gerard

I have kids, so I feel your pain, but I haven't been up that way in a while. Maybe Thursday can help... I think he's been up there with his boy.

Woah. This is not a funny thread. IE I didn't laugh. That sucks!

lol yeah, those keep us on edge down here!

Roughly speaking, boarders, people on full length skis and people on mini-skis were evenly split. Mini skis, actually, didn't seem like such a bad option. Never thought I'd say that!

Here's a pic of the true south side, taken last Saturday afternoon. Here's the parking lot at 2400 meters. There will be snow for a while yet.

Maybe you were looking at the wrong mountain, Snowdude. Let me just upload a couple more pics....

Hmm.... If you really want a challenge, try scouting out a gnarly line down the west face. Try it mid-winter. Naked.

It gave a little but it was really variable. It was basically chalky up top and in mid-mountain sections it was starting to re-freeze a bit. I expected a nice zone of perfect spring conditions but it was unpredictable. The bottom was probably the best.

Well, I climbed up Mt. Fuji and skied down on April 27th and thought I’d share in case others wanted to do the same. First off, it is a doable spring hike. A fair number of people head up around the golden week period. It’s not particularly dangerous, although I’m sure it could be if the weather was bad. We did the Fujinomia route on the south side and that definitely seems like the best route off-season. The road had been cleared and was open to the fifth-station parking lot at 2400 meters. There was a number of groups camping in their cars or tents and others arrived through the night

Ha ha. Well, I walked up yesterday. Going up in the spring on snow on a sunny day is a pretty good option for anyone stupid enough to climb Fuji. All in all, the altitude almost made me puke and the skiing was far from great but it was an impressive climb. Maybe I'll do it again sometime.

Well, I'll be tenting Saturday night at the fifth station (or as close as we can get) on the true south side and climbing it Sunday. Say 'hi' if you happen to be on the same mountain. I'll be in yellow steeze.

I jus got me a windows 8. It's OK but I keep asking myself "why?"

Pft. I've done more gnarly climbs than that.

Good reading. There are many ways to get into trouble.

OK. I might do this around golden week. Others know more than me but I'm looking into it and as far as I can tell... Skiing: Able to keep it together on ice in very adverse conditions like wind, flat light, etc until you get down to the corn (I'm talking about snow). Mountaineering: Doable. Crampons a good idea. Sounds like a real long slog. Important to choose the right time, weather and route, unless you're prepared for anything. The worse kind of punter is the guy with ass-kicking skiing ability but relatively less mountaineering ability and knowledge (me). I guess the kaw

is this the latest beta on skiing MTV. fuji? I might give it a go this year. the idea is just a seed at the moment though

Well, I'm heading out now and my money is on Noz. Wanted to check out Madarao too but we got shorted out one day so probably spend the whole time at the Nozzle.

Surely, Mt Granview is skied out by ten AM, no?

Sugihohara Akakan Madarao Nozawa Tenjindaira Cortina Kagura Niseko Which trees take longer to get skied out? (and by "trees", lets say good lift-served slackcountry, short hike or traverse OK but no skins needed.)

Famous Door, actually: http://www.best-of-sapporo-japan.com/bars-and-food-joints.html Cool place with cajun food.

The Secret Door after seeing it on the net. Tiny place. Cool, with decent beer. Actually I was there for work but I had skiing in the back of my mind obviously. Winter hadn't quite kicked in yet though....

ranch

There it is! Nice!

Cold rain down here. Seems like everything is moving in from the west (??). I might have to hit Hakuba this year... Hey, Tubby, I had posted something on your profile feed while I was in Sapporo. I don't have PM so not sure of the best way to reach you. Anyway, too bad you didn't come out -- it was a Wild Freakin' Party. Chicks dancing on the bar. Jumping off rooftops. etc. etc. (Actually, just me and a pint and some pulp fiction about Mexican drug dealers.)