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Although no skiing was involved, there was snow, and lots of it.

 

If any hikers/climbers have ever wondered where the water comes from at some of the huts in the mountains, this is the answer for one...

 

When: June 28th and 29th, 2009

Where: Northern Alps

 

It all begins with a short climb to the Mizutori Sawa ...

 

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And the tunnel commences with a little chainsawing, digging, and snow dumping...

 

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And keeps on continuing...

 

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With a short break for lunch...

 

June28th09039-new.jpg

 

 

 

 

To be continued....

 

 

 

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Part II:

 

And at the end of day 1, the tunnel has reached the 10m mark..

 

June28th09069-new.jpg

 

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Capped off with another beautiful sunset...

 

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On Day 2, the remaining 4m of the tunnel are finished...

 

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And at the end, water is struck...

 

June29th09012-new.jpg June29th09013-new.jpg

 

Next, the cable is strung and the hose attached...

 

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And finally the water flows to the storage tanks...

 

July4th09013-new.jpg July4th09007-new.jpg

 

...supplying enough water for over 10,000 people over the next 4 months.

 

O-wa-ri

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brilliant work.

A question - how do you know where to tunnel?

Another? - why is the water not frozen?

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^^ Thanks guys

 

 

Originally Posted By: snowjunky
brilliant work.

A question - how do you know where to tunnel?

Another? - why is the water not frozen?

 

The tunnel gets dug in the same spot every year. It's kind of tough to see in one of the pictures, but there's a sort-of natural dam at the end of the tunnel where the melted snow (water) accumulates. From late June to late Aug it doesn't usually drop below freezing, so the snow is continually melting. However, by early Sept the flow does start to slow down, and usually in mid-Sept the last of the snow has melted. The hose and wire then get taken down until the next year when it get dug yet again.

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Scott-san,

 

Love the lunch break photo.. I bet nothing beats eating a bento in the open air surrounded by mountains!

 

so, when do sub-zero temps begin to creep back in on the Northern Alps?

I for one am already tired of the heat and humidity and can't wait for reports of first snowfall on the highest peaks of Japan..

 

I know we're still 4-5 months away from that though.. ho hum..

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^^^ Yeah, the chainsaw has been know to nick the rock wall on occasion so we usually bring an extra chain or 2 wink

 

Temps will usually drop below 0 as early as late Aug, but it doesn't really start to get cold till mid Sept - then the white stuff may start falling and sticking.

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