Hotaka Scott 0 Posted July 4, 2009 Share Posted July 4, 2009 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 ... And the tunnel commences with a little chainsawing, digging, and snow dumping... And keeps on continuing... With a short break for lunch... To be continued.... Link to post Share on other sites
Hotaka Scott 0 Posted July 4, 2009 Author Share Posted July 4, 2009 Part II: And at the end of day 1, the tunnel has reached the 10m mark.. Capped off with another beautiful sunset... On Day 2, the remaining 4m of the tunnel are finished... And at the end, water is struck... Next, the cable is strung and the hose attached... And finally the water flows to the storage tanks... ...supplying enough water for over 10,000 people over the next 4 months. O-wa-ri Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Brilliant !! HS you really are good at this. Be a photo journalist ... your photos are Sha-Shin as the japanese call it. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Fantastic. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 180 Posted July 5, 2009 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted July 5, 2009 Yes thanks Scott - very interesting/ Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Very interesing! They your friends up there doing that? Link to post Share on other sites
hellyer 216 Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 brilliant work. A question - how do you know where to tunnel? Another? - why is the water not frozen? Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Looks like fun! Link to post Share on other sites
Nisoko 6 Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Cheers for that interesting report Scott. Link to post Share on other sites
Hotaka Scott 0 Posted July 6, 2009 Author Share Posted July 6, 2009 ^^ 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. Link to post Share on other sites
Myoko Guy 0 Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Great story Scott. I have to say, in a very positive way, that this sort of enterprise is typically Japanese. Link to post Share on other sites
cram400 0 Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 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.. Link to post Share on other sites
Greenroome 0 Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Must get a bit edgy when the chainsaw bar gets close to the rock face. Excellent report. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites
Hotaka Scott 0 Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 ^^^ Yeah, the chainsaw has been know to nick the rock wall on occasion so we usually bring an extra chain or 2 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. Link to post Share on other sites
best skier in hakuba 5 Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 Sweet Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted July 10, 2009 Share Posted July 10, 2009 Some really climbing in there. Great stuff Scott. Season owari? Link to post Share on other sites
BeerTengoku 35 Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 Simply awesome pics there! Good to see the snow doesn't go to waste once we've had our fun from it. Link to post Share on other sites
Nisoko 6 Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 That looks like a lot of fun. Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Missed this one. Really interesting thanks for sharing that Hotaka. Link to post Share on other sites
the woman calls me a beast 0 Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Bit late but -------> v. interesting. Link to post Share on other sites
foreversnow 5 Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 WOW Thanks for sharing that. Very interesting. I think National Geographic would be interested in those photo's Link to post Share on other sites
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