lift while in the middle of the ride or anything, just getting on and off. I've never seen anyone fall off a lift in the 17 years I've been skiing. You usually try to hang on and end up losing it anyway. Just go down with the ship when it goes. And it is EXPECTED to laugh at whoever falls off the chair. But there's no reason to get angry at them. It's funny for sure but no reason to get angry. Just get out there and have fun. If you're not having fun, there's no reason to be there is there?

It's an old classical song remake but I can't remember the name, I used to be able to play it on guitar but couldn't be bothered to practice anymore.

Yeah, I think falling off the lift is the key to a successful first (or second or 4,388th time) It's great fun and entertaining as hell for the everyone watching. Yes, I've done it. I laughed my ass off as this wasn't when I was learning. This was only a few years ago. Great fun I tell you.

Ray, I'm all for helmets, I'm just saying that wearing one shouldn't give you any more courage that you think you are more invincible than you really are. It's a false sense of well being that I think can work against you. Oh and trees, yes, another good reason for wearing one. I've lost my share of hats (and the hair that went with them) in the trees.

Yup, I've got a few from my BOE that are nice. I can't read kanji worth a damn but reading topo is the same. Thanks again. Now if someone could find my damn beacon and ship it to me I'd be golden.

Good to see more Tele skiers anywhere. I'd say you take what you can get anywhere. I haven't met any other Tele skiers near me, well accept one really. I haven't been out yet this year either as my skis wouldn't ship and I just ordered some new ones. I've got a truck here so I'd be willing to drive as well. As far as places to go though? I'm at a loss as well. I've asked around but nobody can tell me anywhere. So it's back to the old way, find a place that looks good and do some research. I'm looking around here and it looks good in some places but I haven't found any topo maps yet no

Always wear knee pads after a close brush with a decapitating stump. Thinking about hip and ass pads as well but mostly for area skiing and sitting on my ass on the chairs.

Easy fix, trash the PC and get a Mac! Finished and no more problems...

Slow...don't shave your eyebrows, just don't do it. Leave them be! They won't be big and bushy but most of all just to be different than other japanese girls. Natural faces are beautiful. And there's also no need to shave arms, face or anything other than legs and under arms and...well...frankly between your legs a bit. Big bushes are definitely out!

I've never been to Roger's Pass but I have heard many great stories from there. We've got Red Mountain pass in Colorado that's like that. The lifeline of the plow drivers isn't very long there. Gorgeous country though with great lines everywhere. I've seen so many stupid people in the backcountry it never ceases to amaze me. But then again, I've seen some really smart people as well who still get caught. It's like building a house and forgetting a beam here and a nail there. You can finish the house and it may look ok but a little snow on the roof will collapse it. If only you had put

I wouldn't wear a helmet if you think that it will allow you to go bigger or faster or whatever. If you can't do it without one, you shouldn't be doing it WITH one. That said, I wear a helmet not because I'm worried about me hurting myself (I do that anyways) but that I'm worried about all the other crazy people out there. If an accident is going to happen, it's not going to be my fault but at that point it isn't going to matter. I think you should wear one just because it's safe, and comfortable, and yes, I think it looks cool not to mention smart. But don't think you'll be any better wi

I-pod..there is no substitute...ok, actually there are many. the battery is a bit of an issue for heavy users like myself. The reason it's so much to replace is that it's not user replaceable. Still, though performance, sound and design wise, it's still the winner...IMHO. Upgrade of line in/stereo mic would be nice though. They could upgrade it record stereo without the addition of an D/A converter via emulation software but thus it wouldn't be true stereo but emulated. Still love the little thing though. Just don't drop it!

Oh yeah, backcountry-short sleeve polypro, longsleeve pp over that, maybe windbreaker or vest if it's really cold. Full zip pants, light hat. Also bring midweight fleece, full light down puffy jacket for emergency bivy and nights, fleece pants, extra socks even for day trips. Thick fleece or wool hat (I love wool!) extra mittens, lots of sunscreen, skin cream, and my kneepads-all it takes is one shot and I'm not coming back!