panhead_pete 27 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Right on man, stoked for ya! Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Lucky you! It would have been awesome with the sun out. Was a touch on the bleak side by the time we got up there. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdust 0 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Brilliant stuff Mitch! Makes me wanna buy a ticket and fly right back! Battling with serious hokkaido powder withdrawal symptoms at the mo... Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 gotta have those GoPros Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Great stoke, Mitch! Link to post Share on other sites
yamayamayama 2 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Sweet. Link to post Share on other sites
mitchpee 10 Posted January 25, 2011 Author Share Posted January 25, 2011 Another trip report: Monday, January 24, 2011 2 Peaks 1 Day Today was one of those days (as every day should be) when you get to be reminded of awesome life is in general. I took off from the lodge with a van, my skins and an open-ended plan for the day. It is always a bit nerve racking setting up for a big tour in Japan because the weather is extremely volatile. A lot of places like to claim their weather changes fast. New England has a saying "if you don't like the weather wait 5 minutes" Well New England and Utah weather are nothing compared to Japan. Somehow, the sun stayed out the entire day and made for some awesome sight seeing. I climbed up the first peak which is adjacent to Goshiki village/onsen. I will definitely return there to build some jumps and ski some steep lines I scouted. For today, I just went to the peak to ski the bowl at the top. I was riding solo so the leeward slope with the nice big cornice to jump off was enticing, however for once my logic pulled through with the victory. Iwanoupuri was the first peak I reached that looked over the back side of my home mountain Niseko. Like all mountains around, the very top was a bit wind crusted but after a few turns it turned to a beautiful surfy snow that you almost feel nothing below your feet. Carving is effortless, unlike the skin up. After a great quick run, I hopped in the van and drove down the road a bit to another parking lot where I just clicked in and started going. Luckily I found a skin track that went about 3/4 up the way of Iowanoupuri. Another beautiful 360 degree view peak. As I started to admire the expandable view in every direction I noticed the Pacific Ocean over my left shoulder. Yup, deepest snow I have ever skied that close to the ocean. Quite the run down as the snow became a bit heavy near the bottom, but still one of the more fun runs I have done here in Japan. All in all, it was an awesome day and the adventure alone was well worth it. Here is a video of the second run on Iowanoupuri (first one my go pro was pretty fogged) Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Yeeeeeaaaaaaaaah Mannn what a run Link to post Share on other sites
mitchpee 10 Posted January 25, 2011 Author Share Posted January 25, 2011 Originally Posted By: Jynxx Yeeeeeaaaaaaaaah Mannn what a run I wish I had the first run I did on video. It was sooooo nice the snow was north facing so the sun didn't touch it and it was like riding a cloud, really surfy Link to post Share on other sites
Tex 3 Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Nice work Mitch! Green with envy... Link to post Share on other sites
MagSeven 40 Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Looks like you had a sweet day yesterday Mitch! I didn't make it to Rusutsu. The wife was feeling pretty sick Sunday night and Monday, so unfortunately I had to do the decent thing and drive back home Monday morning! Thanks for showing me a few spots on Sunday though. I really enjoyed ripping the trees with you. I'll no doubt be down there again a few times. Let me know when you're planning to hit Furano, or any of the Sapporo hills (or nightclubs!) Link to post Share on other sites
HeatherLocklearRocks 1 Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Sweet. Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Looks great mate but please think about finding a buddy when doing those trips, or at least an EPIRB if you dont already have one. Link to post Share on other sites
mitchpee 10 Posted January 25, 2011 Author Share Posted January 25, 2011 Originally Posted By: panhead_pete Looks great mate but please think about finding a buddy when doing those trips, or at least an EPIRB if you dont already have one. Oh for sure. Obviously nothing is guaranteed in the backcountry but my chances of dying were probably greater on the drive there. I checked for stable slopes etc. Thanks for looking out though Pete Link to post Share on other sites
rider69 18 Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Nice little tour. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Actually looks like you may have climbed Nitoannupuri from your pics above. I've marked where Iwaonupuri and Annupuri are in your photo below. Link to post Share on other sites
mitchpee 10 Posted January 25, 2011 Author Share Posted January 25, 2011 Haha yeah, I did both! There should be one picture in there from Iowanoupuri Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Well done mate looks great. Got to love being alone there is something special about it. Seemore Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I have had one scary experience on my own on one of those days that started blue and clear and ended up blizzard. I sure was glad to get back that day. But yes, can be magical. Link to post Share on other sites
mitchpee 10 Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 Originally Posted By: SKI I have had one scary experience on my own on one of those days that started blue and clear and ended up blizzard. I sure was glad to get back that day. But yes, can be magical. Sure is! Just an update here from Niseko: Some of the fastest snowfall rates I have ever seen here. 2 meters of snow in the past couple days and tons of people are complaining it is "too deep". Waiting on some footage soon. Link to post Share on other sites
tokabochi 9 Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 But, Irihirose in central Niigata officially has the most snow, at 422cm in village. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 I'm just glad we're not in Niigata at the moment. You guys have definitely had too much snow! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Too much?! No!!! Actually, I reckon this will be the peak in terms of walls of snow, so I want more to fall before things melt. 30cm overnight would be good! Irihirose looks mad, just saw some photos - natural walls of snow over 4m on either side of a narrow road. Madness! Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 We have similar up here currently in places. I just know how much time I've had to spend snow clearing over the last few days and you guys in Niigata have been getting hammered more than we have. I don't envy you at all! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 This year I have had to do surprisingly little snow clearing. In fact, I almost wish I had to do more it would be good exercise! Perhaps I should help some others in the neighbourhood. Link to post Share on other sites
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