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Posted: 22 Dec 2010 23:42      quote | report

*edited 22 Dec 2010 23:42
Yeah, ritual humiliation in those game shows - go figure
Just spent an hour trying to work out the recycling system. Burnables, non-burnables, plastic, compost (except pork, chicken and seafood shells (what about lamb and beef??), PET bottles, glass, cans. Even have to rip the plastic wrapper off the pet bottle and put it in a separate cbhag. Milk cartons have to be opened, flattened out and tied with string as does paper - separate matt from shiny. White foam food containers can be recycled but not coloured. And everything has to be washed and dried. And all in different coloured bags. Death by hari-kari if you don't comply I had better say sayronara now.

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 11:58      quote | report

Don't forget that the lids on bottles are made from different plastic to the bottle itself

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 14:15      quote | report

Yes, worked that one out...now the other 999. Are juice containers with foil insides treated the same as milk cartons?

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 14:16      quote | report

I miss Japan's complete lack of sense. Such a cool country and their cities are so intense! Have you managed to see any of the big cities Jude?

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 17:39      quote | report

Originally posted by: Jude
Yes, worked that one out...now the other 999. Are juice containers with foil insides treated the same as milk cartons?

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 18:01      quote | report

@Ride - no big cities yet. Interesting place, Japan. I always thought they were relatively sophisticated but some of the things/way of doing things are totally out of the ark. Almost like it is made purposely complex and confusing
Just back from two hours skiing. Been pretty warm - just a dusting of new wet snow (would be called powder in NZ). Expected dump moved out till tonight/tomorrow. Got everything dug out in preparation.
@ Rozboon. You are wanted by the Japanese authorities for crimes against recycling.

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 19:06      quote | report

This is what they are say re snow....hope they are right. Not sure about a blizzard on Xmas day. I've done enough of those at Whaka and was hoping to ski Xmas day....

Only a little snow last night with the bulk of the snowfall currently moving up through the eastern side of Hokkaido. As the low pressure system moves up to the NE of the island though we'll see winds turn around to the NW and the good stuff will really start to hit.
It's currently cloudy with a little light snow but this should increase later in the day as will the winds. From tonight onwards through the outlook moderate to heavy snowfalls are expected. Christmas day is expecting blizzard conditions.
So hopefully today is the last day of the hard packed conditions that have prevailed over much of this week.

Posted: 24 Dec 2010 23:30      quote | report

Christmas dinner Japanese style

20 cm new light dry fluffy pow. Day off tomorrow - going to Hirafu. Going to put Edgehi's pow tips into practice

Posted: 24 Dec 2010 23:36      quote | report

Nice that looks like an insanely good Xmas dinner! Must be better than the big ham taking up 68% of my fridge


20cm fluffy goods sounds like you'll be grining wide tommorrow. Whats this thing you call a 'day off'. I don't really understand that phrase you might need to explain.

p.s. Check your mail

Posted: 25 Dec 2010 0:16      quote | report

MMMMMMMMMM...ham. You'll be eating it for the next two weeks you know.

Posted: 25 Dec 2010 22:18      quote | report

Went over to Hanazono side of Hirafu today. Some good pow. Going to be a sttep learning curve.

Posted: 26 Dec 2010 15:05      quote | report

Dumping! Pity I can't get out and enjoy it - guests coming. Just spent an hour digging snow. Over a metre of light dry fluffy in last 24 hours. Easy to shovel but you have to keep on top of it or it compacts and turns to concrete

Posted: 28 Dec 2010 1:36      quote | report

Today

Posted: 30 Dec 2010 10:03      quote | report

The forecast dump didn't happen
Didn't ski yesterday, but went to onsen instead. Had lovely outdoor pool in the snow overlooking the forest.
And the tucker is good, Went to a place where you make your own Japanese pankakes - meat and veg pattie basically, with yummy toppings distilled from whale meat

Posted: 01 Jan 2011 10:22      quote | report

Cold, clear and windy. And really firm on trail with lots of windblown - just like home! No new snow over last few days - Edgehi must be hogging (or sheeping) it all

Posted: 01 Jan 2011 11:54      quote | report

Gone real cold here too, which means it stops snowing, Good I needed a rest. Jude have you had a play off the far side of the top Hana bubble chair? If I remember it's through gate 5??? just up and around the drive station, or come down off that top 'bird perch' chair (don't you love them!!!). That was some of my favorite tree skiing on that hill. Also off the top of Anna and through the top two gates (can't remember the numbers) and come out at the bottom of anna.
How's the pow technique coming along?

Posted: 01 Jan 2011 15:03      quote | report

Originally posted by: Jude
Today

Posted: 01 Jan 2011 19:08      quote | report

I'm not

Posted: 02 Jan 2011 19:37      quote | report

@edgehi
Enjoying those chips smothered in gravy and cheese they serve up in Canada?

Posted: 02 Jan 2011 19:40      quote | report

Powder skiing not progressing as there is no new snow Coming tonight - snowing now. On trail fairly hard and fast today, off a bit crusty - have had some big winds over the last few days. Calm today though.

Posted: 02 Jan 2011 21:57      quote | report

Sounds just like Rua

I'm leaving in 5 days and absolutely cannot wait. Spent New Year's with some French boarders who got me massively hyped up for getting some Northern snow action

Posted: 02 Jan 2011 23:01      quote | report

@ Ride. Almost like Rua, don't come here for tha but I'm here for the whole season so bound to get some good stuff in
You are going to be in heaven. Got your bag packed?

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 16:28      quote | report

Jude, looks like you are about to head into a great snow pattern, enjoy!
Looks like we are too here @ Red, yum.

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 16:29      quote | report

haha my mate just got back from red 2 days ago edgehi

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 17:32      quote | report

Yeah, been dumping last 20 hours

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 17:45      quote | report

ha ha ha, I'm still there!

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 18:29      quote | report

Originally posted by: edgehi
ha ha ha, I'm still there!

Posted: 04 Jan 2011 22:43      quote | report

LAst 20 hours, how epic is that. Must be MUCH more exciting than the days you weathered out at Rua

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 0:19      quote | report

Jude, I'm all set to go. Cannot wait for it all really. Not looking forward to the flight but after that it's living the dream. Will be pretty keen to get over to France to check out some of their hills!

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 6:14      quote | report

where abouts u heading in france?

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 10:17      quote | report

@ Ride. How many more sleeps? Hope you have an awesome time. Look forward to seeing the pics

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 16:53      quote | report

*edited 05 Jan 2011 16:54
Two more sleeps I think it's probably impossible to be any more excited than I am right now! Pics of snow will come soon hopefully. In the meantime enjoy some sweet Japan powder for me

Posted: 05 Jan 2011 18:43      quote | report

Fantastic pow day but zero vis and windy. Did a massive face plant at the top of the gondola before they closed it. Obviously seeing me in distress was evidence that it was way to dangerous out there

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 15:09      quote | report

30-40cm since yesterday. I know cos I have to keep digging the stuff. Least it's not concrete like NZ.....well Rua

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 15:10      quote | report

did ya get sum jude?

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 16:00      quote | report

Not yet....digging....digging. And have to go dump the rubbish in Nieseko Town...less chance at getting pinged for the wrong rubbish in the wrong bin over there . Plus hurt neck in wipe out yesterday

This is set to go on for a couple of days so will get my turn

Posted: 06 Jan 2011 23:15      quote | report

42cm according to the report. Damn it!

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 10:15      quote | report

It is puking. Must be well over a 150cm in the last 48 hours by now. Never seen anything like it. They had to grade driveway 3 times yesterday and an hour later you were up to your shins again. Had to drive over to Niseko Town. Took 40 minutes to dig van out. Will have to do same again today. Absolutely freezing and blizzarding too.

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 16:50      quote | report

Sno porn!

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 17:43      quote | report

Still snowing. Windy too so gondola closed so had to do hooded quad. Skis sticking on snow. Too cold and dry

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 17:49      quote | report

Ha, 'sticking' in the snow. No different to Rua pow then

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 17:50      quote | report

ouch
elephant snot

Posted: 08 Jan 2011 0:02      quote | report

Yeah, was a bit of deja-vu happening
Will have to wax them. Least of my worries. Had a brush with the authorities today. No, wasn't caught ducking ropes Did a wee Tokyo drift coming down the hill to the intersection. Unfortunately there was someone stopped to let a grader pass, so it was him in the flintstones car or the grader. I chose Mr Flintstone (actually was just lucky on that), otherwise it would have been the grader -ouch. I smashed a side light but totalled the Flintstone rear tail light and back window. Just to top it off, he was one of the ski hill bosses.......Lucky I wasn't wearing my ski gear so he won't recognise me on the hill

Posted: 08 Jan 2011 10:23      quote | report

From yesterday and it's still going.....

"...Lots and lots of snow out there this morning. Since last report we've had another 55-60cm of snow. At times yesterday it was coming down at near 10cm per hour. It eased a bit overnight but since around 6am this morning it has started snowing pretty heavily again. As it states in the avi report below some leeward slopes have accumulated up over 1.5m in the last 24 hours and there has been rapid cornice development. So as you would expect avalanche danger currently is extreme and all gates will remain closed today. It's very cold out there this morning, below -10 in the village and close to -20 up top with significant windchills up high, so make sure you really rug up.

The snow is very deep off-piste, in many places with not so steep gradients it's actually too deep. Lots of people getting stuck out there in the deep stuff. On-piste yesterday people were reporting up over knee deep turns and it should be similar today. All in all an epic system that has transformed the resort from a mediocre, hardpacked cover just a few days ago to the deep powder wonderland Niseko is famous for."

Posted: 08 Jan 2011 10:28      quote | report

looks like the season REALLY just started now Jude. Knee deep on piste...WHAT!

Posted: 08 Jan 2011 19:05      quote | report

Boot deep on piste today. Not as cold as yesterday thank goodness.

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 11:55      quote | report

Originally posted by: Jude
Boot deep on piste today. Not as cold as yesterday thank goodness.

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 14:53      quote | report

Jude, could you do me a favour. I have an old pair of Swans TB761 goggles that have a built in fan system for de-fogging my specs. Really great goggles, but old. They need new lenses. being a japanese brand, you might have some luck over there to find out if new lenses even exist for them.
Ta

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 20:45      quote | report

Hey,

Realise I'm pretty late on the boat on this one. I'm going to be going to Japan for some snowboarding in late February.

I'm pretty keen on this package to Niseko at the moment (ex Auckland): http://www.divefishsnow.co.nz/ski/japan/niseko/ [divefishsnow.co.nz]

Anyway I'm thinking of leaving on the 12th of February. Undecided whether I'll extend the extra 6 days or not.

The accommodation is twin-share. Is there anyone out there that would be keen to join me? I'm going to book very shortly, either way (but would be cool to have another Kiwi to hang out with).

PM me if you might be keen.

Eddie

Posted: 10 Jan 2011 21:10      quote | report

@ Edgehi. Will have a look. Heard of contact lenses?
@ Rozboon, getting my head around powder - went to Strawberry Fields at Hanazono today. Tracked out
Snowing big time now though.

Posted: 11 Jan 2011 8:25      quote | report

Originally posted by: Jude
@ Edgehi. Will have a look. Heard of contact lenses?
@ Rozboon, getting my head around powder - went to Strawberry Fields at Hanazono today. Tracked out
Snowing big time now though.

Posted: 11 Jan 2011 9:26      quote | report

@Rozboon can you scan that pic and post it please? I was there last year and found the other gates on the last few days... im there in 4 weeks i cannot fricken wait!

Posted: 11 Jan 2011 10:44      quote | report

Yeah I wondered what all the fuss about Strawberry Fields was about. I'm waiting to get into the Annupuri/Moiwa backbowl - been closed because of avi risk/weather. Map would be great.

Posted: 11 Jan 2011 10:49      quote | report

Originally posted by: Jude
Yeah I wondered what all the fuss about Strawberry Fields was about. I'm waiting to get into the Annupuri/Moiwa backbowl - been closed because of avi risk/weather. Map would be great.

Posted: 11 Jan 2011 11:40      quote | report

Anna bowl will be dangerous for a while I'd suggest, you can however traverse past the first bowl (look at that BIG cornice that forms on the far side of it!) and drop down along the ridge before the second bowl. Tree'd and therefore probably a safer bet, those trees put people off who then tend to go beyond, or drop back under THAT cornice (really they do!!!)
Have you tried skiers left of the top Hanna bubble chair yet?. good trees, good pitch, avo safe, again often ignored. I went there again and again.

Posted: 11 Jan 2011 12:57      quote | report

Went down the left of the bubble at Hanno yesterday - spot called Blueberry Hill or something. Was supposed to be a black

Posted: 11 Jan 2011 15:08      quote | report

yeah it's a blue, i think they are black because of the trees and are through the gates... can you please take some photos and post of those runs?

Posted: 11 Jan 2011 16:05      quote | report

That one you need to take basically a consistent line from the 'corner' of the trees where you come in down to the cat track at the bottom. Best way to get a good fall line the whole way down. Just don't get too close to the lift line since they push cats down it to keep it usable (!!!) and there are some epic death cookies lurking in the snow near the edge.

Don't be tempted to drop into the gully early... it's really mellow and tracked out usually. Also full of crud and death cookies from both sides of the gut. PLUS if there's a big avvy on that face up above it will run straight down the middle of that.

Posted: 11 Jan 2011 16:37      quote | report

PM me your email address and I'll send you my little map...

Posted: 11 Jan 2011 17:09      quote | report

That face up above I found to be very disturbing, yet others went wailing down it. Am I just paranoid?