SnowConnection

Thanks, Bushpig. Yah, yah. What intereseted me was if this is a popular usage among Americans to use the fighting phrase on father's day greeting cards. FYI. These are sample greeting cards. http://greeting.rakuten.co.jp/event/father/ The popular phrase among Japanese kids is "O'to-san, Arigato!" (Thanks! Dad.) or like. Kids show thanks to his/her farther. Is this the same among Americans ?

I saw a phrase of "My dad can beat up your father". Is this a common one among American kids? What do you think is an approprite Japanese translation. Trans#1: "Uchi no o'to-chan ni ee'tukeru!." (I'll ask my dad to scold you.) Trans#2: "Uchi no o'to-chan no fo ga tsuyoi." (My dad is stronger than your dad.) I suppose Trans#1 would be a direct translation. But, I feel Trnas#2 would catch a real translation. Trans#2 is a common usage when a kid is beaten by his/her kid friend.

Sanno, I might not figure your points correctly cos of my poor English reading skill. But, you may address what I want to say. I want to say Itoigawa road (along Aoki lake and Hime river) has many unique/attractive ski resorts. If there is shuttle bus service "every 20 minitues" between Sun Alpina and Hakuba Cortina, the HAKUBA will be the big ski resort area which has 12 resorts of Sun Alipna Kashimayari, Yanaba, Aokiko, Sanosaka, Hakuba Goryu, 47, Happo, Iwatake, Minetaka, Tsugaike, Norikura and Cortina. If there is a common ski pass, it's great. In the Olympic game year, there were ligh

It's a great benefit for Hakuba to get international recognition at Olympic game time. But, I guess they would been burdened with debt from overinvestments on ski industry. There might be egotism among towns and villages. I was very suprised that there is no "regular" common ski pass from Sun-Alpia ski resort thru Tsugaike ski resort. They may excuse they sell it with a "special" term. No excuse! It must be in regular. No common shuttle bus is another issue. Some told "That's Tugaike business" when asking how to go to Tsugaike with shuttle bus. I must get angry. We want to enjoy and love "t

Okutadami is located in the north of famous Oze. I suppose it is rather summer resort than winter. Also, access is limitted by snow in winter. http://www.okutadami.co.jp/ I've not heard bc skiers go to Okutadami. There is a long mt route from Tadami to Aizu-Asahi-dake(1,624m) to Aizu-Koma-gatake to Hino'e'mata. Oze, the south of Okutadami has Hiuchi-gatake*(2,356m), Hira-gatake(2,144m), and Aizu-Koma-gatake*(2,133m) accessed from Hinoemata. The north of Okutadami has Sumon-dake*(1,537m) and Asakusa-dake*(1,585m) accessed from Koide. *: popular bc ski mountains. Yahoo! Map

I agree with TJ OZ as for Hakuba snow visitors. My idea dated May 18 was for people who want to drive rent-a-cars. Note that you can not enjoy Sake and beers before driving a car.

If the forecast is fine, I will go to Norikura on May 21 Sunday even I am alone. My friends from Osaka will came too. We will climb up from Sanbondaki. The TR on May 21. http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/yamaskiml/5550848.html

Sanno, I'll be out of town on Friday and Saturday. I'll be back to my home Sat 6:00pm. If you can join, pls send me a PM by Sat 5:00pm.

If you can read road info (in Kanji) well, it may be good to pick/return a rent-a-car at Narita airport. But, not, it would be much stress. An idea is to reach Hakuba village by train & bus, then to pick/return a rent-a-car there. Local companies can provide local service for snow roads. (Narita has no snow.) If you want to go around many Hakuba ski resorts, a rent-a-car is strongly recomended. A rent-a-car company office is Hakuba office of "JR Eki Rent-a-car". http://www.ekiren.co.jp/ Hakuba office : 0261-71-1222 E-mail: reserve@mx.ekiren.co.jp Location: JR Hakub

There was a report a guy fought debris at Yumiori-dake on May 14. I am not a good skier enjoying skiing on debris. I put off my schedule for Harinoki-dake to May 27 or 28 again. I would like to go to Norikura on May 21 Sunday if the forecast(at Saturday noon) predicts fine and if I have a mate sharing gas/highway/parkinglot costs. Picking loc/date/time is Denenchofu/May20/22:00. Does anyone raise your hand ?

There are four routes to climb up Mt.Fuji (3,776m). - Yosida-guchi (2,305m): Up 5:00 & Down 3:00 - Subashiri-guchi (1,980m): Up 5:30 & Down 2:30 - Gotenba-guchi (1,440m): Up 7:20 & Down 3:00 - Fujimiya-guchi (2,400m): Up 4:35 & Down 2:30 note) Plus one hour on climbing up time for average hikers. Shuttle bus for each trail head(guchi) operates from July 1st thru August end. Only bus for Yoshida-guchi operates from April 29. There is a fine lodge at Yoshida-guchi which accomodation starts from June 30. If I were you without a car; 1st day: Shinjyuku -bus-

Charge of gas & highway from Tokyo is too high to go alone. If I can not find any with me, I will not go. I've not get any at this point. No e-mail has come by May 14 18:00. Sorry I will not go to Norikura. Toque, foreast tells it will be still FINE on Monday. Enjoy Norikura !

I planned to go to Harinoki-dake on May 13, but withdrew it, and postponed it to May 20 or 21. Still, I and my friends see avalanche risk in valleys. Monday? Oh, it will be fine, a forcast tells. If anyone join me from Tokyo, I may drive my car to Norikura. Sharing gas/highway/parkinglot charge is needed. The picking time/loc is around 22:00 on May 14 Sunday at Den'en'chofu station, Tokyu Toyoko line. We will return to Tokyo on May 15 evening. Please send me an e-mail at snowconnection@yahoo.co.jp if anyone wants to join. No application came by May 14 18:00. I will not go to Norik

Norikura-dake (different to Hakuba Norikura) is a polular location for spring bc skiing. You may enjoy bc skiing by June-begin (June-end this year?). Access & BC skill(Easier Beginner): Norikura Sky Line road opens on May 15. You can reach Tatatami-daira by train/bus from JR Takayama stn., or by car from Hirayu Onsen of R158. Tatamidaira is a popular sightseeing place where you can see many tourists, some lodges, souvenir shops and a post office. You may hike up the top of Mt.Norikura, and ski down to Tatamidaira. Note: From this 2006 year, you have to park your own car at Okuhida

> Toque wrote: Strange to go missing when the weather was so good on May 5. Yes, strange. I guess the guy had skied down over Masago-sawa-De'a'i to Futamata cos of good weather and good snow, and might be TOO TIRED to back to Tsurugi-Gozen. (I guess he did not lost his way...) There is a hut, Masago-sawa Lodge at Masagosawa Deai under snow on May, opens from July-begin thru Oct-mid. Yahoo! Map (Masagosawa Deai): http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=36.36.26.19...e%a9%bb%b3&sc=5 I found an unique 3D map around Tateyama Masagosawa area, fyi. http://awl.chat-jp.com/Mou

I am not sure if anyone has posted this news. http://www.hakuba47.co.jp/today47.html Hakuba 47 opens on May 12, 13 and 14.

A skier (male, 39 from Sendai) was killed by a crash to a collapsed old tree when he skied around Akakura-dake in Houkibatai route of Mt. Hakkoda on May 6th 11:00am. He skied with 9 of his friends, fell down and got his head bruised. http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/20060506i412.htm Yahoo! Map (Akakura-dake): http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=40.39.54.40...9%c3%c5%c4&sc=5 Houkibatai Route: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/f/toukoukai/sub6/3588_hokiba/3588_hokiba.htm

A skier (male, 59 from Shizuoka) was found in dead on May 5th on the top of Bonten-dake(1,765m) 15Km north from A'i'zu-Koma-gatake. He was believed to be a missing person who had climbed Aizu-Koma-gatake on April 8th. He was supposed to be dead in hypothemia. http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0505/TKY200605050129.html Yahoo! Map (Bonten-dake): http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=37.9.7.808&...b%de%b4%f4&sc=7 a mt. mark(2,133m) 15Km south to the center mark is Aizu-Koma-gatake. An onsen mark near to Aizu-Koma-gatake is famous Hino'e'mata. Comment: Aizu-koma-gatak

Three were killed by an avalanche at the east side valley (Harinoki Sekkei) of Harinoki-dake (2,821m) , Nagano on May 1st 11:30am. http://sbc21.co.jp/my-cgi/sbc_news.cgi?page=seventop&date=20060501&id=0107220&action=details A party of four (one male & 3 females) and one solo male climber were attached by an avalanche at around 2,000m alt. in Harinoki Sekkei. The avalanche was 300m long with 40m width. Four were burried except a man, 53, from Saitama. One woman, 46, from Kanagawa was rescued five hours later. She can breathe in a small slot among rock and ice.

The same idea though I do not go BC by myself. A solo skier tells he can go forward/backward by his own decision and take his way at hazoudous place. Why do not I go alone ? I do not carry enough bivouac gears and foods for when breaking a leg or when loosing skies.

http://www.21photo.jp/hebi/page2-1.htm Snake="蛇", Poison=”毒”, Have Poison="有毒", No Poison="無毒".

Yamada-san showed how the top racers skined on/off. It's too quick. Of course, they did not put off skis. It's like putting on/off ski covers during a step stop on walking.

Toque, I posted the 2nd JSMC Race report on a new topic. http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/6732.html You can do it next season ! I would advise you to contact Yamada-san before attending the race.

Ref. http://www.snowjapanforums.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/1/5985.html? I've never been to the race. Following info comes from the web site. http://www.jma-sangaku.or.jp/ The 2nd Japan Ski Mountaineering Campionship Race took place on April 16 Sunday. The race course was some changed by bad weather condition where it was a region between Tsugaike ski area and Tengu-ppara. There were the opening ceremony and course inspection on April 14 Saturday aftenoon. 27 men entried Full course, 11.4Km distance and 945m alt dif. 3 men and 2 women entried Half 7.6Km distance and 945

I realized Japan Geographical Survey Institute "国土地理院" had released a new search engine for 1:25,000 topos of Japan. The preliminary service site is Japanese language only. http://watchizu.gsi.go.jp/ - Please do not make any "direct link" to map images for avoiding overwork of the server. - A private use copy is allowed under Japanese Copyright Act. - A commercial use copy requires approval by JGSI. The search engine is Japanese language only. http://watchizu.gsi.go.jp/mapsearch.html 1. Search by Topo Map Index (1) Select a name of 1:200,000 maps.