Mike Pow
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Posts posted by Mike Pow
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DAY 136 : SATURDAY 12 APRIL 2014
0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
The upside of the Kiroro Snow World gondola being closed during the week is the snow that fell this week covered up and smoothed out the spring crunch.
Expecting a day on the groomed runs, Ian and I were pleasantly surprised with the 5-15 cm of untracked powder in 'Hangman'.
A great way to finish the season at Kiroro.
Ian
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DAY 133 : WEDNESDAY 09 APRIL 2014
0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
A hazy day in the Niseko Resort Area.
Took the day off snow and went exploring the Lake Toya area and the peaks of the Kariba Mountainous District above the fishing village of Shimamaki on the SW coast.
Lake Toya
DAY 134 : THURSDAY 10 APRIL 2014
0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Heavy rain hammering against the roof woke me at 4am.
It stopped raining around 8am and it was blustery and sunny for the rest of the day with a ight dusting up snow up high.
DAY 135 : FRIDAY 11 APRIL 2014
1 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
The vilage was white again this morning but it didn't last long in the Spring sunshine.
I spent the morning skiing Niseko Hirafu with local photographer Glen Claydon.
The top up of new snow certainly improved conditions with great turns off the Ace # 3 double chair, but high winds kept the top lifts closed all day
Yours truly in a Glen Claydon pic
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Looker's right.
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Yep. Still frozen.
Some great lines the other side of the lake.
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Ha ha.
That stretch is still under a couple of feet of snow.
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DAY 132 : TUESDAY 08 APRIL 2014
0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
With clear skies and no wind overnight I set off before dawn for another day out on Mt Eniwa-dake on Lake Shikotsu.
For my third visit this winter I was trying to find the runs cut for the Men's & Women's Downhill skiing events at the 1972 Sapporo Olympics.
Mt Eniwa-dake across Lake Shikotsu
The plan today was to cycle the closed Rt 78 9.1 km down to the lake, hike up the mountain, ski down, and then cycle back out to the car.
The route by bike & hike (green) and ski (red)
On the way down to the lake I passed by what would have been the base area for the downhill events.
True to the organising committe's aim there was no trace that runs, lifts and buildings had once been there.
The downhill venue, Mount Eniwa, was created expressly for the Olympic competition. However,immediately after the Games, the mountain was returned to its pristine state in compliance with local
conservation laws. It cost $2 million to construct and dismantle the 2 downhill runs, 2 cable cars, and
chairlift.
Mt Eniwa Aerial photo
Mt Eniwa Trail map
1972 Sapporo Olympics Men's Downhill
I continued down to the lake and had a little walk around a closed campsite before hiking up the trail into one of the SW facing gullies
Entrance to the closed lakeside campsite
The cabins
The view of my line on Mt Eniwa-dake from the shoreline of Lake Shikotsu
Moonrise over Mt Eniwa-dake
Mt Eniwa-dake Solo 3
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DAY 131 : MONDAY 07 APRIL 2014
6 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Spring returned to the Niseko Resort Area this morning with sunshine, blue skies and fresh powder.
It was the same at Kiroro Snow World for Ian and me, unfortunately we didn't get the memo that as from today the gondola will only open on weekends
We warmed up on the groomed runs which were excellent, but after only one run in the trees off the Nagamine chair ski patrol was on us like shit on a stick.
Not surprising really as we were the only ones skiing off the groomed runs.
Glen Claydon reported fun turns off the peak at Hirafu this morning but with Hanazono closed for the season, it was cutback central to make the Hirafu lifts.
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Good to hear
Deep?
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DAY 130 : SUNDAY 06 APRIL 2014
5 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
The wind that almost cracked 'Eggshell' - the proper name for MQ in Higashiyama - Friday night into Saturday morning moved north overnight keeping the Kiroro Snow World upper lifts closed for the second consecutive day, but more importantly flattening all of yesterday's powder
It was boot deep at best today but on the plus side the groomed runs were in perfect mid-winter condition.
I came back to Higashiyama mid-afternoon and 5cm had already fallen.
And it's coming down hard and straight as I type.
The upper lifts in the Niseko United ski area have been closed for the past two days too, and with tomorrow forecast to be sunny it's going to be a tough call to decide where to ski.
Watch this space.
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DAY 129 : SATURDAY 05 APRIL 2014
2 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
The rain stopped around mid-afternoon yesterday and turned to very fine snow soon after.
But as has happened far too often this season it was accompanied by very high winds which blew what little snow had fallen all over the place.
I woke to winter views this morning and the heating went back on for the first time in a week.
The 30 cm that had been forecast hadn't materialised and with the high winds still raging in the Niseko Resort Area - which closed all the upper lifts all day - I headed to Kiroro Snow World on my own to see what was on offer.
The car park was white and quiet and the slopes were covered with a new layer of powder.
No spring crunch underfoot
Only the bottom three quads and the backside uncovered double were operating today, and after a couple of laps on the groomed runs and the fringes I headed into 'Walk in the Woods' to see what I could find.
12 days with no snow
Sunshine
Warm temperatures
Rain
and after 1 storm I got boot to boot top powder all day, with knee deep turns and face shots each run.
Stay Another Day
It was snowing as I left and I'll be heading back over tomorrow.
Hopefully the gondola will be running.
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Great pics.
Looks perfect.
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Cold, windy & snowy all day at Kiroro.
Only the bottom 3 quads and the uncovered backside double open.
Deserted.
EDIT
Got a bit excited
Boot to boot top all day.
KNEE DEEP & FACE SHOTS each run
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Thankfully on Hokkaido you can have both
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Thanks Maetabo Oyaji.
But I'll take the 1,000 face shots every time
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Thanks Mick Rich and gvm3373, fingers crossed.
UPDATE : WEDNESDAY 02 APRIL 2014
Mt Eniwa-dake Solo 2
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Very fine snow at MQ in Higashiyama at 8pm.
Strongest wind we've had this season with it though.
Ridiculous.
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Thanks TubbyBeaverinho and muikabochi.
Doesn't happen very often at Lake Shikotsu
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DAY 125 : TUESDAY 01 APRIL 2014
0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Cool and sunny today but also very windy, with the upper lifts on wind hold all day.
After yesterday's exertions I took a day off to recover.
DAY 126 : WEDNESDAY 02 APRIL 2014
0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
The wind died down overnight and the morning broke clear, so it was back to Mt Eniwa-dake for another solo skin & ski.
After skiing the East Face on Monday, today I was looking to find the lost resort of Mt Eniwa, host to the Men's & Women's Downhill skiing events at the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics.
The drive around Lake Shikotsu was spectacular this morning with the waters calm and crystal clear
Mt Eniwa-dake
(the East Face Bowl and ascent ridge on the right hand side of the peak)
Mt Tarumae and Mt Fuppushi-dake
Mt Fuppushi-dake's 'E.T. Couloir'
Mt Eniwa-dake
The East Face bowl
Today's route - walk (green) and ski (red)
Rt 78, closed until 05 May 2014
Avalanche path off the summit
Rt 78 is closed to traffic but is plowed clean at least to the 6 km marker (of 9.1 km).
That's how far I walked down the road trying to get sight of the Olympic runs.
Nothing.
And with Mt Eniwa-dake being volcanic, the gullies separating the many faces of the mountain are deep and steep sided.
A no go to traversing around.
So I turned around and walked 3km back up the road until I got to a car parking area where I put on the skins and headed up the mountain to make some turns.
The snow was solid and the skin up quick and easy.
Went up to just below the summit ridge and then dropped in to the trees that took me back to the road.
Great pitch and nicely spaced trees, with some fun gullies and steeper shots.
Turns out the Olympic venue is at the end of the road, 9.1 km
There's a storm rolling through this weekend and the next clear day is early next week.
Looking to head back on Tuesday, this time with a bike to finally see what's left of the '72 Olympics venue.
The search continues.
DAY 127 : THURSDAY 03 APRIL 2014
0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
A cool grey day in the Niseko Resort Area with mist & drizzle rolling in around 11 am
Greg Heptonstall went up the mountain this morning and reported awful conditions.
A good day to be indoors.
Had the buffet lunch at Prativo in Higashiyama, which as always was great.
DAY 128 : FRIDAY 04 APRIL 2014
0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
I woke at 6am to the rain hammering down on the roof here at MQ.
It's eased off a little but there's more on the way before the temperature plumments and the snow returns.
30 cm forecast this evening into tomorrow, so fingers crossed we see the return of powder and face shots
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Yeah, the Sapporo games though that was the plan from the beginning wasn't it. Do the games, get out, nature reclaim mountain.
That's what I heard too. Shame. Some great terrain.
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That's how much money must have been flying around in the Boom years Error404.
Thanks MagSeven. Yeah a great time to get out and about and ski some great peaks that are logistically quite difficult to get to in mid-winter.
Not what the Sarajevo Olympic Committe intended, but the 1984 venues have gone to rack and ruin
External link - hope that's ok SJDavid.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/02/21/sarajevo-olympics-1984_n_4823919.html
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It is OldKarl. Very different from the Niseko Resort Area, Rusutsu & Kiroro where I spend most of my winter.
Yes Metabo Oyaji, Mt Eniwa hosted the Men's & Women's Downhill events for the 1972 Sapporo Olympics.
It was the only mountain nearby that had the requisite pitch and length needed to satisfy the FIS criteria.
After the events had finished the lifts were dismantled.
Haven't managed to ski the runs yet.
Words & pics to follow shortly
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Thanks muikabochi.
Trying to mix it up with scenics and action. Don't have a tripod with me, so action shots when I'm skiing solo are tough
With the better weather we've had recently it's the ideal opportunity to get on top of a hill and get some landscapes.
More on the way. Working through them now.
SR : HokkaidOH! 2013/14
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
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Thanks seemore.
Working on yesterday's pics and vid systemsguy, my last for the season.