White Valley Snowboard !!
(Onsen, Yakiniku, and a little bit of snowboard Tour!! (DAY:1))
(Jan 22,2004)
PART1 : SNOWBOARD IN WHITE VALLEY
Two major storm is attacking Japan towards end of this week!!
I guess snow condition would be good this weekend!!
and..YES!! I got a permisson from my wife!!
So Memento and I went to Minakami for snowborading!!
(My main interest was Onsen(Natural Hot Spring) and Yakiniku(Yummy Korean BBQ)!!)
We left Tokyo around 5:00am....
BUT Heavy traffic jam becuase of snow!!
Ummmm....we knew it would be good...but we were stuck in a traffic jam....
OH No!!
We arrived at Minakami exit around 8:30a.m.
We wondered which ski area to go...
We knew we missed the first track in snow valley but the higher lift in Tenjin will be open around 10:00.
We still had a chance to enjoy deep powder in Tenjin!!
So, We went to Tenjindaira .......
BUT all the lift was closed due to gaspy wind!!
Oh No....so finally we went to White Valley Ski Area.
It was too late...there were no fresh powder snow...
C'est la vie...
We got bord soon and decided to go snow shoeing!!
Oh No!! Killer traffic Jam on highway!!
Memento's bed in his car!!
Comfortable!!
Oh No!! We were late!!
BUT it was fun!!
Memento is ready for the first run!!
Phreddie's first run of this season!!
Memento got bord.....
PART2 : ENCOUNTER WITH CRAZY SNOW APE!!
On the way to snow shoeing...
We found a crazy snow ape!!
The snow ape was riding snowboard on the road and disappeared into a cliff next to the road!!
I was watching at the bottom of the cliff, The anow ape was stuck in snow.....
Oh what a crazy snow ape!!
| On the Road!! | Under Yhe Cliff |
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PART3 : SNOW SHOEING AND ONSEN!!
We parked a car near Kawafuru Onsen and started snow shoeing!!
We walked nearly one hour...
YES!! Picnic time!! We cooked(?)cup noodles and had a hot tea with milk!!
View was splendid and we had a great time!!
and after the fun, Of course, Natural hot springs to get warm and relax!!
Then our main event!! Of Course!! Yakiniku (Korean BBQ)!!
Oh!! what a great day!!
Coming a long way....
(Memento)
Deep snow.....
I wish if I could snowboard on the snow like this!!
Mmore to go!!
Hot tea is waiting for us!!
Picnic time!!
This is what we were waiting for!!
Hot springs!!
our first hot tub "Kawafuru-Onsen"
One is never enough!!
Our second hot tub of today "Minakami-Onsen"!!