DoctorOctopus 2 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 ippy just said ropeways suck in another thread. I agree, I really don't like them. The timing, the waiting, the scrunching in together with other smelly people. Just hassle. Gondolas are a bit bitter. But give me a fast quad lift with a hood any day. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Not so keen myself. I like keeping my skis on. But, if they take you to places other lifts don't.... Talking about ropeways, I always really enjoy watching the Muikamachi Hakkaisan gondola because it races up that mountain at ridiculous speed. It's as if it's in >> mode. I always have a chuckle watching it. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Here it is http://www.sj.snowjapan.tv/videos/581/hakkai-san-ropeway-fast/ Watch the ropeway going up. Funny. On weekends they have it running continuously. Weekdays it's every 20 minutes. Yuzawa Kogen was every 20 minutes even on Saturday. Bummer if you just miss one. Link to post Share on other sites
ippy 66 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 ETA: Theyre really nippy! Easy one of the worst though is the bottom of yuzawa kogen to the top, then across to gala. They both leave on the hour, twenty past and 20 to. So you get up one, track across the hill to the other station, then wait another 15 minutes. After just missing the damn thing when i arrived at the base of yuzawa kogen, and being somewhat pushed for time if i wanted to actually ride ishiuchi as well, it was... frust... maddening! Actually i take it back, the worst, the absolute worst and the first of only two hissy fits ive ever spat whilst snowboarding (the second one on day 2 this season in hakuba), has to be ZAO. I paid my fekkin money, i bought your stupid ticket. I rode down your stupid hills. I now would like to make use of your ropeway which my ticket covers to ride back up the hill to use the facilities im paying for... oh whats this? I have to leave the station, head outside to some ****ing van, get a ticket, requeue and then wait for an HOUR after already spending almost twenty minutes sat at the station waiting in a queue which i thought was for the damn ropeway but didnt actually have the aforementioned ticket for! Once you know about these places, it softens the blow, but well, you know. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 My toppest tip for Zao without car is to get the pair lift by the Ropeway at base and then get up the mountain on the ski lifts. Better still, with car, park at Kurohime and get the superdooper fast quads there. They really whizz. The Gondola at Tenjin has to be worst. I think it's the same as the top Zao gondola, but 1/100th the speed. If you plan to ski on Tuesday, best to turn up and start your gondola journey on Monday lunchtime. Take some entertainment to pass the time. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Does the Tenjin gondola have sleeping facilities and a kitchen area? (With a fridge of course for the milk). Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 They are alot better for a bit of hanky panky (if you are alone of course) Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Tenjin's ropeway.....I think my grandad can move faster than that thing Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 @ seemore ...or possibly with a willing partner? Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Both would help a slow one and a willing partner Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 My toppest tip for Zao without car is to get the pair lift by the Ropeway at base and then get up the mountain on the ski lifts. Better still, with car, park at Kurohime and get the superdooper fast quads there. They really whizz. Yeah, if you're there to board or ski, just pretend the lower Zao Ropeway doesn't even exist. When I went, there were even employees out around the base station with megaphones advising skiers and boarders to take the chairlifts up instead to save time. Link to post Share on other sites
Kansaiash 6 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Not a fan of gondolas or ropeways myself. Especially if they are old and sketchy looking like the one at happo. Biwako Valley has a big fancy ropeway but its not included in the lift ticket so it makes a day there well overpriced in my opinion. Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Pretty scary some of them remember the one that got hit in italy by a US airforce jet http://www.nytimes.c...lift-cable.html Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 That Hakkaisan one is funny. Worth going to see it in action! Link to post Share on other sites
Sciclone 2 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Furano zone's was pretty good. Take it up to the top, hammer down the runs then catch the next one 4 mins later. The one's at Yakebitai are also decent. A little slower, but not as slow as the triple that goes up the side of Giant. In someways I prefer them. 2 previous knee injuries (1 each knee) mean that leaving one strapped in puts a heap of strain on them and by the end of the day, they really hurt. Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 Here's a pic of the gondola at Higashitateyama or whatever it's called in Shiga Kogen a few years back Link to post Share on other sites
Sciclone 2 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Classic! Yes, the higashidateyama gondola is quite egg shaped... Cool retro Link to post Share on other sites
hellyer 216 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Here's a pic of the gondola at Higashitateyama or whatever it's called in Shiga Kogen a few years back ha ha - Just like I remember it - can you do it again with my ski's poking through both side of the walls - it is sooo tiny Link to post Share on other sites
Gunma Boarder 14 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Tenjin is pretty slow compared to that speed racer Hakaisan ropeway. On the bright side it's usually not very crowded so you can relax or strech a bit on the trip up. The views are also pretty good on a nice day. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Tenjin is pretty slow compared to the evolutionary time of the universe Fixed it for U Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted January 19, 2013 Share Posted January 19, 2013 +2 for bubble quads +1 for gondolas -1 for ropeways Link to post Share on other sites
Jerro 0 Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Who would win - Tenjindaira or Hakkaisan Ropeway. Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Hakkaisan probably done 20 trips by the time Tenjin has done half it's journey! Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted February 19, 2013 Share Posted February 19, 2013 Oh come on, it's more like 30. Link to post Share on other sites
the snowboarding vicar 1 Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 The gondola at Tenjin looks like the Zao Ropeway one - is it actually the same? Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts