 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Mmm nice. Great pics.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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WOW! snow looks beautiful.
Keep us updated 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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AAwwwwww Yeeeeaaaaahhhhh!
We were sat wondering if we should cancel our trip next year. Stoke like this reminds us not too. Looking forward to the rest of your trip, thanks for sharing.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I'm going to regret following this thread aren't I? Looks awesome...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Third pic, ooooooh  thanks for posting!
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Its a bit difficult at the moment to look at such fun pictures of japan but next year i want to visit japan with the kids to ski. i'll be following this closely. Thanks for posting.
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parlor, You're coming out to Hokkaido? We might finally make some turns together!
Looking good down there Mike! You timed your arrival well for the weather!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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MagSeven, that's the plan. We won't be able to book until September time. I will be in touch!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I just made a mess 
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Mike Pow wrote: |
DAY 3 : FRIDAY 18 MARCH 2011
If it ain't broke...
Ian M and I returned to Kiroro with hopes of new snow and sunshine. Plenty of new snow, unfortunately our timing was off with the sunshine. Every time we got in the gondola the sun came out but by the time we got to the top it was snowing hard.
I'd skied Kiroro 20+ times prior to today but I was still able to ski a whole new area to me today that was untouched and untracked (except us) all day.
Ian's timing on the mountain was considerably better thankfully.
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Great picture! If you don't mind me asking, what were the settings?
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You know it makes sense.
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Timmaah
1/2000, iso 400 and plenty of touching up in photochop
DAY 4 : SATURDAY 19 MARCH 2011
Feezing level at 550m meant rain at Niseko's base and bitty snow at Kiroro's base.
Ian M and I drove to Kiroro but unfortunately it was greybird with a more than a bracing wind.
The gondola was closed for the day, and with most of Sapporo funnelled between two four-man chairs absention was the better part of valour.
An afternoon at Paddy Mcginty's with Craig from Meikle Associates and Steve & Toni on holiday from Hong Kong watching the Super 15s was an adequate alternative 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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DAY 5 : SUNDAY 20 MARCH 2011
0cm of new snow, above freezing temperatures, and diffused sunshine at today's destination, Rusutsu.
Rolling solo and flat light conditions meant the camera stayed in the backpack.
Although there were plenty of cars in the East Mt. car park, up on the hill it was deserted.
The warmer temps and sunshine (and maybe a little drizzle) the past two days has turned the powder to a smooth, springy custard with about 5cm of ski penetration. It made for fast, open, carved turns in the trees and under the gondola. Something different and a real treat.
Shared a chair with a retired Japanese couple from Kyoto who spend their winters near Sapporo skiing as many of the resorts on Hokkaido as they can. He did the talking and she did the nodding and smiling.
He'd skied in Europe three times in his youth - the resorts out of Innsbruck, Davos and Garmisch - and there was a big smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye when talking about skiing.
50 years skiing under his belt and the passsion was front and centre. A real gentleman. Neat little skier too.
I'm so grateful that he initiated the conversation, made my day to meet him.
Ian M is on his way to Indonesia to caddy for Aaron Townsend in the Indonesia PGA Championship on the One Asia tour so I'm basing myself in Rusutsu until Friday.
Staying at a house a short walk from the Rusutsu North & South Wing Hotel owned by the great people at Hotel Romulus. Highly recommended.
They also own The Pirateman restaurant and I'm there at the moment eating Otopus, Karage, Kimchi and Hokkaido potatoes. All washed down with a Grape Sour. Happy days.
Will wait to see what the morrow brings weatherwise, but over the next five days some or all of Rusutsu, Sapporo Kokusai, Grand Hirafu, Sun Laiva and Kiroro are on the cards.
A return to colder temps and sustained snowfall is forecast for the coming week. The farmers will not be amused.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Mike Pow wrote: |
| Sun Laiva |
Where's that? Haven't heard of it!
Kinda warm at the moment isn't it. Lovely and sunny, but lets hope the temperatures drop again!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Just out of Noboribetsu. Great little place. TR to follow.
Haven't had internet for a couple of days.
Below freezing down here, and snowing.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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DAY 6 : MONDAY 21 MARCH 2011
I'd visited today's destination - NOBORIBETSU SUN LAIVA - a few summers ago on one of my exploratory excursions around the Shiribetsu region of Hokkaido.
The small ski area of three lifts and seven runs looked promising in green, and after almost three years I got a chance to see it in white.
The 200km round trip took me from Rusutsu through Toyako Spa on Lake Toya and then over the mountains down towards Noboribetsu. A beautiful drive on a beautifully sunny day.
Tucked into a fold in the range about 15km from Noboribetsu, Sun Laiva affords magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and the ocean.
On the ride up to the top of the ski area I was getting very excited about the untracked, steepish tree runs to the left and right of the pisted area.
After admiring the scenery, I set off in to the trees. About 10cm of dry, light powder had fallen overnight and was sitting on a velvet base.
But before I could enjoy it I heard a whistle in the distance behind me. Twenty years of team sports had conditioned me to 'play the whistle', I looked back over my shoulder and ducked back on to the piste to get my reprimand from the advancing patroller.
If only all reprimands could be so civil and charming. In his better than my Japanses English he explained skiing off piste was not allowed at Sun Laiva. When asked why, he just smiled and shrugged.
A real pity. Sun Laiva has got as much if not more to offer than similar small ski resorts like Moiwa and Chisenupuri.
I proceeded to bomb the empty groomers, and each lap was greeted with a wave and a smile from the patroller.
After about half a dozen laps I decided to hike to the peak above the top lift to get my tree skiing kicks.
Open access and no reprimand leaving the ski area, the route up followed a ridge line and is part of a recognised hiking route to the summit of Raibadake (1,004 m)
View from the summit of Raibadake (Sun Laiva base area in the foreground and Noboribetsu coastline in the background)
View from the summit of Raibadake with plenty of inviting peaks
I dropped in to well placed trees on a steepish, sheltered slope that held dry, boot top powder. Not bad for 15km from the ocean at the end of March.
I jagged right until I came out at the top of the beginner lift.
After packing up the car I drove down to the abandoned film set just outside of Noboribetsu used for a Japanese TV drama series. Ironically one of the very few examples of traditional Japanese architecture on Hokkaido
Driving Route 2 back to Toyaka Spa the road wound its way through some awesome road side hits. Once this series of snow has passed through I think I'll go back for a second look.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Mike - thanks for posting such a great report and photos once again. Its gripping stuff
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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make that gRipping stuff
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^ Those pics potentially blow a gaping hole in the power of the pants theory. Potentially some interesting coloured kecks on display but fairly immaterial if the shots just going to show a head and one arm.
Sluts.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Late season goodness. Brilliant
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Love this
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Just amazing.
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Mike Pow, Amazing pics. can you bring some of that deeeep pow back in your suitcase please!
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You know it makes sense.
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Thanks all.
BobinCH
Could well be in central Europe end of April / early May. Expect snowfall 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Mike Pow, -just make sure you are in Ischgl at the end of April - fantastic shots
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I love the 4th shot down in that last series... the smile says it all 
Great trip report and a pleasure to read and look at pictures. Japan looks amazing. Maybe a good place for my 40th in a few years time.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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DAY 15 : WEDNESDAY 30 MARCH 2011
With no new snow in the Shiribetsu area it was back to KIRORO with Ian M for more powder but this time from the summit of Yoichi-dake (1488m), the above tree line peak and bowl that dominates the skyline from the top of Kiroro's lift system.
It was an easy 90 minute walk from the top of the gondola to the peak, with only the last pitch getting the heartrate and breathing rising.
For a sense of scale, the speck of black at the bottom is a group of 8 Japanese hikers out with 2 guides.
Yoichi-dake above Kiroro ski resort. The true summit is hidden in the clouds
Clouds, mist and light snow rolled in as we got to the summit and it stayed that way until we got to the bottom of the second bowl
Hard packed base with 5-10cm of ski penetration on the aspects that had been in the sun earlier in the week. Boot top dry powder in the sheltered aspects. Fantastic terrain between 30 and high 30 degrees, wide open, gullies, cornices. Fun, fun, fun.
And it to make it all the more enjoyable the run out takes you right back to the chair. And a much easier and shorter run out than Jackson's in Grand Hirafu for example.
Much less visited than other slackcountry spots in this area and as a consequence more care needs to be taken during slope and snowpack assessment.
A must do if visiting Kiroro on a bluebird day.
The night was spent at Irori, a small izakaya in Makkari, talking with the teachers from the school where Ian's daughter goes. Great company, great atmosphere, great food.
DAY 16 : THURSDAY 31 MARCH 2011
Day off snow waiting for the next storm to roll through.
Great night in Hirafu for Paddy McGinty's closing down party. Most of Hirafu there made for a boozy and late night.
DAY 17 : FRIDAY 01 APRIL 2011
Another day off snow, and a great day to night at Paddy's with Craig and Ian drinking the black stuff and watching the Super 15s on the big screen.
As we drove back to Makkari the light drizzle turned to big fat flakes and Saturday was looking very promising.
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Mike Pow, your photos are simply magical. Thank you for posting, a real treat.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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May this thread never end
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| Frosty wrote: |
| May this thread never end |
Hear! Hear! After a day of skiing the Chamonix boilerplate, it's good to be reminded that there is snow out there... somewhere...
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FAQ
