Day 8 we wake up at the end of the runway in Asahikawa. It’s 8:00 am. Jennie Wray flies in, in 30 min. We fire up the trusty ol’ RV, I mean van, and head on over to the terminal.
Jennie stumbles out of the terminal in shock from the amount of snow on the ground. Off we go straight up the highway to Tokachidake. We arrive at the gate and it is closed with a fresh 18 inches of snow behind the gate. Damn, well we head back to Asahidake for a tram ride and some more whiteout walking. The skiing was pretty good though.
I'm lost.
I think Tyler is here, but there is really no way of knowing.
Low elevation...still hard to breathe.
Anton. No Caption needed.
James, one of our Brit friends attempting to ski switch.
Anton spends as much time in the air as on the ground.
4frnt should be calling TYLER CHRISTOFF anyday now.
Onto the Onsen we soak the rest of the evening away before heading to Sapporo for some ice festival action and a dinner far more expensive than we were hoping for. Oops seemed to be the reaction.
Dinner time. The bacon wrapped asparagus was incredible.
That is a 3 story ice/snow sculpture, part of the ice festival.
Back to the van to sleep in an alley for the night and prepare for the next day.
Day 9 starts with delivery trucks all over the place. Out we go fighting traffic all the way out of Sapporo. Back on the highway to Niseko and on up to our now favorite backcountry spot for another deep day of skiing. Niseko has the snow.
A bunch more pow shots. I know it seems like a lot but these are some of the best out of hundreds of good ones per run.
See you tomorrow……
john doyle February 9, 2012
Wow guys – so glad you’re getting what you went for and then some. Bring back some topo maps if you can – I’d love to check them out. Cheers
Annah February 9, 2012
I could look at pictures like that all day and it still wouldn’t seem like alot. Keep em coming!
Also, I hope you come back!
Joe February 9, 2012
Awesome, very good to see it’s all coming together the way you hoped it would. Any idea if those are unusal conditions or can this be expected. Caleb was saying its a big year in general before you left…
Caleb Wray February 9, 2012
They say it is a big year Joe. 400cm base at Niseko. I don’t know the actual stats, as they are all in Japanese, but I do know that the last time I saw this much snow was Mt. Baker in the 99-00 winter. Oh, and it’s still snowing hard. Wish you were here bud. We have shared more than a few Joe stories. Our plan is to go skiing today.
Jordan February 9, 2012
Joe it is incredible. I will be back.
I love this place.
John I’ve got one, I’ll see if I can get my hands on some more.
J
Austin February 12, 2012
You guys suck
Andy Thien February 22, 2012
Hey Jordan (et al),
Just got around to reading the rest of your Japan blog. Man, you guys had the trip of a lifetime. It sounds like this is a snow year that Japan will never forget. Cool that you guys got to experience something so special. I still can’t get used to all the shots of skiing through deciduous forests. Awesome photos of awesome skiers doing awesome lines. Centerfold quality stuff on every page. Love it!
Andy
P.S. Let me know if you find the cure for the shin bang. I’ve been fighting it for over three years now, which is half the time I’ve been skiing, period. I’ve just about given up on the cure and chalked it up to an incurable form of “skinny leg syndrome.”