Monday, April 28, 2008

Snowboarding on April the 27th

This time on Iwaki Mountain, near Hirosaki. Before going to sleep I played with my phones alarm option so much that it didn` t go on at 5:45 in the morning. My friends woke me up by calling me at 6:30.
"Where are you Mihai? Still sleeping?"
"Oh, NO, what`s the time?
" It`s time to GO!" ( sorry about that)
I met them after 12 minutes and we were on our 45 minutes drive to Iwaki mountain.
This is how Iwaki was like at 16:00. I wish that this weather continued all day long.


IMG_3135


I had the pleasure to sit in the back of the car and enjoy the road to Hirosaki and back.


IMG_2964


Watching ザ・ドリフターズ all the way we arrived pretty soon on at Ajigasawa` s Ski resort parking, where we met one of our friends, and after going round the mountain taking 69 curves, near the top of Iwaki.


IMG_2967


Some of us were jumping with joy


IMG_2972


Some of us were thinking about the cherry blossom


IMG_2975


But the reality was this, and we were on our way to the top.


IMG_2974


The weather was rainy, -2 degrees, wind of speed of 18-20m/s. No way for the lifts to move. So we started preparing to climb.


IMG_2976


We hiked for about an hour between bushes, trees and climbing rocks.


IMG_2978


Finally on the top. With the strong wing blowing with power the snowflakes on our faces made it hard to set the camera and take this picture.


IMG_2990


And we started climbing round the mountain.
IMG_2992


Ready to go down the mountain. The clouds are still surrounding us, making the mountain hard to see. But not for long...
IMG_3000


IMG_3007


We were soon out of the clouds and enjoying the view.


IMG_3010


In this video I took you can see how fast the clouds are moving.




This is where we came from- you can see in the far left the car in the parking lot.


IMG_3033


An avalache is showing some signs. From what we`ve heard it was like that since the beginning of april. Hope it stays the same until it melts.


IMG_3035


Yotin going first to prepare the camera.


IMG_3038


IMG_3041


IMG_3053


Today`s snowboarders were:
Kayoppe


IMG_3062


Sizu


IMG_3063


Shibu


IMG_3065


Ten


IMG_3067


Mos


IMG_3071


And Yotin in the middle


IMG_2991


Before arriving in the parking lot it started to rain heavily, but it felt so warm and so nice. Just like a spring shower after a cold winter.


IMG_3080


IMG_3085


Some of us were still having fun until the very end of the slope covered with snow.


IMG_3083


After going up the mountain to take Mos` s car we headed for Agigasawa again and Hirosaki. Couldn`t let the beautiful scenery pass without immortalizing a few sceneries. You can smell the spring without looking at the beautiful intense green that is appearing here and there.


IMG_3106


IMG_3107


IMG_3113


Today has been better than I have been expecting it to be. All week I have been checkin the weather forecast and for for my disapponting Sunday was always near the rain mark. On top of the mountain it snowed almost all the time and while descending the sun was appearing now and then. Good timing!


IMG_3138


Mos san was so kind to make a video selection of that day. He even caught on me on camera when I am having a big fall sliding. Too much speed




Mos and Yotin wrote on their japanese blog about that day. Click on name to visit.
モスさんよちんさんはその日の日本語の日記を書きました。良かったら名前を押して下さい。


See you next year Iwaki!

Monday, April 21, 2008

Snowboarding in Spring

When I returned back in town, I felt the presence of spring- almost 22 degrees.


IMG_2952


But up the mountain, the road is still looking like this. On march the 29th Hakkoda` s wall was as almost 9 meters tall. This is what` s left of it.


IMG_2948


There is a bus around the corner


IMG_2935


Downhill reviewing our course


IMG_2939


And this is how yesterday`s hike started on a 6 degrees temperature at the gondola station and maybe around 3 on top of Oodake.


IMG_2785


And we hiked...
IMG_2795


Resting sometimes...


IMG_2801


Anxious to get on top of Oodake. This will be the first time for her to get there.


IMG_2800


And hiking again


IMG_2803


This is how the cabin looked like yesterday, April the 20th 2008


IMG_2807


This is how it looked last week, April 13th 2008


IMG_2637


This week and last week


IMG_2822


IMG_2668


The avalanche didn`t start yet, but still looking scary


IMG_2821


IMG_2837


Going down the crater


IMG_2840


This is the slope we enjoyed downhill. Still good!


IMG_2856


Thanks to Mos san we had, one more itme, the chance to drink hot corn soup. So good and refreshing.


IMG_2860


And hiking again. This time we are going up Codake


IMG_2870


The wind is too strong on top of Codake and we prepare to go towards Takada


IMG_2888


In a week or two there won` t be any snow left around here. One more week to go.


IMG_2910


IMG_2913


Happy but tired, smiling but sunburned getting ready to pack up


IMG_2916


Hope that Iwaki mountain`s next week weather conditions will be good for hiking.


IMG_2945


Thanks you for the video Mosさん. On his blog you can see the GPS Route we went on. Great as always!





Until next week I wish all the best!