torihada
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Posts posted by torihada
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I had my first BC experience (and so far only BC experience
) with Canyons at Kagura. You can read about it here: Canyons BC trip report They were great and a good part of the two day trip was learning about the dangers off the piste. I wouldn't ride out there without BC gear? To hike above Kagura you have to fill out a form with ski patrol (correct me if I'm wrong). If you want to get some BC experience, go with Canyons. They'll show you exactly how to ride safely off piste, and then try to drown you in chest high powder
Aso their lodge at Minakami is excellent and the guides there are pretty chilled. -
I spent a day at Europes biggest (longest) indoor ski slope near Maastricht in the Netherlands. I spent the day practising to ride switch. Other than that the only plus for me was I got out of Maastricht for the day. I suppose they're good if you want ride the rails or learn.
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I was in Stockholm and a Swede was telling me about how an early snowfall caught everyone out. No one had snowtyres on and Stockholm was littered with abandoned cars. Their half hour drive home took 3 hours and they only managed that because they were in a 4x4. I have always had snowtyres in Japan in winter. Mainly because in northern Tohoku you'd be mad not to have them. I was driving in the mountains in Akita through heavy falling snow in a 4 x 4 with snowtyres and at one point I contemplated putting on the snowchains. So if you're going to a ski resort & you're driving you'd be mad not to use snowtyres.
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We only drink Earl Grey at home (Twinings), we drink ocha sometimes - usually when having daifuku or such like. I drink 'brown tea' (tetleys, PG etc) at work but have it with sugar otherwise its undrinkable as the tap water in central London is foul.In Japan I enjoy ocha but father in law's tea is so bitter it makes my toes curl so I only drink the first 'quick' brew. Up until 10 yrs ago I only ever drank strong fresh coffee, but Mrs T has converted me to tea.....so there you go, Japanese converts Igirisujin to ko-cha. Rightio I'm off for a cuppa.........
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If I hadn't paid for my air tickets I would seriously think about cancelling. I suggested some drastic economies to Mrs T (our expenses are not too bad as accomodation is provided by family) such as cancelling 4 days staying at a resort, cut back on the onsen & eating out. But as she said we've gone to all that expense to get there its crazy not to enjoy yourself. But I'll definitely not be buying hot coffee from the vending machine, which is a pity.
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Originally Posted By: grungy-gonadsNo offence taken. Asked a few places. Banks and the post office offered exactly the same rate. Would be most welcome to hear where I can get much better. Not so fussed, it's done now and no time to mess about.
Look at what you would have got 10 days ago, 160 is pretty good. "Its never too early to take a profit"
From BBC website today:
"Earlier on Monday the Group of Seven (G7) industrialised nations issued a statement warning that the strength of the yen was a threat to economic stability, which was taken as a threat of co-ordinated action to reduce the value of the currency.
While the yen briefly weakened, it soon climbed back towards Friday's 13-year high against the dollar.
The yen has been strengthening as a result of the end of the carry trade, in which traders borrowed the Japanese currency and used it to buy currencies with higher interest rates.
As the difference between Japanese rates and those elsewhere in the world has fallen, traders have been unwinding the carry trade, which means they have been using other currencies to buy yen, which has boosted the Japanese currency."
I just hope the Yen's topped out. I've just realised if enough ex pats in Japan start sending money back (ie selling Yen buying sterling) sterling will strengthen, so come on all you Brit SJers raid the Yen piggy banks and send it all back to Blighty
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Jeez at this rate I'm seriously going to have consider what I'm going to have to cut back on my trip. My 3 week car rental has jumped by from £700 to £980. If I hadn't bought my air tickets I would cancel the trip.
I think I'm going to spend 3 weeks clearing snow from the inlaws roof and drinking ocha. My accomodation at Appi no longer seems like such a good deal. If the AUS $ is taking a similar beating Niseko's going to be a little quieter this season. Question is do I go and buy some yen now or pray the pound will strengthen a little. Wish I'd bought at 175 now. Regrets eh! -
Originally Posted By: Go NativeOriginally Posted By: MamabearKids learn from thier parents.
I guess in England since they seem to have such high teenage pregnancy rates they reckon leaving the sex ed until they are teenagers is leaving it just a little too late.
I think its because we Brits are so hung up about talking about sex. We told our kids about sex when they were about 5 & 7 because they asked. That was easy compared to explaining artificial insemination - 2 gay friends had a child. If you arm you're kids with knowledge it'll help them to make informed decisions, may not be the correct decisions but at least they should have some ideas of the consequences of that decision. As lots of kids don't get any info from home I think there should be frank and liberal discussions about sex at school, and contraception advice from about 11 yrs onwards. -
There are quite a few speed cameras around here. Don't tell anyone but I have a unique solution (hushed voice)....... I stick to the speed limit.
If you want sneaky speed cameras drive on the French auto routes. They're very hard to spot and by the time you see them its too late because,I think, they clock you as you approach them.
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The reason the £ has taken a beating is due to sterlings perceived strengths and the bedrock of that are financial institutions (the City) and the housing sector so people have been getting shot of sterling as they're down the toilet. The pound has been further undermined by a cut in interest rates and the Bank of England's gloomy prediction of recession yesterday which points towards further interest rate cuts. So I think rather than the Yen being strong its the other currencies being weak. Some believe the Yen will stay strong until the end of 08 at least, or rather the £ is fecked until god knows when. I'll mainly be eating cup noodle on my trip and not visiting so many onsen.
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Its where the in-laws live. I did get to visit Kagura for some BC for two days when visiting other 'southern' relatives in Gunma. I only started snowboarding (four years ago) as it was something to do when visiting snowbound Akita. Its only 15 mins drive to a small ski-jo from father-in-law's house. Its tame, but very quiet and you can board from 9am - 9 pm. Great for the kids. We're close to Tazawako, and are spending 4 days at Appi. Having a car lets us visit numerous hills in Akita/Yamagata/Iwate.
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How you going to get around Tohoku? I just booked a car for my trip, with racks and snow tyres from Narita. For four of us definitely works out cheaper than Shinkansen and obviously makes it much more convenient.
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On my biannual visit to northern Tohuku:
4 seasons ago (first snow trip) no snow for first 4 days and local ski-jo closed (until approx 25 Dec) Then it snowed for 3 weeks.
2 seasons ago. Noooo snow until about New Year and very warm. Boarding on gravel at one point.
Local ski-jo stayed shut for duration of trip. Did get some fresh falls in first week of Jan at Appi.This season? Hopefully 3rd time lucky.Or I'm jinxed and every two years I bring warm wet weather.
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I was staying at Canyons in Minakami and they have their own onsen on site. I and a couple of Aussie guides prceeded to cool off by jumping out of the window (ground floor) and running around in the snow. We then egged each other on to do more stupid things; sit ups in snow, snow ball fight, sitting in a stream and finally I stood under a fir tree and attempted to shake a snow shower; unfortunately a big lump of snow melt/ice crashed onto my head. God knows what the locals thought if they saw 3 gaijins running around naked near the river.
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Any plans on your Tohoku trip? I bought air tickets last week ( and just booked four nights at Appi at beginning of Jan. Since have watched the pound nose dive against the Yen.
GULP. -
Originally Posted By: Kumapixgood job tsonda!
is Torihada still around? Haven't heard from him since the start of last winter.
Hi Kuma et all. I'm still around, just not local and unfortunately can't afford a trip to Japan this season. I've been redirecting my Snowborading otaku energy to mountainbiking. Great news about the photo comp but sadly I am unable to use the passes. The SnowGods are dangling all of these temptations in front of me (European Alp resorts already open) but its no snowfun for me this season :-( Which is tragic, especially as my kids really took to skiing in Japan last winter. So have fun and hopefully better conditions this season (I'm still removing the gravel from my sintered base) I'll lurk but reading all your snowy exploits just makes me sooooo jealous. ;-) -
14-ML-5585-ML-
This topic has been moved to the Trip Reports Forums section
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Ger; I saw ianbc's tr. I don't think we should even discuss that level of bc here,
that was extreme.Yes SJA, even setting my bindings as far back as possible, it was a real problem getting used to riding on my back foot. Also with the extra weight of the pack and gear you sink even further. Speed's the answer, but I kept chickening out, especially in the trees. But even the snowshoeing was great. Getting out of the resort and up the mountain is the best bit. I'll definitely do it again.
Yeah go for it Thunderpants; just practice poaching powder in resort. I should've got under the lifts but I tend to be very cautious.
Go for it slow, if I can do it anyone can. The J-girl boarder we met on the second day was an awesome powder rider and was very encouraging to me. Actually all the riders were cool, helping me and generally having a great time.
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cheers y'all glad you like it. Kuma; new board was great on the ice and rocks in Akita. I kid you not. I was actualy gliding across gravel at one point. I also managed to ding it on an enormous rock at the edge of a piste.It holds its edge fantastically on ice and is fast. I was lucky with the snow eventually and even got some good conditions up at Appi.
Here's another photo of me (rather flattering, I look a lot better than I actually am)
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Thigh deep powder and blue skies. The guides came back with smiles on their face so it must have been good.
A good time had by all. This was a great experience for me and ideal as I tend to ride alone, so the chance to ride bc is seldom if ever. Mike from Canyons is evangelical in his desire to teach bc safety and this showed he was more than willing to educate people not touring with him. If you're an experienced powder rider then Mike would take you to places more extreme. But the assesment is made upon your ability and then the course choosen.
Hope this is of interest, especially anyone else thinking about trying their hand at bc.
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our trail breaks above the treeline at Kagura
Kagura, up among the trees on a beautiful sunny day
Our trail up to the summit of Kagura, looking towards Gunma
My kit; board, walking poles, snow shoes, shovel, probe in sac and beacon round my neck
Lunchtime at summit of Kagura. Over 2000 m. Lunch and table courtesy of Mike @ Canyons. Two boarders piggy backed the tour. Mike proceed to explain the results of the snowpit in English to me and in Japanese to the two boarders and a snowshoe guide who also joined the party.
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Here's my first bc experience. It's not in the bc & avalanche section as it's a bit tame for there and may have interest for people who'd like to try their hand at the bc for the first time;
I booked two nights accomodation and two days back country touring with Canyons who are based in Minakami, Gunma, on Jan 11th & 12th. The Alpine Lodge run by Canyons was comfortable and laid back (Japanese tatami rooms with and without bunks) cafe, bar, communal kichen and large male/female baths. First day we left Minakami at 8:00 am and drove to Kagura. My guide was Mike Harris (Canyons CEO) and trainee Japanese guide Haruo. We hiked from the top of the Kaguro lifts for about 30 mins. Up to this point Mike had been explaining the snow conditions, the danger signs, what he was looking for to indicate snow conditions etc. We then did approximately 30 mins beacon training. Which when timed was quite stressful and I managed a rather sedate time of 8 mins to find the beacon.
We then continued to hike. During this time Mike was continually pointing out signs to indicate the way snow had fallen recently, its implications, also looking for signs of avalanche, plus questions to me about what degree of slope I thought an avalanche could start on etc. This was great and would certainly please spud. Visibility was ok for boarding and hiking, but no great views. It snowed most of the time, so no complaints from me. We then found a spot to dig a snowpit. We used the probes to ascertains the depth of the snow and to get a feel for the different layers. What I thought was the earth/stones was in fact an ice layer which the probe passed through with pressure. I was amazed at the degree of sensitivity in the probe, in that you could get a feel for the different resisitance of the snow/ice as the the probe descended.
After digging the snowpit Mike gave a very detailed explanation of the different layers of snow, the different densities,quantifying their densities by using the scale of fist, four fingers, pen etc; Softest - you can press your fist in, harder - four fingers - you can press in four fingers extended, harder -pen - you can push a pen in. Any way he took temp readings, depth measurements of each different layer, did a burp test and a compression test on a free standing column of snow, and it was decided it was safe to ride.
Mike and Haruo in the snowpit on the second day.
After hot soup and sandwiches all home made and coutesy of Canyons we set out to ride some powder. Not only was this my first bc snowboarding experience, it was also the first time I'd ridden powder. This was about thigh deep and I proceeded to dive in headfirst, literally. I was on a beginners tour, so nothing extreme and I spent quite a while bootpacking as I tried to get my head around riding on my back foot.
Me on my arse again with guide sailing through the powder.
When we rode the slopes Mike pointed out the danger areas, safe routes to head for. Haruo would go first and show me a safe point to head for, I would follow and when I reached the first guide, the second would follow up.
A rather rare event; me upright in the powder.
Woosh, I'm in the powder, before the customary face plant.
The rest of the first day was spent hiking and riding before poaching some powder in Kagura, or rather I did my best to rag doll through most of the resorts remaining powder. Back to Minakami for a hot soak in the bath.
The second day we came back to Kagura, which was perfect for my level of boarding in powder. The conditions were fantastic. We hiked to the summit of Kagura at plus 2000m and cut some beautiful lines. I let the photos speak for themselves;
Among the trees
Hiking at Kagura behind the bc guide Mike. We are heading for the highest point in the picture in the top right of the photo, where we will eventually board/ski down. You can already see (faintly) two fresh lines snaking down the mountain side
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メリー クリスマス。
Don't work too hard.
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We had our Christmas dinner (for 13) yesterday as we're flying on 25th;
Lamb rogan josh
chicken korma
chickpea diapiaza
veg curry
cucumber riatha
nan breads
stewed blackberry & apple with lemon sorbet
all home made and a welcome respite from turkey. This is going to be our new tradition.
to enjoy the rain 
Unlimited use ETC cards for 1000 yen
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
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are the weekend ETC cards valid north of Newcastle?
Serious point though.....as a visitor would I be able to get one? I'll be doing some serious mileage on the toll roads in Dec/Jan. Where do you normally buy your ETC cards? Can you nip into a Lawson/7-11 and buy one? Last time I just paid for each journey at the toll booth.