Why are these people smiling?

Because it's BIKE Season!!

More pics at:
http://jenyjomtbbliss.blogspot.com/
and
http://www.edemtbs.blogspot.com/

Tokyo too

Stop by ZJean and scroll down to older posts here for more from our days in Tokyo.

Hokkaido Snow

Just rolls off the tongue doesn't it: "Hokkaido Snow"

I am the last one left. Since this is my powder shot post, I am going to include a little more scenery and narrative. Also, I encourage everyone to scroll through the lower posts for more narrative, more incredible powder shots, and even further back for more on our trip to the incredible country of Japan. You can also head over to zjean.blogspot.com for more cultural and arty shots by MJ.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that this entire trip was a gift from my wife Jean for my 40th birthday. People remember their major birthdays for a lot of reasons. I will remember mine for this trip, but mostly for how fortunate I am to be married to the energy, creativity, sass and love that is MJ. SP: Thanks for always being game. Did I mention she's a ripper (see posts below).

Okay, on Day 2, it cleared a little as we started up the hill.



Soon, low and behold, we had some blue sky:


and we could finally get a look at where we were:

I have more of those I could post, but many people don't seem to be interested in the scenery (EdE?). There was some slide activity, but it doesn't seem to go anywhere. This debris was in one of the best areas to start down.

Did I mention the skiing? Yours truly:

And the SNOW? (Click on these, they are big.)


Toshisan:

These are more Pando shots. I think the one above is just awesome. I am not sure I have said this enough: the quality and quantity of snow here is unmatched in my experience. More Toshi:

Add to that the experience of self-powered back country skiing in the remote recesses of an already distant land, and you get an inkling of how lucky we were. This area is non-motorized travel only. No heli, no cats, no sleds. I think Toshi was the one who told me "there will never be a lift here". I hope it's true. Just breakfast and sweat, and sometimes some Pocari Sweat. Look that one up.

A few more of our friend and leader Ross:

And when the day is through, the truck is waiting:

and it is back up the road to Ryounkaku:

Day 3 was Ross MJ and me doing basically the same. I have no pictures and Pando was on his way to Myoko. More of the same, and then a cool alternate onsen up the road. You will just have to take our word for it.

Well kids that's it, and thanks for playing along. I have a ton of photos, and we have stories to tell. Brad, the onsen switches every morning . . .

Thanks to Ross Matlock for organizing the trip, and thanks to Brad, Scotty and Pando for putting up with us and making it all the better at every turn. See ya next year.

Sugar Booger

So, some where along the line Craig, who works with kids a lot, started calling Jean "Sugar Booger". It has stuck (no pun intended).

Ross had a way of leading us to spot after spot of totally untracked snow and then turning to us and asking who wanted to drop in first. Typically, he could barely finish the question before SB hit it:


This was the lightest snow I have ever seen (yes I have been to Utah). Hokkaido is definitely the home of the "cold smoke":

Above is another sick shot. Thanks Pando. Craig made us all look so good Jean was wondering why we didn't get him for our wedding.

Pretty good for a girl. Can we ride that one again?

Toshi (above) that same day; Why are these people smiling?

Skin to Win/Ross and Scotty

We skinned to all this stuff and there was not another soul in sight. Actually, the exceptions were two French dudes, who were the coolest Frenchies I think I have ever met. (Say it Frenchie: Pow-dere.)

Scotty "The Easter Bunny" McGee:

One of the best things about Japan is the Junk Food. They have all kinds of killer candy that is available everywhere through vending machines. Scotty always had candy of some sort on him. Hence the moniker "Easter Bunny".

Ross:

Thanks to Ross for always breaking trail.

Pow Shots

Okay, well I wanted to continue with my dorky time line narrative of the Japan trip, but everyone is clamouring for the powder shots. So, here they are.

Brad the Philly boy showing the mountain crew how it is done:



This last one is just so sick.

Parting Shots from Moiwa

Here are a few more shots from our last in-bounds day. These are courtesy of our friend Craig at Tammarack, Idaho. These are the trees easily accessible from the main lifts. But, remarkably untracked. Jean showing the form:

And again in some deeper stuff (just wait till the next post though):

Good Guide and Great Guy Ross Matlock making a couple of "demo turns":

Yamurasan skiing better at 70 than I do at 40:

We have a pile of the super fluff shots for next post. Hang in their kids; they are coming.