This saturday my better half was kind enough to let me go for a quick trip while she handled the baby duties. Hooked-up with Rob & Igor. I initially wanted to hit some of the high alpine in the gunma region but reports of deep blue ice glistening in the day light had some of the crew unconvinced about the conditions so we decided to head for some of the old trusted stashes in Niigata. After we had decided on Niigata some great reports out of Gunma came our way but it was too late to change plans once again. The current conditions can rightfully put fear in people, but they can also offer unique possibilities: hike on ice/winds-wept crud with snowshoes/crampons and hit the areas of soft deposited fluff can make for the best of both world. So the Split stayed home & I took my new "old" Venture (model from a couple of seasons ago) for a spin. Conditions blew our expectations and we managed to get face-shots throughout the day. Not nipple deep, but would not be the one complaining with knee/thigh-deep given what some have been experiencing.

After getting great conditions on saturday I had to regretably turn down an invite to go hiking with some other friends on sunday with even better conditions (deeper fluff & blue skies) and headed back to grey Tokyo.

A few pics from saturday for good measure: