Snowboarding in Spring

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

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.

There is a bus around the corner

Downhill reviewing our course

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.

And we hiked...

Resting sometimes...

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

And hiking again

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

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

This week and last week

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

Going down the crater

This is the slope we enjoyed downhill. Still good!

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

And hiking again. This time we are going up Codake

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

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

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

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

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!

Good Morning April Powder!

Clear sky in the city and warm, -5.2 C at top station of the gondola- perfect for skiing. But it is April, April the 13th and yesterday it was snowing on the top of the mountain. There are a few cm of new snow on the top... and on the street too. I changed my tires last weekend and I am driving carefuly up the hill.

Met my friends and started to go uphill at 9:15. Beutiful weather, almost no wind.

Warm up before a long hike

We are passing through a valley and on the left side we can see the beginning of an avalanche.

Is this a rainbow? There was a round circle around the sun that seems to be a rainbow? What is it called?

Just before a 10 minutes brake

Skiers and hikers coming from different directions( Sukayu and Akakura) to enjoy the back side of the mountain.

Me and Mos san decided to test the powder on the left side of the mountain. The mountain that we are going to climb next is the one you can see in the photo.

And there is Mos San starting his 1 minute fun ride.

Finally at the top. It is cold and my wet T- shirt is giving me shivers. But something amazing is about to come.

We are served Hot Corn Soup on top of the Oodake. Delicious and starting to warm up! Thank you Mos San! Amazing treat!

Going around the crater and prepare for the long ride.

They are ready to go, I am still taking photos. Can` t stop.

Small Yamahai group on top of Oodake on April the 13th 2008.

Playing with the zoom.

Ready, GO!

This is what us and other 2o skiers did on the back of Oodake. It felt like winter.

いただきま～す！

Unknown skier scratching the hill all by himself.

Yotin San is sliding and posing. Nothing stops her to have fun.

Sizu San is enjoying this day in silence. Her suit and clothing are so good for taking pictures on this weather.

Mos San didn` t stop taping all the way down. I am looking forward to see his video.

She had the camera with her all the time. Smiling and enjoying spring snowboarding.

We came from the top of that mountain and still have to go down for a few minutes before we arrive at the car.

Stopped for a while to take this video

Next goal is in the photo below.

Didn` t take care of my face before going up, and now my face is all red.

Thanks to Mos San, 20 minutes of that day are on video. You can see it down here:

Have a nice week.

Powder Snow in April