The Tourist trail...

So following finishing work for evergreen we all decided that it was time to see the rest of Japan and so set off on the tourist trail! this blog is just a little summary of where we have been and what we got upto!!

Osaka
First stop was Osaka here Ali, Luc, Kate, Emma, Al and I explored on foot and bike and saw the city sights including the worlds largest aquarium home to a whale shark!! We also visited the area Koya san up in the hills which was full of beautiful shrines and temples.

Hiroshima
Next stop Hiroshima leaving the others for Al, Emma and I to branch out on our own. We looked around the peace memorial park and saw the A-bombdome. The museum was extremely emotive and definately worth a visit. We also headed over to the island Miyajima famous for its floating torii gate and hiked up Mt.Meisen there only for emma to be chased by a deer trying to eat her popcorn at the top! Brilliant views from the top too.

Kyoto
In Kyoto we rejoined the others and all stayed with Sean at his house. He made a fantastic guide and we cruised around on bikes seeing all that kyoto had to offer including Geisha, traditional streets, cherry blossom, and a multitude of torii gates! We even visited Seans pub and a bar with the most lethal long island ice teas known! the weather was brilliant too and the city was definately one we could have stayed longer in.

 




Mt. Fuji
Emma, Al and I departed from the rest again and headed for Fuji! We wandered the town and took in the spectacular sight of Mt.Fuji. Emma unfortunately left us here and Al and I spent the next day at Fujikyu highland theme park which has some truly mental rollercoasters!! We looped and span our way around them seeing Mt. Fuji whilst speeding around and even whilst upside down! Our final day in fuji was spent on the outskirts in the fugaku fuketsu lava and wind cave. This 110m long cave was formed by the flows of lava from Mt. Fuji and now holds insulating properties that allow it to stay cool all year round. Owing to this beautiful ice pillars and formations can grow and develop like stalctites and stalacmites. On our walk through the woods and back to the bus stop we also had some spectacular vies of Fuji.

                                     

Ito
We have finished our trip, and also our 4 months in Japan, in Ito on the Izu Peninsula. This is a small coastal town and we are staying in a Ryokan style hostel that has its own onsen! A brilliant end to the trip even if typhoon weather did keep us in the room most of the time! Fantastic blossom here along the river though and also made it down to the seafront before the weather closed in!

And so that brings me to the end of my 4 months in Japan! Its been truly amazing and I have made many incredible friends and memories along the way. From mountains to sea, from powder skiing to riding bikes through the streets of Kyoto I have experienced Japan in the best way I think I could have done. One day perhaps I shall return but in the meantime its on to warmer climates...next stop Australia!

Avalanche Skills Training and Backcountry Pow

So with the end of contracts at Evergreen came a fair amount of spare time! Al and I decided that to fill this we would do the avalanche skills training levels 1 and 2. This turned out to be a brilliant idea as meant that we got to enjoy 5 days of backcountry touring, fascinating snow skills and the best snow in 3 different resorts (Tsugaike, Cortina and Happo).  With brilliant guides Dave Enright and Bill Glude we were in safe hands even on the high risk avalanche days, however this didnt mean that the days that passed were uneventful! I had a near miss on the first day of the level 2 after falling and sliding headfirst into a very deep hole around a metal telegraph pole. I managed to then get buried under the snow that fell in on top of me so that only my legs, skis still attatched in true comedy fashion, were left sticking out of the snow! I managaed to dig my face out just in time for another bunch of snow to fall in on me. Had to just lie there and wait for the others to dig me out and quite frankly it was pretty terrifying! thankfully I was only down there for 3 mins and got away with just a bit of sore neck. Following this event I avoided all large holes in the snow and enjoyed some epic powder and tree runs over the next 2 days including a hike in to the happo north bowls which was what you could describe as big mountain riding! An amazing few days of learning and loving life!

 Alex in the Cortina Pow! a rare powder skiing photo!

 Me skiing alarmingly well after my near death experience!

 After being pulled out of the hole (see behind) and still looking pretty scared!

 Alex and I at the end of a successful days backcountry!

Anderson and I's ski tracks down the happo bowl!

Iwatake

This week we decided to explore and so headed over to the neighbouring resort of Iwatake! The first day we went was brilliantly blue skies and some lovely fresh tracks in the nicely spaced trees, brilliant expert terrain and some hilarious bails from Ryan. The resort not only offered great skiing but also some amazing views back across the valley to happo-one and down the valley. In addition there was slacklining and tubing thrown in for free too! Our second trip was again blue bird and excetremely hot! Although the snow was slushy we had a great time cruising around in a big group. The park on the first visit had provided much entertainment and some great photos but on our second visit we unfortunately had to get ski patrol involved when hana decided to backslap the floor from a jump! thankfully all were ok and many great photos came from the misfortune!

 Me, Kate, Ali, Amanda, Luc and Ryan at Iwatake

 View over to Happo-one

 Slacklining! and park times!!

 Iwatake round 2 Hanas injury! and some playing around on skis!

A not so casual ski...

Today Ali and I headed out to casually cruise the mountain only to find some amazing cloud filled views and lovely fresh pockets of powder! Great day ripping it all up!

 View over Hakuba!

 Ali at the top of Alpen Quad

Views from the top of Skyline

Shiga Kogen

For the first week of Feb myself and some of the other evergreen instructors went to teach the Tokyo International School in Shiga Kogen. We had 2 days of full instructing and an evenings night skiing here and then a half day of bluebird powder at the end of the trip! After being stuck on the beginners slope I was craving  some ski action and to explore this new resort. We skied hard all morning and took in some breath taking views of the valleys surrounding Nagano including being able to see right across to Happo. An unforgettable end to a brilliant trip.

Views of the mountains surrounding Shiga Kogen

 Little fella and Big fella photo

 EOC enjoying the bluebird pow day! Me, Ryan, Emilie, Toby, Julien, Alex, Hana and Simon.

Shredding the Powder!!!

Snowboarding 101

Today I embarked on becoming a double agent and attempting to learn to snowboard! With my trusty triple cert instructor and sidekick to teach me. Progress was rapid when we got bored of the flat and headed straight up the lift. By the end of the session I had learnt to link turns and was no longer terrified everytime I pointed the board down the hill! result! Hopefully with a bit of practice by the end of the season I should be a semi competent snowboarder as well as the best skiier on the mountain!

 Chair numbero uno! Well done Chorley and I!

Me in snowboarding action!

Backyard Jibbing

Out the back of the Evergreen Outdoor Centre you will find a box, rail and jumps built by some dedicated evergreen jibbers. One night this week we all headed outback and had a bonfire and jib session. People worked on new tricks and tail grabs, 50/50s and daffys could be seen everywhere. Even a cheeky jump on tele's! Results included an extremely blood filled nail that was swiftly dealt with in an extremely professional manner...needle through nail...needle removed from nail...blood spurting everywhere!

 Essential ingredients for a good jib... dutch courage and excellent equip!

A nice little bonfire to keep warm and spectate

Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival!

In the new year the Japanese like to set things on fire to exorcise demons and bring good luck. I had the fortunate opportunity to experience such an event at Nozawa about 2 hours drive away from where I am based. The evening consisted of a large wooden plinth/bonfire with men sat on top and tied to the side. Other japanese residents then ran at the men with what can be described as wooden flaming torches and proceeded to attempt to light the plinth! Meanwhile free sake flowed generously in the crowds as we all swayed back and forth trying to stay upright as the crowd surged forward and retreated! A fantastically mental evening! 

 Banners with wishes that have been fulfilled in the last year.

 Some of the evergreen gang at Nozawa!

 An attempt to light the plinth!

Japow! (Henderson, A,. 2012)

Life in Japan is treating me well! I have unfortunately not been too quick on the uptake of blogging, but from now on feel free to follow my adventures on here! I am working for Evergreen Outdoor Centre this winter in Hakuba as a ski instructor and loving it! Xmas and New Year have come and gone but I will be skiing until the end of march here. Today was one of my days off and what a day it was, Thurdays seems to bring Powder days which is ideal and we shredded it all day!

                                          Scotch trying to resist the "jump off the lift" sign in the pow!

                                         Amanda and the view of Hakuba from Happo-One on
                                                      one of the resorts sunnier days!

                                         The Evergreen insructors on xmas day!