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That was fully sick, with a massive subwoofer mate! Much more impressive than Shane McConkey and JT Holmes base skiing off the Eiger in Matchstick's "Yearbook".

It's a classic Japanese game show, where a large number of contestants have to complete a series of physical challenges until they are eliminated down to the last person. The Americans took it and dubbed some very bad translation over it, and cut out a lot of the content, calling it Most Extreme Elimination (MXC), which is very funny, but I'd like to see it in its original format, if I can get the chance. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeshi%27s_Castle

I hope the Greek dubbing added the same humourous touches to the dialogue, it cracks me up I'm sure the original was never as funny...

Anyone know if any Japanese TV stations are running reruns of Takeshi's Castle? I've been watching MXC on Channel V here in Oz, and would love to see the original program, without the (very funny and not entirely accurate) English dubbing when I get to Hakuba in January.

Maybe "dickheads" was a bit strong... "idiots" is more appropriate

So they are dickheads... hands up everyone who was surprised by that They are paid for what they do on their skis, not how they behave around a campfire.

Cranbrook is pretty reliable, Castlegar (aka "Cancelgar") is a different matter...

And fly into Cranbrook. The trip from Calgary can be a horror, if the roads close. We had to detour through Banff one year on a coach, with an 18 month-old child in our group - 8 hour trip from Calgary!

Skip Kimberley, ride Fernie!

Long post (yes it took me 8 days to read it), but it was worth it just to see the mathematical equation converting percent slope to degrees. Very elegant. Thanks db I would have to say, though, that on the topic of risk, that we are not rolling dice here, and every conscious decision loads the odds, but not necesarily in your favour. There can be good or bad decisions made in any given situation (see thread "Have you been lost in a white-out?"). No more math, please.

The topo maps on the software are excellent, and based on the same maps as in the "Color topo maps" post in this forum. Comes up reasonably well on the GPS unit, but screen size/resolution might be a problem (not sure as I haven't taken it out in the field yet). You may be better off getting the Etrex Summit (which is a LOT cheaper than the Vista C), and carry hard copies of the maps for reference. Both units feature an altimeter and compass.

Niseko is not that steep... but steep enough for me in the trees off Hanazono and to far skier's right of the Gondola (on the edge of the "No Go" zone, but not a big area available, and gets tracked out early. La Ponte has a few spots in the trees too. How steep you need?

I know there are buses direct from Niseko to Chitose (a direct route, not via Sapporo), I got one a couple of years ago, but I was on a later flight, ~1pm. Your hosts in Niseko should know the timetables, I'm sure there would be an early bus to get you there on time. Road delays are not common, the Japanese are very efficient at keeping them open in whatever conditions.

Bring plenty of cash... (just in case the message did't get through), but a credit card can still come in handy, use it when you can.

We're on to that one Pascal. It's a new site, and you'll find TJ OZ's hotel on it (I won't say which one... ) Nearly everyone has broadband now, it was much less of a challenge than Phool thought at first.

I wouldn't advise a first timer to go into the pow, regardless of ski length. It would be too frustrating for him. That's why the good lord gave us groomers.

Are we talking some kind of Snow Japan record for thread posts?

The "rules" are OK for those who already ski, for a beginner, the shorter, the easier. And rent, don't buy. And stay out of the powder, at least for the first couple of days...

Montoya, I think we'd all agree that "backcountry" refers to non-lift accessed terrain, not "under the ropes" in-bounds. I like your definition of risk. The consequences of a bad outcome have to influence your judgement regarding a particular course of action. Take the choice between a 5% risk of dying, and a 20% chance of non-fatal major injury, or an 70% chance of a minor injury. I'd take option C. Rag-Doll, but if the coin is weighted so that it only lands tails 1% of the time, the chance that you will throw 10 or 50 or 100 heads in a row is very good... If you think there is a 50-50 c

I got the same translation in WorldLingo.. you think they've got the same monkey leashed to a typewriter?

Who is Veronica, and why in the blue blazes does she want to hear a song by Bananarama?!?! I'd rather take my chances with the avalanche...

So many factors, and what is the baseline risk? Is it 1%, 5%, 10% or 0.001%? Considering the number of skiers/riders who put themselves in harm's way each season, the odds are pretty good that you will be fine. Still, don't come crying to me when it all goes pear-shaped. You control your own destiny, and you don't want to be filling your head up with statistics and probability theory right before you take a cornice onto a 50 degree couloir 6 feet wide.

I got the gist of it. We will drive as slowly as we need to for safety, and show due consideration to those sharing the road with us. If only everyone thought the same way, what a wonderful world this would be...

You use an online translator for that? Hope it was free of charge...

Thanks for the heads-up on the black ice hotspots, FT.