RayInJapan 0 Posted March 10, 2003 Share Posted March 10, 2003 We left Misawa under blizzard conditions early sat morning and drove to Ajigasawa Ski Resort/Prince Hotel over on the north west side of Tohoku. Before leaving, I snow blew just enough of the driveway to get Momos Surf out and came home last night to find my Delica buried, the "cleared" driveway recovered in snow, and the whole street side front of my house/driveway plowed in 3 feet thick and 3 feet high. But I'm getting off the topic... Ajigasawa was awesome - it was our 4th overnighter there this season, great place to stay - They had the blizzard conditions on Friday night, and it snowed all day and night sat/sun so most of the runs had deep dry powder instead of the heavy wet snow we've been getting lately. They kept most of the advanced runs closed on Saturday cause there were few people there, probably cause the expressways were closed cause of the blizzard up here. Early sunday when they opened those closed runs it was incredible "on-piste" runs, then after lunch, we took to the trees and found untouched snow with lots of fresh powder. Just when I thought all the good snowboarding was over for the season, Mother Nature comes up and reminds me who's boss... My body is aching bad - I wish today was a day off...not sure how I'm gonna get through my 45 minute run this afternoon... I almost feel like I should put the boards up for the year - its gonna be hard to top this past weekend...its weekends like this that make me wish the snow season was longer and say "Damn! December is 9 months away!" Link to post Share on other sites
simpleton 0 Posted March 10, 2003 Share Posted March 10, 2003 Hey Ray, why don't you just give the 45 minute run a rest today? Link to post Share on other sites
RayInJapan 0 Posted March 10, 2003 Author Share Posted March 10, 2003 I can't - its a work related, mandatory thing...I think I'll just run a little slower instead, though its not like I'm "fast" - only about 10Kmh... Link to post Share on other sites
green 0 Posted March 10, 2003 Share Posted March 10, 2003 Work related running? Link to post Share on other sites
iggy 0 Posted March 11, 2003 Share Posted March 11, 2003 I was in Niseko this weekend and realized when I got back to Misawa what I missed. It took me an hour this morning (at 0430) on my way to gym to dig my car out!! Ray, which place around here do you like best? Link to post Share on other sites
Plucky 0 Posted March 11, 2003 Share Posted March 11, 2003 I'm glad somebody got to enjoy that snow! Good for you Ray! Give you some good memories while you work your way through the excercise! Link to post Share on other sites
RayInJapan 0 Posted March 11, 2003 Author Share Posted March 11, 2003 Iggy - I like Ajigasawa the best but the drive is a killer, 3-4 hours one way, so it's not a day trip for us. I like Okunakayama, and Hachimantai Forrest too - both are about the same driving distance. APPI is good on a week day - too crowded for me on the weekends. Hakkoda is good when the weather is good - about the same as getting to Okunakayama if the roads are in good shape. This saturday we're going where the sun is shining - if its blue skies, we're headed to Hakkoda. If its overcast, we're headed to Okunakayama. So far this year, we've been to the following places here in Tohoku: Ajigasawa - 4 overnighters (one 2 nights), 4 hr drive Hakkoda - 4 times, 2-3 hr drive Okunakayama - twice, 2 hr drive APPI - 3 times, 2 hour drive Hachimantai Forrest - once, 2 1/2 hour drive Shizukuishi - once, 2 1/2 hour drive Geto Kogen - once, 3 hours Tazawako - once, 3 hours Amihari - once, next to Shizukuishi All of those places are good places but the drives can be killer if the road conditions are bad... Plucky - definetly some good memories from this past weekend. But then I had to blow some snow and shovel a lot sunday night and yesterday. Its all good but dare I say I'm ready for the sun to start shining and get on with jet skiing? Link to post Share on other sites
iggy 0 Posted March 12, 2003 Share Posted March 12, 2003 I'm a huge fan of Hachimantai Forest and Hakkoda, so much so that I've only tried Appi (terrible on weekends- and work doesn't allow me to go on weekdays) Shizukuishi, Okunakayama and Shimokura (terrible for boarders and too small)- besides my trip to Niseko. It only takes us one and a half hours to get to the Forest and Hakkoda from Misawa. We've been to one or the other every weekend and it's rocked! How's Ajigasawa? How do you get there? Link to post Share on other sites
RayInJapan 0 Posted March 12, 2003 Author Share Posted March 12, 2003 Hi Iggy - we usually go through Aomori City then through Hirosaki to get there. Its on the slopes of Mt Iwaki near the Sea of Japan. My driving times are conservative - I'm the guy who gets passed all the time on the expressway cause I don't like winter driving - I grew up in Hawaii, and I know more than a few folks up here who have wrecked their cars this winter. When the roads are dry, I speed with the best but when its cold, wet/icy/unknown cause its dark out - I drive to alive, especially after the JASDF lost 4 guys coming back from APPI last year...plus my tall lift-kit fitted, diesel engined 4WD Delica Van doesn't go very fast anyway... Only a few more weekends left - maybe we can hook up this weekend? Link to post Share on other sites
iggy 0 Posted March 12, 2003 Share Posted March 12, 2003 Looks like the weather should be great in Hakkoda so I'm planning on going there! Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted March 12, 2003 Share Posted March 12, 2003 We also had a great few days. Even better than a weekend, resorts almost empty. Link to post Share on other sites
RayInJapan 0 Posted March 13, 2003 Author Share Posted March 13, 2003 Iggy - Maybe we can hook up at Hakkoda or on the way eh? Our plan saturday morning is to head that way if the skies are clear, or head south to the forrest possibly if Hakkoda looks like it will be clouded out... Ray Link to post Share on other sites
iggy 0 Posted March 14, 2003 Share Posted March 14, 2003 I keep staring at the weather predictions and they keep changing. I'll give you a buzz Friday night to see what the consensus is, pray for a big dump tomorrow!! Link to post Share on other sites
damian 0 Posted March 14, 2003 Share Posted March 14, 2003 for a good time, call Ray on...... Link to post Share on other sites
RayInJapan 0 Posted March 14, 2003 Author Share Posted March 14, 2003 Link to post Share on other sites
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