Mike Pow
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Posts posted by Mike Pow
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sorry to hear that Mike,
fingers crossed.
Thanks.
Will pass on your thoughts.
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DAY 56 : WEDNESDAY 22 JANUARY 2014
14 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
We just can't enough of Kiroro, and it consistently delivers.
Great day out there with Ian who was making some great shapes and getting deep.
Ian in 'Hangman'
Kiroro Coldsmoke
Unfortunately an old knee injury made a very unwelcome appearance on the track out of 'Hangman' and we headed straight to Kutchan hospital.
X-ray, consultation and MRI later and it's 7-10 days off snow to see if it takes care of itself. If not it's arthroscopy time.
Fingers crossed he can avoid the knife.
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Amazing.
Way to be "Johnny on the spot"
The crown looks enormous, guessing 2m
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DAY 55 : TUESDAY 21 JANUARY 2014
3 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
With relatively little snow in the Niseko Resort Area the past four days, Ian and I headed back to Kiroro.
We were rewarded with a very unexpected deep powder day with our tracks filling in each run
Ian likes surprises
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DAY 52 : SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2014
0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Who forgot to put the money in the meter?
The streak has ended after 27 days straight of snowfall, dropping 534 cm (210") of the finest powder all over the Shiribeshi area.
Day five at Kiroro for the Lovelocks and Craig.
Sunshine and warmer temperatures made the untracked and tracked powder heavier than previous days necessitating steeper pitches and stashes in the trees for smooth powder.
But there was still plenty out there.
'Finding Your Feet'
Craig
Hayden
Alex
Ria
Neil
DAY 53 : SUNDAY 19 JANUARY 2014
1 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Day six at Kiroro for the Lovelocks and Craig.
The Lovelock's & Craig's last day of their holiday, and unfortunately I was unable to ski with them today.
Severe abdominal pain at 8pm last night resulted in a trip to Kutchan hospital with Ian MacKenzie to discover that I have kidney stones and they want out!
Ian skied with them and reported 10-15 cm of new snow and smiles all round.
In the 23 days they've been here the Lovelock family and Craig have
seen 456 cm (180") of Hokkaido powder fall
skied 19 days - Kiroro (6), Niseko Annupuri (2), Niseko Grand Hirafu (1), Niseko Hanazono (2), Niseko Moiwa (4), Rusutsu (4)
and all improved significantly, skiing far more technical terrain and deeper snow with less effort
and already booked to return in December 2014
DAY 54 : MONDAY 20 JANUARY 2014
5 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Day off snow.
On the "Kidney Diet", trying to lose a few stones.
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My pleasure. Glad you liked them
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UPDATE : FRIDAY 17 JANUARY 2014
Last season I was lucky enough to catch two big Fridays, and Friday 17 January 2014 at Kiroro Snow World can be added to that growing list.
I got a little bit excited on the first run in 'Powder Zone', that's why I put it in in real time
Face Shot Friday Part Three
Here are parts one and two from last winter,
Face Shot Friday Part One
Niseko Grand Hirafu
07 December 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il2T4yaGHTY
Face Shot Friday Part Deux
Kiroro Snow World with Ian MacKenzie
22 February 2013
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DAY 51 : FRIDAY 17 JANUARY 2014
14 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Day four at Kiroro for the Lovelocks and Craig.
It was DEEP
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Thanks SKI and seemore.
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DAY 50 : THURSDAY 16 JANUARY 2014
25 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Day three at Kiroro for the Lovelocks and Craig.
Blue skies and 15-20 cm of new snow all over the mountain for the second morning in a row.
Warming up on the 'Yoichi Course 1-B' green run
Bluebird Kiroro Powder Part One
Bluebird Kiroro Powder Part Two
Bluebird Kiroro Powder Part Three
Then the clouds rolled in
Craig
Hayden
Alex
Ria
Neil
Ian
And we finished the day with 'Magic Hour' Powder
Craig
Alex
Hayden
Ria
Neil
Ian
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DAY 49 : WEDNESDAY 15 JANUARY 2014
16 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
As of today 814 cm (320") has fallen at MQ in Higashiyama
Day two at Kiroro for the Lovelocks and Craig.
We started the day with blue skies and 15-20 cm of new snow all over the mountain.
Part One - Sunny Kiroro Morning
Then it started snowing heavily and it was powder all round.
Part Two - Powder Zone
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UPDATE : SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2014
The Lovelocks, Craig & Ian getting into the Rusutsu powder
Yours truly getting in on the act
DAY 48 : TUESDAY 14 JANUARY 2014
44 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
First day at Kiroro for the Lovelocks and Craig this winter.
Kiroro hadn't received the 24 hr snowfall that the Niseko Resort Area had experienced, but with 10 cm of fresh snow overnight and the mountain virtually empty there was no competition for untracked snow.
We went through the gears warming up on the immaculately groomed pistes and then into the boot to knee deep powder in the Nagamine area.
Runs that had previously challenged them were skied with confidence and fluidity.
We had a late lunch, during which 10-15 cm of featherlight snow fell all over the mountain.
I headed out solo for the last 90 minutes to find some new routes off the groomed areas and was rewarded with 4pm face shots
We had dinner at the Mountain Hotel buffet and watched the snow coming down steadily.
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thanks MIke Pow, your photos and information are very important for me. In a few days I will stay in Niseko for enjoy of this fantastic conditions
My pleasure. Have a great holiday.
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DAY 47 : MONDAY 13 JANUARY 2014
33 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
The tap has been turned on and it's overflowing.
Non-stop snow for the past 23 days dropping 429 cm (169") of powder.
Today was moving day for the Lovelocks and Craig. From J-Sekka in Hirafu to the Mountain Hotel at Kiroro.
After settling them in, Ian and I took a quick recon of the mountain to check out the conditions.
The upper mountain is in great shape with full coverage and all lines good to go.
Lower down there's still a bunch of alder brush making the runs out a little tight.
Patrol has extended the rope line on Nagamine and at the top of the gondola and is cracking down on people ducking the ropes.
But 'Hangman' was wide open.
Ian in 'Hangman'
The track out was well set and smooth, but with the lower snow depths if you don't make the turn you'll be in the river.
Snowing heavily as I left at 5pm, and snow forecast for the next 6 days.
It's going to be a good week at Kiroro.
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Are all your pictures of really short people? Or is it that deep?
It's amazing how deep you can go when you're not on skis with waist widths > 100 mm
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Thanks teikiatsulover.
Conditions are all time at the moment.
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DAY 46 : SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2014
27 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
As of today 721 cm (284") has fallen at MQ in Higashiyama
For the Lovelock family and Craig's last day in and around the Niseko Resort Area we chose to drive over to Rusutsu to escape the weekend and Bank Holiday crowds.
I'd had great reports from a mate that the powder was excellent yesterday, but the snow exceeded our wildest expectations.
You needed pitch to get through the volumes of snow and thankfully Rusutsu has long 30ish degree pitches in abundance.
We spent the morning skiing East Mt with great turns to be had dropping back to the Steamboat chair.
After lunch at the Gondola restaurant - better choice, more space than the Steamboat cafe - we found the best snow of the day over on Heavenly Ridge
Craig
Hayden
Alex
Ria
Neil
Ian
Ria, Alex, Hayden and Ian headed back over to the East Mtn gondola base just before 3pm and Neil, Craig & I continued to find plenty of untracked snow right up to our finish at 4pm
Day of the Season. So far!
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DAY 45 : SATURDAY 11 JANUARY 2014
36 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
With the quad at Moiwa only open for one cycle yesterday, Craig, Hayden & I got there bright and early today in the hope that the wind wouldn't play havoc again.
Unfortunately the wind didn't cooperate closing the quad all day and the 'B' double chair was only open for an hour.
We had 3 great runs off the 'B' chair and then spent the rest of the morning on the 'C' chair playing in the woods.
Hayden
Craig
Hayden
Hayden up & down in 1
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DAY 44 : FRIDAY 10 JANUARY 2014
23 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Neil, Alex, Hayden & I spent the day at Moiwa.
A very cold day.
We did a load of laps on the 'B' double chair before the quad chair opened.
The wind had smoothed out the new snow to a creamy texture. It was fast and floaty though.
Skiing Powder on the piste and in the trees at Moiwa
The wind was howling and we only managed 1 run in the Shirikaba bowl before they stopped the quad for the day.
But that one run was worth the price of admission on its own.
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My pleasure. Enjoy when you get over there.
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Thanks for the tip Mike - you are a Gentleman and a Scholar
:lol: Looking at the trail map this area seems to be "outside" the resort rather than between pistes? - If so, is such adventurism perceived by staff as being a tad naughty?
No ropes, no signage. All good.
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DAY 43 : THURSDAY 09 JANUARY 2014
2 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
We were back to the full complement of Lovelocks today at Annupuri, with Alex back on skis.
Just 2 cm of new snow at MQ when I measured at 6.30 this morning, but at 7.30 the heavens opened and by the time we were heading up on the first chair at 8.40 there was 10-15 cm of dry powder on the piste.
We spent the morning lapping the quad, progressively moving from the piste to the trees.
Surprisingly deep turns were to be had
Skiing Powder in the Trees at Niseko Annupuri
Craig
Hayden
Alex
Neil
After lunch we explored the terrain underneath the gondola - disappointing to see so many traverse lines - and then took the gondola and chair to the top of Annupuri.
Blowing a gale and bitterly cold up high.
Craig, Hayden, Neil and I had a great run down to the Hirafu Gondola, with the Old Lift Line giving the best turns.
12 cm had fallen during the day at MQ, with another 12 cm falling since I shovelled.
Tomorrow could be rather special.
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whats Moiwa's lift status like with strong winds?
thinking I might head that way on Sat to get away from people.
Not good. The quad is often on wind hold with strong winds.
Then it's just the 'B' doule chair and the queues can get quite long.
Rusutsu is a better option when the winds are high.
SR : HokkaidOH! 2013/14
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
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Thanks seemore. Will pass on your thoughts to Ian.
Only time wil tell muikabochi, hopefully they were small ones and I've passed them all.
Heard some guys peeing pea sized stones
No thanks 