gerard

I was off about it being up north. vert is much, much smaller than it looks too.

OK.... Don't know where it is.

Not really. Except for a few places like Zao, the ski areas are pretty small (assuming it's in the north).

Don't know where it is but it should be easy. treed heavily from top to bottom so not too high but big with decent vertical. So it's somewhere cold with lots of snow that doesn't melt too quickly on the southern exposure. Tohoku or Hokkaido.

Here's what happens if you try to sneak up without a permit. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/assault-25-500-feet-mount-everest-climber-allegedly-000005063.html

cheeky Really doesn't look like much!

A vast, steep, U-shaped valley with skiable trees in every which direction from summit to floor which conveniently spits you out at a lift. Nozawa, it is.

.... so I'll go with Gokase Highland.

Hmm... looks like there's an aerial tram or otherwise long lift to take you way up to a small ski area near the top of the mountain. Probably because there's no snow except at the top. So somewhere down south. Maybe Shikoku or Kyushu. And there aren't that many ski resorts this far down....

Yeah, you know what I mean. Been a while.

Looks like it could be that flat lift up high on Hanazono above the thermometer.

Was thinking same as Joshnii.

It's totally Cortina.

Never been to that town. There are a bunch of ski areas within around an hour's drive from there but Hachikita's the only one worth checking out. Nice area but as far as skiing goes, it's better further north/east.

What brought you to that area, SJ?

kinosaki onsen?

That was such a good book! Seems like this has been another bad year on Everest.

Nozawa would be an obvious guess.

Hachi kita is it. Good place. Even has some OK side country action to the left of the visible ski runs in the top pic. If you're ever stuck down in these parts.......

It's none of those places. Mikawa is the one place I HAVE been to. Brings a smile to my face. Pretty small, though!

No to Wakasugi, Banshu Tokura and Shin Tokura. As for Hanamiyama....... Er... Nope.

A little tough since it's closer to me than most of you. Good place Mid mountain across....

nikko yumoto onsen?