japan2012

Skiing Day Four: Tuesday  Jan 10.

Day 4 and we woke to a blanket of snow. We welcomed forty centimetres overnight and snow was still falling heavily. Temperature was a lazy -12C at 8.30am and didn’t really get any warmer as the day went on. Skiing through light as air knee deep powder does chill the toes. No real breeze, but enough to cool the finger tips after a while. We skied Annapurna today and from the very first run to the last there was untracked powder to be found. The Boyz, expertly led by Quentin and Greg enjoyed the south side of the Gate 7 ridge. They smiled broadly but were reluctant to divulge their secret powder stash. It is always a giveaway as they were covered with snow down the front, but relatively clear on the back. Everyone, it seems, has a story of “that caught edge, spin, slide and out!” in 50 – 60 cm of fresh powder, much to the delight of relative ski group members. Jon submarined 6m before surfacing at the base of a rather large tree, David spent a bit of time with his legs up, Craig has great footage of his own spin, crash and bury and everyone else laughed themselves into similar positions. Most of our party have mastered the trees and have re-found previous skill standards. Neil’s hamstring held up OK, until he too endured a spin out in deep powder that somehow involved a tree! Lunch was an un-crowded affair at Anapura, with more snow filling gaps and tracks for the afternoon session. Mick has discovered the sublime pleasures of “fat” skies in powder. He has placed a deposit  on a pair of ChopSticks and has convinced David to give up the skinny skies for the powder. It is still snowing big thick, light snow flakes and tomorrow we head to Moiwa for untracked, un-crowded powder. We plan an early start for the keener members of our group.

Todays summary: Mike can’t stop ginning, dinner was at Full Note – traditional Japanese Subu Subu, everyone is chasing fatter skis for the ever deepening powder, Sarah’s infected toe is back into a ski boot, Jackie has sourced new ski boots, Aspinal boys headed out for night skiing again, Jon spent a couple of hours with his foot in an ice bath, Ross endured a big “out”, just to make everyone else feel good, Greg Aspinal played “plums” again!, Helen skied the powder with every once of “ladyness” she could muster, only dropping the expletive as head narrowly avoid wiping out 7 members of her own group! and Courtney continues to keep the Boyz in check.

Life is good. Powder is fresh and deep. It doesn’t really get better than this!!

Special thanks to Mary, Wayne,Trina, Sue and Sally for posting comments. Great to hear from you. Other  comments always welcome.

Special photo and video extraganza is planned for the Day Five Post. Watch out for it!!