samurai

I'm sorry, yagi, mountain goat. But probably not as fun to hunt as this, which stood 5 meters on its hind legs. The largest in the world, currently on exhibit at the anchorage airport. (sadly, not me in the photo.) edit; no image afterall. The link just goes to my inbox, sorry.

I ski every available day I can. But I have a pass. If I didn't, I probably wouldn't be paying for some of the days I get out- like last night's bullet-proof ice arcs. Fast but dangerous. still fun though. However, last weekend was the snow of the year thus far.

I thought it was a Kagi. I have one living near the hills where I run in the summer. They're dumb. Kind of freaky how I can run up on him and he won't budge. I have to charge and scream to get him to move.

oh, didn't understand that SLOW is a poster.

so are these slow signs new to you? What's the huff? I guess I am surprised they are in English.

we should also mention that the majority of people who die in slides die of trauma, not suffocation. the avalung is the same kind of thing, might as well have it, even though it will do nothing against the cliff you fall off or tree you impale. beacons do little more. It is the only tool I own in hopes of never needing. And with that, your new jacket sounds rad.

when we were at hakkoda it was decent vis with new snow and lots of people hiking to stuff a ways out. But we just kept nailing our own lines right off the tram for 25 minute decents. Perhaps those who were hiking were already bored of what we thought was money terrain. Even the best fishing is across the lake, but to rookies, fishing off the dock is fun.

secret places??? i love those. one day i will have my own little secret place. One with a gondola.

with the insane abundance of unbooked hotels in zao village, I'm sure there is something. A house however, doesn't ring a bell. Maybe contacting zao directly would yield some results. Honestly, the place is like a modern ghost town when you see all the hotels with their drapes drawn. Kind of like 'The Shining' awaiting a redux. It honestly creeps me out.

Quote: Originally posted by Mudguts: Hakkoda for me. 9th to 12th. It'll be my first time there so really pumped for this trip. Have heard so much about the dayly unlimited powder runs you can get. Bring it on! Have you heard about getting lost too? I spent a long weekend there too a couple of winters back. Great place, once you learn where to go. Our first two days were just learning the traverse back. (Don't follow the gondola line!!! = flat walk out midway down.) drop in, traverse skier's-right under the gondola, ride that open face and its trees on the right. follow others' t

don't forget to mention the ghost quad. yeah, a whole highspeed quad's towers securely mounted, going to zero terrain and boasting zero days of active duty. There isn't even a cable strung up. It's hideous what you will find in the layout there. Once again, give me the power to remount 90 percent of the lift towers, and you'll have about 2-3 highspeeds and around 9 doubles waiting to be given new terrain.

hey daver, the shots came out ok, eh. How come nobody commented on my shrine-pass? Have you ever skied by a shrine? that's why you can see my skis too, the spirituality of the location picked me right up on top of the snow.

are you surprised that you're tired at 4? That's seven hours of cardio/sprints, dude. I'll down drinks and light snacks and ride for 6 hours straight. 4 is usually enough. Big lunch breaks are evil. And if we ever ride together, don't count on an extensive "re-charge" break. they just tire you out.

Aside from limited availability of products; there is alot different between what is sold here and in the states. Skis have an entirely different genre entitled "demo". We have demo-team members in the states, but not the skis. Most hard-core skiers in japan are instructor/demo freaks; not pow/freeride freaks. I can understand teh different graphics being sold here as well... two completely different markets really.

I've heard some nightmare prices. Perhaps it's worth the over charge at the airline.

So it's okay to ride on someone else's day pass?

no, but if somebody is riding without paying, it seems they'd be a pass-dodger.

How about swapping passes? Can I give my pass to a buddy and take a coffee break while he takes a few runs, then vise-versa? (I own a pass however. just testing your boundaries.)

didn't coombs start this camp before they banned him for always skiing ob? (via exum?) He then moved his steep camp to Valdez to help market his heli-op. Then in '99, Jackson opened their boundaries, yet didn't allow coombs back... if i remember correctly. Later, in 2001 (?), he sold his operation and returned only as a guide. some believe, like me, that he sold it due to the prior year's insane avalanche season. Most heli ops in '00 in AK didn't fly much due to severely abnormal avi risks. I asked the owner of Chugach Powder Guides (my avi teacher) for an entry-level positio

Yeah, sirjib, keep us posted on your arrival. If we get snow, it can be a decent place. The base has finally arrived making the trees about doable, but no snow recently. The big complaint is the layout, and the flats. Hopefully daver and I can help you avoid those. nonetheless, pray for snow...

I think I cracked a code involving inquiries... if not, let the non-code go on... if so, I rock...

eh, never an accident before this season, yet last season you had to fork over 300k? confused... nonetheless, I hope people aren't checking their insurance to validate getting away with crashing into people. this thread is ridiculous. Terror... please wear a siren.

I just read this thread thinking it was a joke. People below you have the right of way. always. period. I'm shocked you don't get it and would even for a brief moment think that anyone below you is watching out for bombers coming from behind. Get a clue, dude. or quit riding... Nobody likes being around people who ride the way you describe. People on this forum are being very polite- when in actuality they are only holding back out of some internet-mask-respect thing. Honestly, do you drive like this too, honking and yelling to get people to move, then not accepting responsibility when you

It's common to be able to see a fingernail scrape mark into the base's coating after a day's riding. feel free to structure it again by all means. happy to hear you found the difference!

I know plenty of boarders who have forced me to keep up with them. It usually involves an enormous straight-line in deep snow. And no matter how aerodynamic one's wing-shaped poles can be (yes wing-shaped does exist, btw) we skiers still ain't leaving the ground any sooner.