24th Jan - Back in the Otaru Zone
On the 23rd we headed back to Otaru for 5 nights. We had a quick stop at a computer store and the sake brewery and then checked into our hotel around 3pm. We had dinner in the small restaurant where we had met Hashimoto-san during the last session. Sure enough, we have some lovely interactions with some local Japanese people. These little stalls that only have seating for 5 or 6 people are a great way to meet people. They seem to be the most consistent place for talking to local people. We love it and the food is awesome too!
On the 24th, we headed out to a favorite resort about 45 minutes drive away. It had been snowing hard and the freeway was closed, so we had to take the local road but that didn't hold us up much. When we got to the resort there was about 20 cm's of fresh. When I was getting my boots on, another van pulled up alongside us. The two guys had these amazing Transformer-esque costumes on. All of a sudden there were about 12 more people all dressed up in amazing anime-style costumes. They let me take some pics. Just when you think you've seen a lot of things at ski resorts, this was something very different and totally amazing. Very cool way to start the day.
We purchased full-day tickets and headed up the gondola. The immediate sidecountry was looking great. We traversed in and found a nice bowl. It had tracks in it from the day previous were covered with about 20 cm's of really light and dry snow and there were plenty of deeper sections so there were definitely a few faceshots to be had. We had so much fun, we did the same run again.
Then it was time to find completely untouched snow, so we put the skins on and went for a hike. 30 minutes is all it takes to get you to an amazing area with a big ridge. I wanted to try the open face next to the ridge as I thought that should be good too. There was a skin track already in, it was a decent line but went a little too far to the right, so not as efficient as it could have been but I was definitely not complaining as I didn't have to break trail for a lot of the way.
I did break off the track when we got near the face. Sure enough, it was untracked. There was a lot of snow on it so it had filled in and was not very steep, but a nice safe line. I had about 30 premium short turns on it and then filmed the guys coming down one at a time. There was a lot of hooting and hollering in the knee deep powder. The snow was really bouncy and consistent and made for really fun skiing.
Then we had to put the skins on again and in about 15 minutes of touring in the deep snow, regained the ridge. To my surprise, it was untouched. I was not expecting that given we had been in a well-used skin track. Unbelievable. We'd have this whole next zone to ourselves! The top of the ridge is pretty flat and took some pushing, but then it rolled over and we had magical turns. I had told the guys that if it was really fun, I probably wouldn't stop so they could easily follow my track. After a little while I dropped left where it gets even steeper. It was a dream run, deep, untouched and all to us. The quintessential Japow experience. The guys were stoked and said this was the run of the trip for them.
We had several amazing pitches before hitting the creek bed and our traverse out. The track had already been skied so was very easy to follow. It was a lot wider than we I had done it with Rob in the last session. There were some technical no-fall sections where you were exposed to the open water below with a steep drop down. You could not fall. I coached the guys on what to do each time and we made it through safely. By the time we were done it was close to 2pm so the guys wanted lunch. I had a massive pork cutlet curry and by the time we finished, the guys were done. We were back in Otaru by 3:30pm.
I took Phillipe out for dinner, down the canal district. We stopped in at the brewery for a Weiss and Pilsner and then headed to another little eatery area and settled in for some tempura. We had a lovely conversation with a nice couple from Taiwan who were staying in Otaru for their last night before heading home early the next morning. This is what it all looked like.....
Tomorrow is forecast for very high winds, so we'll have to see what's open. I think we'll have to stay closer to Otaru.....
- Matt