seemore 66 Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 Awesome Mike Always wanted to run through there at Rusutsu just didn't fancy the walk out and back just need to pay someone to pick me up Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 16, 2013 Author Share Posted February 16, 2013 Thanks seemore. It's a 2km walk back up the road to the East Mt base area from where we skied. Or alternatively you can skin from the bottom of the 'run' back around to the gondola. Takes about 20 mins. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 16, 2013 Author Share Posted February 16, 2013 DAY 93 : FRIDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2013 30 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ With 21 cm of the new snow falling before sundown yesterday and not a cloud in the sky, Ian and I headed to Kiroro for the first time in over a week. One of the last times we were there was with Jonny Richards from Fall Line magazine. Today was one of those days you dream about. Deep, light powder. Sunshine. And untracked slopes all day. 'Finding Your Feet' 'Walk in the Woods' Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 16, 2013 Author Share Posted February 16, 2013 'Hangman' "Can we come back tomorrow?" Link to post Share on other sites
surfarthur 22 Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 Nice Is it my imagination, or have you not been to Kiroro as much this season compared with last season? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 16, 2013 Author Share Posted February 16, 2013 Thanks. Not your imagination. 43 times last winter, 16 so far this winter. But I'm on Fantasy Island for another 60 days Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 17, 2013 Author Share Posted February 17, 2013 DAY 94 : SATURDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2013 10 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Back to Kiroro with Hamilton joining us today. It was the deepest snow I've had the pleasure of skiing on Hokkaido, and also the deepest snow I've ever had to break trail in. At least 50 cm must have fallen on the mountain in the past 24 hrs because it took us 25 mins to make the track out of 'Walk in the Woods' and 45 mins to put the track out of 'Hangman'. The trench was hip deep at times. It was snowing and greybird all day but I did manage to get the camera out for a couple of pitches. Ian and Hamilton getting deep in 'Hangman' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ttvd0RC4LRM Link to post Share on other sites
1 4 Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Nice. Sorry how many minutes drive is it from Niseko to Kiroro? Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Thanks. Not your imagination. 43 times last winter, 16 so far this winter. But I'm on Fantasy Island for another 60 days http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x_QbVDlLbI Not much snow there. Interesting to see where Nik Nak ended up though! If I were James Bond, I would jolly well follow up on that and go get him, the little rascal. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 17, 2013 Author Share Posted February 17, 2013 About an hour 1. Link to post Share on other sites
1 4 Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Is that in 'normal' winter conditions Mike? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 17, 2013 Author Share Posted February 17, 2013 Is that in 'normal' winter conditions Mike? Yes. Got back in 45 mins this afternoon because the roads were good and the sun was shining. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Hey Mike, nice pics as always of course. That road, Route 5 isn't it. Is it a road you can zoom along on or a narrow winding road where there's no chance of overtaking kind of thing? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 17, 2013 Author Share Posted February 17, 2013 Thanks muikabochi. Rt 393 from Kutchan to Otaru. Good road, plenty of straights. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Awesome Mike I think Gozaimaas was there as well Saturday although I haven't sen any posts looks good next year I am definitely going there for a day or 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Mick Rich 78 Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 +1! I missed out on Kiroro this year but am definitely going to sort it out for next year!! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 Wots it like late March-early April? I'll be in a position to visit it then Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 18, 2013 Author Share Posted February 18, 2013 Thanks seemore. Normally pretty good TubbyBeaverinho 2011 http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/405321/TR_SPRING_ON_HOKKAIDO.html#Post405321 Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 18, 2013 Author Share Posted February 18, 2013 DAY 95 : SUNDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2013 25 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ As of today 1315 cm (518") has fallen at MQ We escaped the crowds and wind of the Niseko United and drove over the mountain to Kiroro. After a couple of warm-up runs on the Yoichi #1-B Course we headed into 'Walk in the Woods'. Hamilton Ian Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 18, 2013 Author Share Posted February 18, 2013 The snow was lighter than yesterday but we wanted more vertical. Thankfully the track out was much quicker today. With a line-up for the gondola we headed to the Nagamine area. Some excellent waist deep snow interspersed with light crud and pockets of windblown powder that stopped you dead in your tracks and sent you over the handlebars. Well it launched me. Next stop the 'POWDER ZONE', venue for yesterday's straight line powder competition - the snow was too deep for the pitch. Today it was great with face shots every turn. And then we lapped the gondola and skied 'Hangman'. Unfortunately we lost the light, but the depth and height was there. Hamilton Ian Ian had the Contour recording most of the afternoon, look forward to seeing the snowcloud moving down the mountain. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 19, 2013 Author Share Posted February 19, 2013 DAY 96 : MONDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2013 12 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ After three days of breaking trail and fifteen days straight on sticks it was time for a much needed day off snow. In other news, Update on the Mt Yotei avalanche incident on Wednesday 06 February 2013 Kristian is Going Home Hard lessons, but taken with humility. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Yeah a bit of humility there I am sure he has had a bit of time to think about it Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 20, 2013 Author Share Posted February 20, 2013 DAY 97 : TUESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2013 14 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ A great day at a deserted Kiroro with Ian. Just one guided group and one group of 4 Scandanavians over from Hirafu skiing the areas we were skiing, so plenty of untracked every run. The snow had consolidated in the past 48 hrs leaving a spongy layer approx 30 cm below the snow surface. Boot top to knee deep turns on most of the pitches, then waist deep and deeper in the steeper sections. And no slog fest to get out. Ian in 'Hangman' On the way back to Hirafu we stopped to watch this plucky Australian ski the avalanche barriers near the Drom campsite. The avalanche barriers on Rt 393 have become so popular that the Highway Authority has roped off the access points and erected signs saying 'KEEP OUT' and 'No Snowboarding'. Nothing about skiing though. A bloody good effort from a 'Joe' not a pro. DAY 98 : WEDNESDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2013 21 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ Snowing and blowing out there today with the upper lifts on wind hold or closed in the Niseko United. Ian skied a quiet Niseko Hirafu this morning and reported creamy powder conditions. Big snowfall forecast for tonight and no wind tomorrow. Trenchtown Thursday could be on the cards. Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Thanks for the pics again Mike. Those barriers look quite intimidating from the road, dont imagine it looks any easier from the top. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted February 20, 2013 Author Share Posted February 20, 2013 My pleasure. Thanks for reading and commenting. I was very happy to be on my side of the lens. Link to post Share on other sites
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