SnowConnection
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A BC TR of Hakuba Norikura (Tsugaike) dated Dec 16:
http://w1.avis.ne.jp/~ktsukada/hakubanorikura/2006_12_16/hakunori2006_12_16.htm
I do not know who the reporter is.
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Here is an update report dated Dec 5.
http://mt-sea.plala.jp/mt/result/ski/2006/1206Kagura/20061206Kaguramine.html
PS. I found the report in web search. I do not know about the writer.
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They returned to the ropeway satation on Dec 4th 08:50 am.
http://www.mainichi-msn.co.jp/today/news/20061204k0000e040070000c.html
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http://blog.princehotels.co.jp/ski/kagura/
Only a 600m course has open.
http://220.111.37.209/upimages/kamakura/2006122182315.jpg
On Dec. 2, it seemed not to be crowded.
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I do not know about Furano at all.
Web tells following guides.
1. Backcountry Powder Tracks has Chuck Olbery who works at Furano in winter, and at Methven NZ in summer.
http://www.b-powdertracks.com/indexeng.htm
http://www.alpineguides.co.nz/profile/c_olbery.htm
2. Hokkaido Adventure Tours has two Japanese guides. I am not sure if they can speak English. The HP is no English. E-mail is hat4000@gamma.ocn.ne.jp.
http://www.hokkaido-adventures.com/snowpage-bc.htm
hope for your helps.
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I stayed at Raicho-sou lodge from Nov 22 afternoon thru Nov 24 morning.
Murodo area had much rain on Nov 20. It made 100-150cm snow powder into stiff with rain trenches. I saw no snow falling. It was cloudy on Nov 22 afternoon. It was a fine day on Nov.23. The sun made the stiff snow be soft by noon. I climbed up Raicho-zawa by ski boot without crumpons which I did not have but strongly required. I skied down to Tsurugi-sawa very good condition, and skined up to Tsurugi-Gozen. When back to Raicho-sou lodge, Raicho-sawa was somewhat icy at the topmost part, hard packed at the upper part, and soft/comfortable at the middle/lower parts. Many BC skiers/snowboarders came Nov.23 afternoon, and the rain trenches were scraped out on the slope in front of Rahicho-sou hut. It was fine on Nov.24. I left Murodo around noon without enjoy BC skiing before the sun made the icy snow be soften.
You may have to bring boot crampons unless Murodo has new snow. Hotel Tateyama open untill Nov 30. The transportation operates untill Nov 30.
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I tell you a story. About 2 years ago, I found a famous commecial portal site which had a good list of oversea ski resorts. The site told please to put reader's comment. I put some comments on some "remote" ski resorts with my HP URL, because my HP had more helpfull travel info. Few days later, my comments were deleted because they seemed to judge my HP is a commercial one. Today, I checked the portal site who has still not have any info on those "reomote" ski resorts. It was un-happy for both the portal site and the readers, I beleive.
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This season, Canada, populality of heli-access lodge BC skiing is soaring. Bookings of all famous lodges have been mostly full for 2007. Even, they accept 2008 reservation. I am in a Feb waiting list of KMH who will tell me a result by Oct 1st week. I might see some room at GAH. If I can not find some, I might have to buy a great guide service who live in Castlgar.... But, it must be expensive. The life is headache.
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I went to "the" great Hakuba where I stayed at "a" nice inn and had delicous lunch at "a" restaurant. I was happy. Does it make sense ?
And, "an" internet cafe. (laugh)
Ref: http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/6951.html
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At first, I contacted VMT http://www.vmt.ca/ .
> The meeting place is Hills 1 1/2 hr drive from Nelson.
> The nearest B&B is in New Denver Sweet Dreams Guesthouse.
> We access the lodge with a snowcat 1 1/4 hr trip.
Snowcat seems to be good for an aged person. But, sorry, they are full booked for 2007 Feb.
I will check another.
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Most Japan TV news reported Kuchan land price increase in the morning. Most commentators are negative to the boom which would be one-time shot. Most referred to Yuzawa ski area where you can see many discounted rooms of condos built in Japan buble era in 1986 thru 1991. A differece is an Ausie investor(Hokkaido Tracks) to Japan investors.
Yahoo! Maps
Kuchan(=Niseko): http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?lat=42%2F53%2F...pointer=on&sc=8
Yuzawa : http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?lat=36%2F55%2F...pointer=on&sc=8
Hakuba : http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?lat=36%2F41%2F...pointer=on&sc=8
If you love snow quality, go to Niseko. If you love Onsen & rural, go to Yuzawa. If you love mountain landscape, go to Hakuba. Yuzawa is the nearest town to Tokyo among them.
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I went to a Ymir yurt, Nelson five years ago, when I was YOUNG. It was a tough journey to hike up/down on two passes to reach the yurt! So far, how shoud I do as a no-money & old person ???? Another problem is the location Nelson, which is far from Vancouver. Castlegar airport is called Cancel-ger, as you know.
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Thanks, Toque. Valhalla Lodge sounds good. I am interested in the on-foot access of the VMT lodge. I will check both. A big concern is that the foot-access is too hard for me. You may recommend me to have heli-access, right ? (laugh)
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Adv from Doghouse has good references. Has anyone been to the lodge of Valhalla Mountain Tourings, BC ?
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Check out this blog if you can read Japanese.
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When I visited Mt.Hood, Oregon, who had a big halfpipe, I found snowcats were making several small waveboards on a flat top of the other hill. The place had a restaurant, sunny, good sights, and cosy. It might be a kid park, then the waveboards were better moderate for me, a poor skill aged skier. If I'd had no appointment with my friend, I would spend for one hour there. If the place was located at the bottom of a hill near a resort gate, it would not tempt me.
I know US/Canada ski industry has different history/situation/circumstance to Japan. But, I suppose there would be many learning points/hints when watching their local operations "carefully" in US/Canada....
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MTB requires strength, power, and speed, ie. Youth, while young people pay thier money for cellphones and fashions. They say no thanks for sweaty activities. But, we see big demand for outdoors sports on job retirement phase of Japan baby boomers (Dankai no Sedai) comming. Their physical strength are weaken, but they afford to pay money for healthy outdoors. Note that they have already been scared of riding MTB.
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I am a BC skier who do not have right to comment about Park. I dare say Park needs management. It would be only 40% work to make (incld. maint.) facilities such as jump stages, rails, halfpipes, waveboardes, etc. 20% work is needed to provide auxiliary/temporary facilities/areas for beginners. 20% is required for education/school. 20% is required for promotion (advertising and festivals). If ski companies want to earn money, they must focus on ordinary skiers than expert skiers. That's "Park".
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Suzuran Kogen ski facility was closed.
> abstract:
> Mitake Suzuran Kogen Kanko Kaihatsu, Gifu-ken announced they
> will stop ski resort operation next winter season.
> The visitors number was 230,000 at the peak, but was decreased
> to 35,000 in 2005/2006 season. MSKKK continues to run golf
> recreation and vacation house business.
The ski gelande map shows smaller....
http://www.suzurankougen.net/coursemap3.htm
The location is too remote....
http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?lat=36%2F0%2F2...pointer=on&sc=8
I am sorry to say that this kind smaller ski resorts may have to be closed.
Ski/snowboard sports is neither longer a falgship nor a front tractor. Consumers want to buy "various" products and services in a recreational trip. You may see a big zone of brand outlet shops in Karuizawa which was originally developed as a summer house region. Machi-zukuri (orgnizing town shops & service) is very important. Japan "pension" accomodation serves the dinner, which might be an obstcle to figure mchi-zukuri fine. When staying at North America B&Bs or motels, customers have to go out to the street for finding a restaurant. After the dinner, they may have much chance to go to bars. Don't forget the dinner is a big recreation and enjoyment in a trip.
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Thanks for replies. Sorry for my late reply. The guide company is rather for moutaineers than for skiers, and has some Japanese guides. Two groups of my ski friends will buy their service. One will go on Aug, and other will go on Sep. I may give some feedback when I hear trip reports from them.
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Sorry to hear that. When Arai was open, I did not know where it was, and soon relaized it was more far place than Myoko from Tokyo. None of may friends had asked me to go there. It took much traveling time and cost. Then it had been closed before I had a chance to visit. It must be very hard work to get vistors from Tokyo...
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I am interested in this pack. Has anyone been this?
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Thanks, firedog23. uh, it has somewhat meaning of a taunt. It's the first time for me to hear this phrase. Then, I found another expressions that "my dad can beat up someone or something" in descriptions of other web sites.
snow hakuba
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
Posted
Tourism Commission of Hakuba starts to operate a shuttle bus service in the evening time from 2006 Dec 22.
http://www8.shinmai.co.jp/ski/2006/12/15_003654.html
The bus name is "GENKI-GO" with fee 200 yen per ride. The bus ticket is sold at TCH office or Hakuba accomodations (not in the bus). It circulates 13 times a day from 17:20 thru 22:35.