blu

Mike that first pic looks like the side of East Mt? A bit steeper than most of Rusutsu.

Mike is it possible to get into Miharashi yet?

@Mama Skiing Kurodake - I don't think the beginner ski area is open that often (closed mid winter?). Boarding involves a long hike up towards the peak. April would be the best time to attempt it, early on a blue ski day with perfect weather. It can be very nice. From the end of the chair you can hike up towards the peak but it would be difficult to get to the top without proper equipment (split board, skis with AT bindings). Take note of the warning signs & don't head too far skiers right (from memory). Experts would also ski back down under the cable car, but you can encounter cliff

At Hakuba skis, boots & poles for 7 days - Performance 24800y Beginner 19300y In Whistler ski, boots & poles for 7 days - Performance $248cad. Not surprising, both shops have the same business name. Rusutsu Resort only used to rent one model of Salomon. There was a greater choice of skis for rental just across the highway.

if you want salty beef extract - vegemite!

And just in time too. Now turn the snow tap on.

Sheep? Who left the Gates open!

Check out the Volkl Kenja's too! (tip rocker with camber)

other option, replace glasses - from optometrists, a thin clear prescription optical lens panel that fits into the goggles just behind the normal goggles lens.

For MrsB - Volkl Kenja's (width: 127, 87, 106) for Hokkaido trees.

Off Topic, but it might "go somewhere" JAL is now serving Japanese cheese on international flights. http://press.jal.co....202/002047.html (unfortunately no cheese at Perisher, yet)

MagSeven skied 100 days in Hokkaido, that's probably only 700 yen a day. I am at Rusutsu, Niseko Higashiyama and Kiroro in late Jan & early Feb. Unfortunately will have to miss Tomamu & Kamui this year.

I'm usually happy with anywhere with no lift lines and few tracks.

Jpn is cheap, it's 9,000 yen for a day ticket in Aus (possibly the worlds most expensive?).

Guthega - the parachute trees and the run down farm creek. There's been that many people skiing MtP Out of Bounds in the last few years, they moved the boundary out further. There's also access across to the Paryliser.

hmm gets worse, in eNZed it's 'tramping bro & sweet as' (but I could be wrong there, not a kiwi).

it's time to start the Aussie-NZ 2013 snow thread (unless I've missed it)

@Gareth, different style, but you might enjoy this Bunkai demonstration (with interesting back kick at 2:30 ). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jda8bpEt-FI&feature=relmfu

Rusutsu is good for 3 - 5 days. You wouldn't want to spend 10 days there like you could at Niseko & not cheaper. Unlike Niseko, out of bounds is a bit of an unknown for most visitors, as there is so much safer inbounds offpiste. No nightlife. For me, Furano is more of a skiers mountain. But the locals do get some good OOB lines though. Get a van & include a few days at Tomamu, Kamui & maybe Kiroro. Spend the rest of the time at Niseko.

We lucked into the third chair on a late starting Mitahara chair on a powder day at Suginohara. The Super Mogul Piste was over knee deep powder. Great memories.

yes, a nice pair of fat K2 Kung Fujas would do it Gareth

3 year olds on skis - that's only because they don't have the muscle development to board until near 7. Hardest thing about learning boarding is riding the Tbars, isin'it Mama. 5 days of boarding lessons may get you into the terrain park (it seems to in Aus) - I don't think that wouldn't happen on skis. My grandson (11) was landing airs in the kids park on day 2 when he learnt. And as above, get some impact shorts, a fractured tailbone is a very painful & debilitating injury for a long time.

also check the SJ Daily Reports for similar dates in previous years for the resorts: http://www.snowjapan.com/e/daily/nowcalendar.php It would be a good chance to ski/board an uncrowded Niseko (you could checkout the cheap air passes/fares Tokyo-Chitose instead of JR rail pass).

should be in an igloo

"The skiing at Rusutsu is really amazing though." (quote: GN). You can check the bus times & fares when at the Hirafu bus stop. Head for the Mt Isola area for the inbounds trees.