SnowConnection

> Sanno tells: Better read the small print carefully before picking an insurance Sure. Many people misunderstand that their credit card can cover damages during oversea trip in "all" cases. "One has to pay the travel charge by his/her credit card." If you pay Greyhound fare by cash, accidents during the bus trip are not covered by your credit card.

A mountaineering skier(male 45) was found dead on April 22 moring in a creek of Keto-zawa, Niigata. On April 19, he reportedly started from the top lift of Tenjin-Daira ski-jyo, went thru Tanigawa-dake and Mantaro-yama and would descend down to Tsuchitaru. He was in water 4Km before the destination. He seemed to die of hypothemia. Yahoo! Map (Keto-zawa): http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=36.49.31.21...E.x=65&CE.y=194

Minami Alps Rindo Bus opens today April 25. http://sbc21.co.jp/my-cgi/sbc_news.cgi?page=seventop&date=20060425&id=0106985&action=details The HP of Minami Alps is; http://www.clio.ne.jp/~fcam/outhed.html Some BC skiers/snowboarders enjoy BC powder at Senjyo-ga-take (3,033m). 1. Take your own car to Senryusou bus terminal. 2. Park your car at Senryusou parking lot. 3. Take the bus to Utajuku. 4. Hike up to Kitazawa-toge. (apx.2-3 hours?) 5. Stay at Chou'e'i-sou lodge at Kitazawa-toge. 6. Climb up Senjo-ga-take, and enjoy powder around the t

Thanks Toque, I read another reports. You must park at Nakanoyu Onsen. Some park at small space (usually full) near to Kama tunnel. Some park at Sakamaki Onsen. I suppose Nakanoyu is the best. This TR tells how to save 20 min walk in Kama tunnel. http://www.h6.dion.ne.jp/~tatsuno/sub2-2005-yakedake.html 1. Make three their own cars park at Nakanoyu onsen. 2. Call a taxi from Sawando. 3. Ride on the taxi at Nakanoyu. 4. Get off from the taxi at Kamikochi side of Kama tunnel. Oh, tough works ! (laugh again)

Nice pics. I've never been Yakedake I wanna go. One problem is where we shall park the car, which would hesitate our party (laugh).

Kusatsu Shigakogen R292 opens April 20 today. The open ceremory took place yesterday. 250 people enjyoed walking on the 10.7Km corridor between 10 meters snow walls. See a TV video. http://sbc21.co.jp/my-cgi/sbc_news.cgi?page=seventop&date=20060419&id=0106779&action=details Yahoo! Map (Shirane-san): http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=36.38.27.46...9%e2%b8%b6&sc=6 Onsen mark(NW) is Yudanaka Onsen. Onsen Mark(E) is Kusatsu Onesen. This R292 is a good route for road biking betwen Yudanaka stn (or Nagano) and Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi stn (or Shibukawa).

This is a famous design of combining four kanji letters "吾唯知足". It reads Ware-Tada-Taru-O-Shiru in Japanese. (Ware=I, Tada=Only, O=to be, Taru=Contented, Shiru=Learn.) So, it means that "I learn only to be contented". The phrase comes from Han-Nya-Shin-Kyo "般若心経", a scripture of Buddhism. You must be satisfied perfectly when you do not want to have new ski gears. Are you satisfied ?

The same. Kyabia("キャビア").

Tokyo-to Info site (Japanese only): http://www2.kankyo.metro.tokyo.jp/jidousya/diesel/ The check list page(Japanese only): http://www2.kankyo.metro.tokyo.jp/jidousya/diesel/regulation.htm Hope for your helps,

Sharmont Ski Resort, Niigata will operate temporary shuttle bus service for backcounty skiers/snowboarders in Golden Week period. No BC guide service is provided. Reservation is required. Temporary Shuttle Bus http://charmant.nou.ne.jp/Link/sasakura.htm Period: From April 29(Sat) thru May 7(Sun) (one time a day) Fare: 2,500 yen #Seats: Max. 25 per day Reservation: Be required on phone 025-568-2345　　 Charge includes each one way ticket. - Charmont Ski Lift (bottom) --> Ski Lift (top) - Sasakura Onsen 15:00 --> 15:50 JR Nou Stn --> 16:20 Charmont Ski

You can see many downward transformer in retail shops. But, you may want to have a upward transformer which you are hard to find in retail shops. The Japanese search word is "アップトランス" in web. e.g. http://www.churi.co.jp/new/captra.html Inquriy to the maker (Chu'u'ri); http://www.churi.co.jp/new/info.html

The tattoo(IREZUMI,”刺青”) of less than 18 years old is forbidden by the law of Japan, which are mostly witten in the Juvenile Protection Ordinance of each local government. Some laywers tell the medical treatment on ones less than 20 years may violate another Japan law. Anyway, the tattoo of 20 or above 20 years is not illegal in Japan. Untill about the end of Edo era (1868), the tattoo had been a recognized culture in Japan. You may know of the name of "Tohyama no Kin-san", a famous deputy official in Edo era who had SAKURA FUBUKI tatoo on his shoulder and back. However the culture was gett

I saw a report told the reporter(a skier with four) met the the party just before the accedint on Apr 9. He skied with passing them so he did not see the accident. Both he and the party skied down to north from Ichinosekami(I am not sure how read "一の背髪"). He dropped down to right side once, then was back to the north ridge (more hard). The party skied down north ridge straight (more safe), and met him at a point of north ridge. They aprted, and later the party met the tragedy on apx.1700m of the north ridge reportedly. Comment: This web page shows the ski route well. The report date is

The same question - Why don't they turn around? Anage-dani valley is for advanced/experienced skiers even in late April. On the same day, one of my friend, an experienced tele skier, headed to Shigekura-dani, but return at Kata-no-koya of Tanigawa-dake because of strong wind.

Fattwins. You are right. Even taking a short rest, SAFTY has to be kept. But, the leader might not be able to see terrains around due to thick fog.

Source: Nihon Keizai Shinbun 2006/04/10 Evening The leader (male 57) told; 1. The wind was very strong when starting climbing. They anticipated the strong wind would be weaken when entering into Furiko-sawa valley. 2. The thick fog made visibility worse at Tengu-ppara. They lost their way, and entered in another valley than Furiko-sawa. 3. They realized they went wrong after descending of 300m. Then, they decided to return to Tengu-ppara. They begun to put skins. 4. An avalance attacked them when putting skins. It was a small one so that they were floated few meters. No one was burie

Seven of my firends had a Renge-Onsen tour on Apr 8-9. They had to use compuses when finding Furiko-sawa route at Tengu-ppara under snow storm with "thick fog". They heard thunder when entering Furiko-sawa. When descending Furiko-sawa, the wind direction was changed from south to north, then the temperature was getting to be low rapidly below frozen line. Furiko-sawa had wetty fresh snow which was bad for ski descending. Logs: > 2006.APR.08 (Sat) > Early morning Rain @Hakuba JR Stn > Snow @ Tsugaike Gondora Stn > Snowstorm & Thick Fog @ Tengu-ppara > Thunder @ F

Avy killed some. But, strong wind/fog/low temparature made victims be to hypothermia death in the most cases. In Renge Onsen route case, a small avy attacked when they were putting skins, and robbed their packs and gears reportedly. No one was buried.

An avalanche attaked a climer(49 from Gunma) in Senjyo-take(3,033m) on April 9th morning. he was injured in head. http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/20060409i111.htm Yahoo! Map (Senjyo-dake): http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=35.43.0.597...2%f4%c6%bd&sc=5 Comment: Senjyo-dake is a popular mountain over 3,000m in summer season. Advanced BC skiers enjoy powder around Golden Week (April end) sometimes staying at Senjyo hut (open but no food/meal/bed/stove/heater). I've been at the top in summer when beginners are OK.

A big avalanche occured in Anage-dani valley near to Kasaga-take(2,897m), Gifu on April 9th 11:00am. Gifu police saw several avalanche debris on the south face of Kasaga-take. The largest one is 3 Km long with 30-60m width. Four guys are now missing around there. One skier (male: 30 from Aichi) entered to the area by himself. Three climbers (males: 35 from Tochigi, 36 from Shizuoka and 38 from Kanagawa) set out to Kasaga-take on April 8th. Update: The search activity was suspended on Apr 10th 11:00am by bad weather. Update: The search activity was suspended on Apr 11th 10:00am by b

Yes. But, the operation is quite different to ones in Canada/US. In Canada/US, it is sold as daily (or few days) package which serves several times runs a day with expensive price (500 US$ thru 1,500+ US$). In Japan, it is sold as one time run service with cheaper price (50 US$ thru 150+ US$). You do not expect larger scale skiing in Japan. It would be an extention(in BC area) to a resort ski area. Please refer to; http://www.geocities.jp/snownihon/Temp/TempHeliSki.htm

A source reported bodies were found at 700m NW to Tsugaike Hutte (open now). It means they DID come back to Tengu-ppara. Probably it was no visibility at "flat" Tengu-ppara. If they knew the terrains VERY well, they could come back.... Yahoo! Map (Tsugaike Hutte): http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=36.46.15.03...2%b9%c0%f4&sc=4

Two skiers were killed by avalanche at Tohmi-o'ne, Hakuba, Nagano on April 9th around 1:00pm. There 12 people skied in two groups. One group of 6 people were attacked at apx.1,700m alt in a small valley of Tohmi ridge. Two were buried. One was found dead soon. One was found dead five hours later. http://www.news24.jp/56010.html http://sbc21.co.jp/my-cgi/sbc_news.cgi?page=seventop&date=20060409&id=0106444&action=details Update: Victims are two males (34 from Nagano and 41 from Tokyo). Update: Two (female 39 from Tokyo and male 44 from Nagano) broke bones

A guy(37 from Nagano) was killed in Abou-san(2,219m), Nagano by avalanche when skiing down on the north face on April 9th afternoon. He skied with three of his friends who were not injured. The avalanche was 600m long with 40m wide. http://sbc21.co.jp/my-cgi/sbc_news.cgi?page=seventop&date=20060409&id=0106441&action=details Yahoo! Map (Abou-san): http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=36.11.15.79...b%bc%bb%b3&sc=6 Comment: I know the name of Abou-san where famous Abou Tunnel passes under it. It is not popular for BC skiers, but some enthusiasts head to Ab

A party of five skiers had a moutaineering accident in montains of Hakuba/Otari area. http://sbc21.co.jp/my-cgi/sbc_news.cgi?page=seventop&date=20060409&id=0106428&action=details They started climbing from Tsukaike ski resort for Renge Onsen on April 8 morning. A guy(57) called on help to Tsugaiki ski office by phone at around 2:00pm on April 8. He told that they had suffered from avalanche and would return to Tsugaike. The guy was safe and came back to Tsugaike on April 9 early morning by himself without injuries. Heli rescued remaining four (males: 29