[climbing in Japan]

Getting to the time of year where i put away the skis and slip into some nice, tight climbing shoes... anyone know of sites similar to this for climbing?

[Is Japanese bigotry pervasive against gaijin?]

the nly trouble I:ve had is the complete lack of decency towards people carrying heavy things... Everytime I find myeslf being sent to a new location with heavy pack and skis in tow, people will go out of their way to shut doors in my face. One guys actually sent me flying back on a train without so much as a sumimasen. rgh. but other than that, I:ve only ever had kindness.

M

[Are we heading for some avo fatalities?]

I definitely agree taht`s it:s not just a Japan problem... I always run into people in BC who don:t have a clue what they`re doing but are out there anyway. Scary. In Bc the avalanche deaths last year were so high it was awful, and some say taht it:s because of climactic change that even people with experience are havinga tougher time predicting the whens and wheres. Taking an avi course is always the best way for individual enlightenment. Will also put a bit of fear in you, which never hurts.

[resorts vs backcountry]

Being pretty new to teles I`ve just generally thought I sucked, but now that I:ve been going without the monster packs and doing the resort skiing, man, It`s so easy...

to bad it means that your not in the middle of nowhere with no one around but a couple of friends and unending mountains. hmm. wish there were a middle ground.

[snow camping]

Just thinking last night about how mcuh I miss snow camping... snowcaves are the bomb, too! woke up in the night a little disoriented and thought my fellow cave-dwellers had played a joke on me and my ex, as a new wall had been built at my feet. figured they`d dig us out in the morning. Turned out I was just a little disoriented and the cave opening was at my head... strange night.

[Hokkaido telemarkers - where R U?]

I`ve just applied for a transfer, so I@ll let you know when I get up there.

M

[stupid street sprayers!!!!!]

What`s with all the street sprayers that are supposed to melt snow but only succeed in soaking you on the way to work? Are they everywhere in Japan? Did nobady here ever notice that they only turn the streets to either slush or ice? Was it an expensive idea that they can`t get rid of now because it cost too much to install? Rgh.

[finding accomodation]

so, here`s a question... I have many days off coming up but not much cash... what`s the cheapest way to stay around the mountains? Or in the mountains... is there a hut guide to Japan? how are the huts here organized?

M

[Question to skiers - molded (?) boots]

a few of my friends skiied from Vancouver to alaska in those and they went on and on about them. Apparently they are the bomb.

[The coldest you've ever experienced?]

We used to get below forty when I was a kid (Northern Ontario), and then we finally got snowdays. Mainly because a 5 year-old wakling to school in -40 weather is never a good idea. Even with those huge snowsuits. Plus, because of those stupid snowsuits if you fell you could nenver get back up again. but the worst day was -47. Not including windchill. It stayed around that for a week.

[quick poll: Skiers and Snowboarders...]

used to be a regular skier, now I:m into teles.

[Kagura]

Yeah, I:m heading up on Friday... first time skiingin Japan! I*m soooo excited!!!!

[Helmets - again]

can you use a mountaineering helmet for skiing?

[ski advice needed.]

I:m more into the out-of bounds stuff, though I don:t have a beacon until next paycheck, ... and I don:t have a buddy, but I:m sure that would be ammended by just getting out on the slopes... but why is in bounds not worth it?

hey, and do they have anything against you skinning up areas here?

[Japanese music it's ok to like...]

Is Puffy, Puffy Ami Yumi?

[GIRLS???]

yeah, I guess I should add myself to this list... I am indeed a girl. woohoo! giggle

[ski advice needed.]

Howdy toque.

I`m Ontario born, and in denial. Grew up in a village of a hundred people, moved around the world a bit, and wound up at UBC. Now I tend to say that`s where I`m from because that`s where I feel is my home.

[ski advice needed.]

yeah, I:m out on the beacon, too. I normally just use one of my friends`... but I guess that`s a bit harder to do when they are so far away.

And no worries Miteyak... I:ve tend to take an avi-course every year.

[How much snow does Whistler get?]

This is supposed to be one of the best ski year in BC in the last ten years... really beautiful powder everywhere is what I keep hearing from my friends.

[ski advice needed.]

Thisis one of those topics that have probably been answered a thousnad times, but I:m new so bear with me.

I`m a telemarker who would love to get into the backcountry, but not alone. How do you meet otehr teliers?

Next... I:m thinking of buying a pass to Kagura... I haven:t been skiing anywhere here yet, so I don:t know if that`s a good Idea, or if you can even buy a pass there.

And what`s a good way of getting around? Just trains or is there a friendly car-pooling thing happening in Japan? I used to always just hitch-hike to whislter because everyone going that way had space for skis, but I don:t know about that in Japan.

any advice?

I:m living in Nagaoka... near Niigata

[Kagura]

I`m thinking of getting a pass there... is it pretty decent? Ihave no idea about this skipass in Japan thing. the closest thing i ever had to a pass was at whistler, and then only because we had a huge student discount. but is it easy to get there and away?