black diamond 0 Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Just went up to Kurodake (Sounkyo) for the opening weekend. 100cms base and super soft powder! Amazing mid season conditions on top of the mountain. Not a bad way to start the season... but then again that's how we start most seasons in Hokkaido. Even rode to the bottom of the ropeway! (but was super sketchy on the last 300 meters). If you've never been you have to give it a try, but if you like crowds, give it a miss because you may find yourself the only one there! Kurodake is still a realtively unknown resort located in Japan's largest national park. If you go, you'll need full avi gear, the ability to rescue yourself if you get in trouble, and advanced ski/snowboard skills to really appreciate it. Even the "hardcore Hakuba boyz" would have difficulty dissing this place. If you ice climb, this is the place in Hokkaido, check out Hokkaido ice clibming on youtube. BTW, the part where the two guys almost died wasn't in Sounkyo. Sounkyo is also famous for ample amount of hotsprings and the beautiful gorge it is located in. At the moment Kurodake is the only resort open in Hokkaido so get over there! Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Good job BD, you and Mike got me ultra stoked for my Hokkaido trip next month! We too did some turns down in Honshu last weekend but I wish I could say it was in 100 cm pow. Link to post Share on other sites
frannyo 2 Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Hey tsondaboy that pic you tried to post what was that? thought you didn't take pics when you went - you go again? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Excellent Black Diamond. Great to read. On my way up tomorrow. Any pics? Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 I will be going up almost every weekend from now on. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 hmmm... is that a cake I spy? Happy Birthday Tsondaboy! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 where did you go Tsonda...yeti? what like? Is Kurodake the place that closes for the majority of winter because of too much snow? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted November 11, 2008 Share Posted November 11, 2008 Originally Posted By: Tubby Beaver Is Kurodake the place that closes for the majority of winter because of too much snow? Yep. Shuts down sometime in December and opens up in March. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Mike we'll be heading back again for the first weekend after the lift opens. You'll have to make sure you come up next time! Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Oh, happy birthday, Tsonda! Yeah, we need to see pics of kurodake. Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Moderator SnowJapan.Com#4 5 Posted November 12, 2008 SnowJapan Moderator Share Posted November 12, 2008 Some pics on the Niseko Now page and here are all the pics from there, using the new tag system which we hope people will use and enjoy. http://www.snowjapan.com/e/insider/photo_section_tag.php?tag=Daisetsuzan%20Kurodake Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 If you guys wanna hit it again in end of December that I ll be up there, gimme a shout! Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 by the way, thx for the wishes everyone. (and sorry for hijacking the thread) Link to post Share on other sites
jcpops864 0 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Originally Posted By: tsondaboy Good job BD, you and Mike got me ultra stoked for my Hokkaido trip next month! We too did some turns down in Honshu last weekend but I wish I could say it was in 100 cm pow. Hi Tsondaboy, I'm just curious what resort you went to last weekend. Was it Karuizawa? That's the only I know about that's open. Do you have any photos up here? Cheers! Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Originally Posted By: Go Native Mike we'll be heading back again for the first weekend after the lift opens. You'll have to make sure you come up next time! Nice pics GN. A little bird told me there was powder in 'them there hills'. Post the action shots please. If none available, hopefully Glen and I will be able to deliver sometime Saturday morning Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Originally Posted By: jcpops Originally Posted By: tsondaboy Good job BD, you and Mike got me ultra stoked for my Hokkaido trip next month! We too did some turns down in Honshu last weekend but I wish I could say it was in 100 cm pow. Hi Tsondaboy, I'm just curious what resort you went to last weekend. Was it Karuizawa? That's the only I know about that's open. Do you have any photos up here? Cheers! No resort runs last weekend, we hiked up the Daisekkei in hakuba. Yeti in Gotenba is also open, we did it on the 3rd. Link to post Share on other sites
jcpops864 0 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Hi tsondaboy, I don't know what Daisekkei is, but it sounds like a mountain somewhere. I'm guessing it was awesome though - heaps of powder! Do you have any photos of what it looks like? Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 It looks like this Unfortunately, like I said in my first post NO powder at all. We literally ice-skated down the mountain... Link to post Share on other sites
jcpops864 0 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Brilliant photo tsondaboy, I imagine your team must be pretty dedicated to go into terrain like that! I showed it to my co-worker and she went "sugoi!" I think you guys are the first people in Japan to ski in the mountains this season. Cheers! Originally Posted By: tsondaboy It looks like this Unfortunately, like I said in my first post NO powder at all. We literally ice-skated down the mountain... Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Originally Posted By: jcpops I imagine your team must be pretty desperate for snow to go into terrain like that! Edited for clarity. Link to post Share on other sites
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