cayote

Any serious player knows that birds who claim to be sexy are just trying to COMPENSATE for a being as good as a sack of spuds. It's the slightly reserved yet TWITCHY ones that have truly dynamic love muscles and GO OFF LIKE FIRECRACKERS. So keep your sexy, echineko, wannabe teasers, and I'll be scouting the 24 karat gold octopussy as usual.

Are you up for it? (maybe?) OK - there's another throw away, senseless line that's used to oblivion, though, that's part of the point, isn't it. Given that humans are not like baboons and don't go around sporting swollen red arses when they are in season, perhaps some subtle way of announcing that one would perhaps not be disagreeable to the company of a like-minded stranger on a lift ride is required. Suggestions??? I don't know? Perhaps, people could loiter around a bit before getting on their next lift. My uni students who have keitai with IR ports for exchangi

That wouldn't have anything to do with the snow depth for Kagura (reported on this site) having been STUCK on 240 cm for the past week - would it???

Avalanche trainining courses - dragging wearers of transcievers out in body bags This article is a sobering read for anyone going BC! Any recommendations for NON AVALANCHE RISK BC AREAS???

Well, a mens' day would be FAIR as long as the men wore as much cosmetics and long snow-soaked hair as the ladies. Don't you get it, MAN? As long as nice guys are prepared to tart themselves up like George and Andy from Wham's "Last Xmas" (big, bleached-highlighted hair, lippy, dayglo skiwear, and generally being a faggot) they probably WOULD QUALIFY for a ladies' discount! If that's you, then hey, you'll need the money you save on discounted lift passes and a whole lot more just to pay for your big hair dos and fluro sweatbands.

Most people, after a bit of Gitmo-style, freedom-loving hospitality, would be unable to PROVE THAT THEY DON'T have any improper, unspecified thoughts. Remember - no one expects the Spanish Inquisition!

Snow seems to be about as reliable as most natural phenomena. Pity people counting on going in groups - you know it just multiplies problems to the power of N (N=the number of individuals). You snowcamp - the oyuki tries to crush the tent and EVERYTHING freezes solid, driving snow stings your cheeks, though the snow under the board is SUPERB - gotta be grateful - the attitude is gratitude!

Snowcamping - have you ever thought about it? Sure - it can be like a frozen version of hell - and inexperienced campmates might wander around wearing just socks in oyuki during the night - though if you've got the right gear, know-how, and visit onsen, it can be a really satisfying break from yuppiedoom.

There's nothing like spending a night in a tent belting the snow off the roof from the inside to stop it collapsing under the weight of a TRULY BIG DUMP falling bomb-like from sugi trees (WHOOSH - THUD!!!) - New Year's Eve - Kagura. Watching one's breath form flakes of ice on the inside walls is fun too. Actually, the -10C bag night wasn't too bad. Not 'enjoyable for the whole family', though satisfyingly extreme in a way. I am either in a state when I should go snowcamping or in a state when I should stop going snowcamping. beep! beep!

Osprey Ceres 50 Anyone used it to carry either gear in the mountains or a snowboard? I am wondering if the loops on the bottom of the pack are big enough for a 3 man tent (sierra Designs Alpha). As an extra - what's the big deal with Camelbacks etc when drinking water inevitably leads to PISS STOPS anyway! - please excuse my ignorance.

Critical Mass of Party People!!! IMHO having a critical mass of party people is the KEY. Therefore, let's RALLY to the same places at the same times!!! Suggestion - the Canadian Log House restaurant/bar near the Kagura ropeway - New Year's Eve

F$$K....that's all there is..... just shows that you may as well snowcamp and see what being able to do your own thing in the snow feels like..... In most places in the world, strangers (people you haven't met yet) engaged in leisure is sure to start social good times..... Here, as we know.....it just makes people feel uncomfortable and less inclined to do anything unproscribed that might cause embarrassment or might disturb others by being spontaneous....or might lead to loss of public dignity (face)!!! Now, in Europe, why would some bars BAN SWEDES...and just let them buc

Thanks for your comments. BCOASIS - what was your sleeping bag's rating? How did you access the Kagura BC - snow shoe? What do Kagura staff think about people camping above the highest lift? I don't have snow shoes. I ordered a -29C Marmot Col bag online, though the shop screwed up and sent out a -18C Marmot Couloir bag that they offered to me at cost.

Yesss - I've done it before around Kagura, Yuzawa and Minakami. Last winter, a 5C-rated bag didn't keep me warm, so I got the ACME company (Moosejaw) to send me a -18C-rated bag. There seems to be plenty of SCEPTICISM out there from you 'snow hounds'. With good gear and skills, I believe that snow camping is a comfortable and thrilling experience of the alpine environment - outside of the ski resort 'theme parks'. Considering how long it takes to get to the top of Kagura - for example - it could be great to get an early start and put in the FIRST lines down the mountain in

This winter, I want to snow camp and be really comfortable. So, I've purchased Gore-Tex shells, insulation, -18C sleeping bag, Thermarest, Sierra Designs Alpha CD, and a MSR Dragonfly stove - gear good enough for Everest Base Camp. Has anyone camped up on a resort mountain overnight? Any recommendations around Minakami, Kagura or Naeba?

Anyone at Kagura recently or going on Sunday or Monday please let me know. Anyhow, it looks like reasonable camping weather. I'll probably try Tuesday and Wednesday. msrtrek@yahoo.com

What do you think the SNOW will be like at Kagura during Golden Week? Is it worth paying for the Shink from Tokyo? I'd like to camp AGAIN and do 3 half day sessions.

Can anyone comment on the relative snowboarding merits of Tanigawadake and Kagura during Golden Week this year? I went to Kagura mid-March, and the lower runs were becoming a bit slushy by 2PM. I haven't been to Tanigawadake - it would be a shorter trip for me.

In my case, snowcamping adds another dimension to alpine sports. At present, my pack weighs about 12 kg total including stove, fuel and food, so I setup near the skijo and avoid hiking far. People's tolerance to cold varies greatly - some people I know wear T-shirts around when others are all bundled up. For people like me who feel the cold (and spent years sailing along the Great Barrier Reef) the HOPE is that outdoor technology will progress to the point that weight can be at least halved. It's almost possible now - IF you can afford to pay STAGGERING prices. I experien

Jared, and others interested in snowcamping, Having the right equipment and setup for the conditions you'll encounter will make the difference between seriously fatiguing sleepless cold nights and waking up refreshed and ready for another day. Check List: Four-season/convertible tent Conservatively rate sleeping bag Therma-Rest self inflating mat Ridge-Rest base mat Gore-Tex jacket, pants and gloves Fleece mid layer (Polartec) Wicking tech underwear Smartwool expedition socks Balaclava Be carefull with ventilation - leave gaps at t

Let's pause for a moment to WONDER what it would be like to have lifts (quad gondals please) on Mt. Fuji. Leave it to Aussies and there would be a casino hotel resort and people doing loops around the mountain on the way down. Easy access from Tokyo and a LONG season! Now, that would put Japan on the world tourism map. (My apologies to mountain spirits.)

Actually, the Western beer drinkers "AAaaah" translates as YuuSSHH!!! in Japanese - much more MACHO ne!

Geography anyone? Sitting up there on the hill for a while - it's not hard to notice that this is a Land-of-Misty-Valleys. Actually, about 40% of males in Tokyo suffer from 'Tokyo Bowel Syndrome' mainly due to the stress of encountering so many strangers - something that would not of happened in their mountain valley home towns or villages. Foreigners - you know - beings not from the same village or town or valley or island - well they might as well be from outer space or the 5th dimension or something.

Ditto ski and board graphics!!! So when are we going to have slopes covered with white clad snow sliders riding white skids??? That woould show the world you have real cojones!

Nightas can be convenient - I used the JR Seishun 18 ticket (slow boat) to go from Zushi to Iwa-parra, taking 6 hours to arrive at 5PM. The nighta enabled me to do a practice session and experience heavy powder falls in COLD conditions with glimpses of the moon and stars - surreal! (Sunday March 7) After an onsen and a late night bar session, I crashed in the waiting/sleeping rooms from 1 AM, had a 600 yen breakfast buffet, and was ready to start a new day.