SerreChe 2 Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 Thank you George san and Izumi san for a great day hiking and riding at Kagura. Great snow and woderful untouched powder in which we could add our lines. I Met many interesting people as well on the trail. The beauty and peacefulness of the place was wonderful and really enjoyable. Will try to post a couple of pics if they are half decent... Link to post Share on other sites
montoya 0 Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 Hey we really enjoyed today also. Decent snow, good company, nice hike up, safe ride down - can't ask for more than that. Link to post Share on other sites
IceEiji 0 Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 Were there many people there yesterday? Link to post Share on other sites
SerreChe 2 Posted March 16, 2005 Author Share Posted March 16, 2005 Not many people, it was great! On the way up we saw a group of about 7 with a guide stopping to practice using their avalanche equipment. There were 2 people skinning up ahead of us on the trail. Once we reached the top there was another group of about 5 people on top of another ridge. While having lunch, a couple of people went by. So it was really nice and peaceful. Apparently I was told that it can get quite crowded on the weekend though... It was cold yesterday. -4 C at the parking lot in the am, so I suppose it must have been around -10 C up around 2000m. Snow was really nice and fluffy despite no recent snowfall there. Today was 19 C in Tokyo, spring seems to be upon us. So snow must be getting heavier up top today. Link to post Share on other sites
mattlucas 0 Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 Sounds like you had a good time But of course no BC trip would be complete without some good pictures Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 Nice pics. and nice cold snow eh? Looks steepish in the pics too. Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 Hakuba is simple though once you go around the ropes its ok. just nothing inside the ropes. Still looked like fun and the snow that fell this week was super dry for around here. Link to post Share on other sites
SerreChe 2 Posted March 17, 2005 Author Share Posted March 17, 2005 Montoya, your pics are great. Lack of sun did not help. It was a really fantastic day. My pics are not so good but I will venture and try to post a few later. Did you hike today as well? Tokyo was around 20 C. If you did hike, how was the snow compared to yesterday. Link to post Share on other sites
SerreChe 2 Posted March 17, 2005 Author Share Posted March 17, 2005 By the way, nice rooster tail on the last pic. Link to post Share on other sites
SerreChe 2 Posted March 17, 2005 Author Share Posted March 17, 2005 Fog, wow, sorry to hear that. Yes I was indeed lucky! Maybe it was the last good day of the season (hopefully not). I hope temps go back down and we can get more fluffy stuff! Link to post Share on other sites
montoya 0 Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 Probably will be cooler this Fri/Sat, but wondering about how windy it's gonna be: http://weather.yahoo.co.jp/weather/jp/leisure/ski/15/13117.html http://weather.yahoo.co.jp/weather/jp/images/chart.html I just realized it's gonna be a 3-day weekend... Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 Nice pics yes, I know where that is looks good. Link to post Share on other sites
mattlucas 0 Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 Cool pics guys Not only is it a 3 day weekend but it looks like the weather is going to clear up Saddly my parents are coming to visit me for a week so I'm stuck cleaning my apartment and picking them up from Centrair Link to post Share on other sites
mattlucas 0 Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 Quote: Originally posted by montoya: these pics are not that great but anyway... hike up to Kagura-Niwa: What's up with this one. Nothing worse than skinning up a trail after somebody has bootpacked it all up. Link to post Share on other sites
montoya 0 Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 The trail was pretty hard-packed there that day, so no problems with slipping backwards (especially on wide splitboards) We led for most of the climb, so we wanted to let Serreche lead for a while (who is on snowshoes btw). Link to post Share on other sites
mattlucas 0 Posted March 17, 2005 Share Posted March 17, 2005 That's cool Link to post Share on other sites
GoodEgg 0 Posted March 18, 2005 Share Posted March 18, 2005 I was up there at the resort last weekend. Can you give me an idea of where abouts you start your hiking and where to? I'm interested in having a go. Link to post Share on other sites
SerreChe 2 Posted March 21, 2005 Author Share Posted March 21, 2005 Hi GoodEgg, just realized nobody replied to you on this. Trail head starts off the top of the highest quad chairlift (the one on the left off the top of the gondola station). As you get off the quad, you will see many signs like 'keep out' and the likes going uphill. There are a couple of 'egg' style ropeway cabins left there for people to sit in. You will probably see people kitting up. Please do not go alone, go with somebody who knows the area, and have the proper equipment. Have fun. Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 How long time did it take for you to hike to the peak after getting off the lift, Serrche and Montoya? I think Serrche described something about 1kg diet in another thread lol, so I guess it was not easy though. No avalanche there? Link to post Share on other sites
SerreChe 2 Posted March 21, 2005 Author Share Posted March 21, 2005 Gamera, Montoya knows a lot more about the area than I do but: I guess it depends on the snow conditions, the fitness of the person, and the equipment used. Using snowshoes, on a soft-packed trail, not pushing too hard (time for pics, couple of breaks...) it took maybe 1h15 or 1h30, something like that. If you are skinning up, you will probably be quicker. If there is 30cm or more of fresh, if you're breaking trail... maybe 1h45 - 2h. Just guesses. It also depends on which ridge you want to go to. We stopped on the first ridge at the top (Nakaone ?). If you want to reach the next one, probably another 30-45 mins. Yes, it feels very healthy to climb up through the crisp cold air, with nothing but the sound of the wind around you (no J Pop, so do not forget to bring your boombox along )! Did not see any avalanche there, but saw some people really asking for trouble... Montoya spends many days per season there and has seen quite a few slides I believe. Link to post Share on other sites
gamera 0 Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 Hum..... 1.5 hours of hiking in the snow! I'm sure we need someone who knows the place enough. Probably I need more time lol.... so need a patient guide Link to post Share on other sites
cheeseman 1 Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 Did you take some cheese snacks up there? Not only would they have been nutritious and give you that much needed energy boost, but also delicious and fun for all - good to make new friends with! Link to post Share on other sites
SerreChe 2 Posted March 21, 2005 Author Share Posted March 21, 2005 No Cheeseman, but we had lots of chocolate! Miam. Link to post Share on other sites
Sven 0 Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 Ok, I haven't been able to get to the computer for a couple of days since I got back, so I firstly want to say a big thank you to Montoya for being the local in the know on the weekend... Also to SerreChe for knowing how to open bubbles... it woulda been a much colder lunch break outside (although I'm a little worried about that evil streak of yours... wanting to lock those other guys in) It was good climbing with you guys, I hope to do it again sometime So here are a few pics from Friday/Saturday, enjoy. I've got a video or two that I'll email to SJ tomorrow morning. Montoya on Friday: And again: More from the hike, Montoya and SerreChe: (Mostly) our lines: Link to post Share on other sites
SerreChe 2 Posted March 21, 2005 Author Share Posted March 21, 2005 Nice Pics Sven, and by the way, the bubble secret stays with the gang Ok, I am a bit behind when it comes to pics and videos, but here are some pics from the first hike up Kagura a few days ago. So no Sven and his Burrito yet (sorry mate), will try to hook up the video and do that today. I am really struggling to size down these buggers... So here we go for now: Montoya & Izumi san, Splitboarders extraordinaire! The Hike-up (Montoya & Izumi san), note the great light conditions! Mount Naeba in the background: Kagura's very own snow monsters: Digging a snow pit? Now digging a lunch Pit! Yamamoto san (blue), 60 and going strong (Montoya helping). Montoya riding down from Nakaone, lovely spot with not too many trees. Montoya riding down on the Tashiro side: Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts