Last two days: Dry eyes and drier pow
headed out on happo for some fun in the sun. was hoping for something new but satisfied with some good times. Day ones hike was one of the more hair ball and longer days I've had in crampons. In the end all was good.
The Happo ridge for the first half was untouched. Post-holing was a bitch. We finally gave way to a few guys following so they could take over and suffer. A few other groups came charging up and past us. We were pre occupied with what Kaerazu was doing and started enjoying the others hard work while sorting out our day.
After some freeky deeky moments we made the karamatsu summit.
Off the summit looking back.
We ended dealing with so much weather effected hiking that it started taking it toll on our shred plans. By this point we had been walking for the last 4-5 hours and 40% of that with an intense focus on our foot steps or post-holing. Here Gary climbs down what usually is sheet ice but was actually not as sketch as usual. Moments later I would fall into the first of 2 holes.
As we talked with the fellow who summit'd first, a stranger popped out of nowhere. This man above had come from the opposite direction as us. We were all startled and wondering how only 3 of us made the peak and suddenly there was four of us. As it turns 'the legend' was on day 14 of a trek he began at the sea of Japan. He was simply amazing and humbled any ideas about ourselves.
Our skier friend dropped in, he had a great run and time. Joe and I pushed on to one of the back up plans. At this point we were mentally spent and didn't have the gusto to continue tip toeing around the backs of the sketchy peaks. We opted to drop in here. It was thigh deep and a little on the glorious side.
An uncommon view of a special mountain. It was a great day with a lot of unique moments and special people.
With just one day left with my friends from canada, we headed back to where we saw a fellow ride the day before. The guy was actually riding it while Gary was mid limbo 4 pictures above. He shredded the boobs off the 'Vacuum'. It looked too wicked for us not to do it our selves. The rider actually passed us on the way up but then turned back just shy of the summit. He claimed "too scary" and gave me smile followed with a dozo then walked down the ridge. he was right it was scary.
The Vacuum is a huge steep ramp that has few swerves for direction. The snow was really good, deep settled and light. face shots and big roosters... what ever your turn desired. In the backdrop you can see we where rode the day before. Anyone hungry for massive steep ramps should experience this one.
Karamatsu peak in the back.
As with all these upper Happo ridge runs you get dumped out in to one of the best run outs ever. A long valley of gentle pow. Riding it today was really special. Tailing two good friends trading endless pow turns is one of the best feelings a snowboarder can ask for. It is rare you get to share that kinda stoke in this type of terrain.
All this followed a great saturday night hockey match, it was a good few days.
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Jebus fukking h christ. Awesome TR. That I spent 2 hours on mume waiting for something to happen makes it all the better. I have to ask, are you not missing a shot? I seem to remember an L-Chiki placement shot. Don't forget those who got you where you are! Anyway, Sicktarded. More sicktarded than forest gump with ebola.
34 days on snow this season 55 days last season
Sorry that was super lame on my part.
Big thanks to our friends at L-Chiki
Sounds like a more than complete day. Good food, good characters and some sweet lines. Nice photos.
That runout really is hands-in-the-air smoothness. It was my first time this year and I had forgotten how much fun it is just to gliiiiiide. Hockey pictures up tonight hopefully, varying levels of success on that front...
09/10 days on snow: 33 so far
08/09 days on snow: 51
Nice looking terrain everywhere and nice conditions as well. Perfect, well done gents.
Double ice axe?
Double ice axe?
yes. I've recently been swayed this way, and was more than thankful I had 2.
beautiful!!!! great moves buddy.. just what i needed to see, some big lines! too bad you didn't get what you were after, but i'm sure you'll get it next time. Didn't sound like boot crampons were the way to go i guess, which is probably why you wanted my split crampons
. looked like a gorgeous day too - really wish i could've been there.
looking forward to shredding with you again in a few months... i've got a lot of boxes to tick in them hills.
awesome TR.... just great.
salty margaritas
beautiful!!!! great moves buddy.. just what i needed to see, some big lines! too bad you didn't get what you were after, but i'm sure you'll get it next time. Didn't sound like boot crampons were the way to go i guess, which is probably why you wanted my split crampons
. looked like a gorgeous day too - really wish i could've been there.
looking forward to shredding with you again in a few months... i've got a lot of boxes to tick in them hills.
awesome TR.... just great.
salty margaritas
boot crampons were the way to go. skins was impossible. even with crampons and skins there was no traction. We actually switched over just past the second caren just before the trees. Gary had cramps on his split and was unable to continue like that, same with other skiers out. I nearly slid far way backwards but a tree stopped me. It likely got better with traffic but earlybirds got punished.
if I knew it would have been so icy so soon i would have packed my realboard and snowshoes. splitboarding is still not awesome going down hill. the second day we cramped from the grat and packed the realboards for added pleasure.
Dang dude, way to get after it. Probably one of the best TRs on here. Who is "the legend"? Does he have a blog or something of his adventures?
I'm so very bored. Bored enough to make black and white editions of photos taken whilst hovering on the ridge with NM, Shinobi and Jesse waiting for Daryl and Joe. Also some riding shots but by that time the sun had dipped enough to make me fairly indifferent over pictures. Good day though and everyone came home safely.
ridey ride ride
Apron
Secret powder8 lover
Time for us to go home as well
09/10 days on snow: 33 so far
08/09 days on snow: 51
sweeeeeet.
A friend sent some stuff from last weekend over for deeplikepow... more alpine stoke here =:> http://modestbike.com/studio/?p=269
Great TR Daryl. Why don't you tour your way over to here to the whitehorse and we can have some chi-hai and L-chiki and think of ways to kill some down time...
KoM, you are getting much better with your pics. Pretty soon you will be competing with Muikobochi!
mamabear your such a slut...
Daryl like.
more pics just came in from another happy Casio customer....
Stolen from Jesse on TGR's skintrack stole thread, myself and shinobi heading up for a better vantage point
34 days on snow this season 55 days last season