“Still in Season 15-17”

I didn’t mistake about this Title
I’m still trying to find opportunities to go back on snow for 15-16!!!
But, New Gear catalog issue already comes out
Actually it is Double-Happy season now?

And now, I just want to introduce a glove which gear I take on & off so many times
A model “Stealth Mitt” from LEVEL Gloves
This model continues for next season, 16-17
There is useful functional Zip at tip of 4 fingers to open widely
As my job, I take it off then on much more times than other people and so it gets loosen quicker
Sometime I grab branch to climb up and come down the slope at bushy slopes
The damage in this photo is because I grab branch very hard to avoid rolling down…

I normally use it quite rough, but it seems still pretty good condition after my hard using rate 🙂
This glove is shown in the magazine at picture above Bravo Ski…, actually not…
There is some other models which seems nice as well, on page One Hundred Seventeen 😉

There is another big advertisement pages at the forward area, LEVEL Gloves 🙂

Gears to keep warmth during cold winter
As well as gloves, socks is also quite important stuff, isn’t it?

Here is a tip from my experience
How to control the moisture is the key to avoid cold fingers and toes
If you get warm enough when you start the day, you sweat and it makes temperature cold
If you get too much layers, its pressure makes your blood current worse
My toes get colder easily but I changed socks from thick one to medium one
I take gloves off & on often so that makes moisture release without my purpose…
Especially when I go skiing backcountry, I always pay attention about my sweating
I found that if I keep myself drier, I can hold my warmth quite easily

I don’t say it is the answer because each person has different constitution
At least I feel the high quality gear has wide range capacity
But, I don’t think there is the perfect gear for everything
Important matter is well-researching your own construction and habit!
Check the latest Magazine and find the one which you need
Ski season 16-17 has kicked off already 😉

『15-17シーズン中』

タイトルは間違っとらんですよ
まんだ心の中では15−16シーズンは終了しきっとらんし〜
でももう来期のギア号発売されたし
何気にダブルで嬉しい季節かも？

ここで、脱ぎ履きが極端に多いグローブの紹介
LEVEL Glovesの「Stealth Mitt」というモデル
来期（16-17）も継続されます
指先4本部分がジップで解放できる高機能なデザイン
仕事柄、他の方たちよりも脱着数が多いのでヘタれるのも早い
枝を掴んで上に登ったり、逆にズリ落ち防止をしたり
この写真のダメージは、転倒回避のためにかなり強目に握って擦れた結果…

結構雑に使う方ですが、使用頻度からみても状態はいたって良好です 🙂
上の写真のブラボースキー誌にも掲載…、されてませんでした
別の気になるモデルが紹介されてます、百十七頁 😉

最初の方にはでっかい広告も出ておりますよ、LEVEL Gloves 🙂

真冬の寒さ対策で暖かさを確保するためのギア
グローブもそうですが、ソックスとかも重要ですよね

ここで僕が経験から学んだコト
手足先を凍え難くするには、湿気をどうコントロールするか！
滑り始めから暖か過ぎると汗かいて、それが冷たくなっちゃいます
重ね履きし過ぎると、圧迫されて血流が悪なって寒なります
僕は足先が凍えやすいんですが、一番分厚いものから一つ薄いのにしました
グローブは、脱ぎ履きするから、そん時に湿気が勝手に逃げてます…
特にバックカントリーの時は発汗量をできるだけ抑えれるように気をつけます
着るものが濡れとらんどきゃぁ、案外と暖かさをキープしとけます

人それぞれ体質違うから、絶対ではないかもしれませんけどね
でも、良い機能のギアは対応の幅が広いです
が、全てに完璧なギアはないと思ってます
自分の体質体調行動パターンの分析も重要！
ギアカタログ号を読み漁って、お気に入りを見つけましょ〜
16-17シーズンはもう始まっております 😉

= 20160524 =

汗に染まったジャケット類のDIYメンテのための短距離運転
アカンわこれ〜！
でっけぇ釘が刺さっとるが〜！！！
長距離運転の予定のないえぇタイミングで良かったわ 😉

Petit driving to Laundry for sweat-soaked jackets
WTF!!?
Huge needle decorates my tire strangely!!!
Fortunately I don’t have any long driving plan for now 😉

“Koyaike Hutte”

I have had this plan in my mind since last spring

About 2 weeks before I wanted to leave to there
I asked to my company to go there to stay and do BC touring
And their reply was quick & positive one 🙂

Director of INDRES Formation, Atsushi Nakane (L) and Pro-Snowboarder Itaru Fujinuma (R) joined to us to do rehabilitation from his major injury and still keep doing rehabilitation hard now

テントと寝袋、食It should be lighter on our back without tent and sleeping bag
But it was heavy again with my ski on backpack because I couldn’t do skinning without enough snow at bottom part…

New crampon seems happy to be used again

Breezy walking picture with mountain range behind

We had to put crampon on and off, ski on and off couple of times
Include a few times mini-rest, it took about 5.5 hours to get Hutte
No chance to get lost the way in that clear sky 😉

Lanterns at ceiling create typical mountain hut atmosphere

Though, we planned to go to the peak of Mt Hiuchi in 1st day…
Pretty strong wind started to blow…
Tight schedule for dinner time…
We felt some fatigue…
We chose to get lost in meditation on our prepared futon-bed for an hour

Happy dinner start at 17:30
Menu was Curry or/and Hayashi with rice which most of people loves and have them together!
Itaru flashed great idea for serving them to plate
Make Dam in the middle of plate and pour Curry and Hayashi at each side in once 🙂

Itaru explains to video how to serve and eat them

We bought Beer from that Hutte after our tummy get filled
What a luxury, we can buy Beer at middle of mountain now

I could see beautiful evening glow from window
There was magnificent from entrance angle!!!

Volcano, Yakeyama and its smoke with burnt sky

Cloud reflect the gradation of evening glow

Petit party between dinner to bed time before valuable light turned-off
Shunsuke Hoshino, good friend of Itaru joined us and had FUN chatting until the light off…

We continued party another 2 hours at Shunsuke’s (staff’s) room after the light matter, but it was also dark
Very interesting mountain-man-stories, no shooting for the day
It was substantial night, even though we only did walking up to here…

It was only us for Breakfast
So, Shunsuke make the time a little delay for lazy us (6:00→7:30)
We couldn’t refuse it because his advice about snow was, we should better to wait until it gets warmer 😉

We left hutte when the weather become nicer around at 10am
Huge trace by cornice drop in the distance…
Good to see the Warning
There is not only beautiful events in this mother nature

Itaru hiking up the ridge towart to peak of Mt Hiuchi, in front of Mt Myoko
This scenery is so impressive for me because I spent several winter around here before

Shunsuke caught up after his morning business
He works as a guide during winter and so he walks rapid

So now, this is the main event to do shooting of Riding
It’s usual situation that cloud hides sun when we ready for shooting and it happened again
Is this just my own belief? Imagination trouble?
Well, sky was filled by cloud pretty much at this time so we didn’t wait for it at all

Itaru telling us when he gets ready to Dropping-In

And then he disappeared from my Finder angle after couple of turns…

We passed through beside Hutte after fun skiing down towards to another location
Sunshine came back around this time…, as usualW

We want to ski/snowboard down as much as we can on the way down
So we chose to visit Mt Mitahara which locate kind of roundabout route
This is the view when we get to higher ridge
Mt Myoko comes so close like this suddenly!!!
This panoramic view is amazing, worth to watch and it scored our main event of this trip… 😉

Having lunch with Mt Myoko view, also the slope where we go down at another side
Blue sky here whenever we are not Shooting mode…

We walked hours and so we used lots of energy but it was so nice to feel nature
A small trip with fear of Bear activation from hibernation

I realised again that staying mountain hut is NICE & FUN!
Backcountry continues forever 🙂

“Priceless Gears”

It’s getting harder to find chance to go shooting with him these days
Takaya Maeda (Kamui Backcountry Guide）

I will never forget when I meet him on 2001, we both get older now…
I feel something similar sense with him, even though he got family and seems he grows up 😉
He makes time to play with my sudden appointment without his wife’s permission..?

先日もいきなりの撮影、そのあとに新居へやっと行けました
超DIY人の部屋はおもちゃ箱みたい
身の回り品や道具への気持ちの入れようは素晴らしいとしか言えん！

先ずはこれ、K2ライダーだった頃の代物
商品化される前のレアなデザインの「K2: AK Launcher」
穴を開けちゃったけど…、未使用品？

そしてこちら、レイトモデルで発表された「K2: Kahuna」
このデザインが好きで、滑れもせんのにレンタルして、フランスの氷河の上でスキーしたな…
そしてそれに乗っとった前田さんも、さらにカッコ良ぉみえたな〜 🙂

月日が経って今はこれ、加工された、加工前の？スキーの板
自由な想像で…「FIELD EARTH: BLANK」
多分、想像し過ぎて、考え過ぎて、こだわり過ぎて、シェイプされることはないでしょう！！？

実家には2mオーバーのセスのプロモデルもキープされているんだとか…

道具を愛し、大事に扱える人
斜面を見て、同じようなラインを想い描ける大切なスキーヤーの一人です
🙂 😉 🙂

“Generous & Hearty Friends”

It was topic while I drove up to Hokkaido from Aichi for 15-16 winter season trip…
I visited friends all the way up to north island
Some of them were long time no see, some of them were sudden visiting…
It could be super annoy and forced trip for them?
I really appreciate all of your kindness and smiles!
I’m so proud that you got generous attitude without ignore me 😉
I found that your hearty smiles gave me luck to bring some snowfall at Hokkaido
Though, I couldn’t feel any New Year-ish days, but I had happy days as usual which is even better
And this photo is from my express gratitude!

＊Please let me know if you don’t feel happy with because of your portrait rights m(__)m

“Blessing of Homy Area”

My snow season is keep going according with there is some snow stays at higher elevation
I headed back to home for a few days while I found some free days in spring
Left some gears which I don’t need for spring, enjoy laundry, sleep on my comfy Futon, etc

Also I switched tires to 3 seasons one immediately

I went to dinner with local couple who always welcome my sudden appointment
Relaxed by talking random topics

Give some loves to my body tension!!!
I feel easy for both of mentally and physically after his diagnosis
“Brain remembers the pain” is great sense to keep in mind 😉
Got treat by his Fingers this time
Really appreciate your support, Midorigaoka Orthopedic Clinic
He understands athlete mental as he loves sports and playing it well!
I like his blog with interesting contents!

Some Robots were just a decoration for this time…

I found that Refreshing mind and body is quite important
So now, I can go harder to enjoy the rest of snow season 🙂

“Komagatake Ropeway / Senjojiki Kar”

We had chance to visit here, Komagatake Ropeway in this spring

Lots of people wait for a bus to get up from early morning with  fresh greens and blue-sky at the end of Golden-Week (one of big holiday season in spring)

It quite high altitude area but still few snow there as same as most of other ski areas in Japan for this 15-16 winter…
We started shooting under this gray sky after we met beautiful blue sky at the bottom of mountain

Cloud parted and shares nice blue sky from noon, as weather forecast said
I guess it because our daily behavior exchanges it 😉
There is Mt Fuji in the distance and seems quite blacked already

We were almost discouraged cloudy & windy weather in morning but we got smiles with smooth snow from afternoon
This is the crew of Day 1, we had interestingly fun hours together 🙂

As a matter of fact, we had ticket to stay at its Hotel on the hill except for Takumi-Shredder (2nd from left)!!!

There is Bath and delicious meals by friendly Chef!
Our face was kept smile from Dinner, Breakfast and then Lunch as we follow with the flow 🙂

This is one of dish from dinner
Why don’t you feel Heart of Hospitality by Chef!!?

Like this from Breakfast (my eyes were surprised and blink too much 😉 )

Day 2, we couldn’t get nice light at sunrise unfortunately but comfy blue sky came out afterwards
Though, sign of humidity in my favorite sunglasses “Fullon“…

We believed forecast and so tried to do job done before clouds float above us at afternoon
Climb up, shoot some footages, then back to restaurant to make our tummy satisfied by yummy Sauce-Katsu (Pork) Don 😉

Unfortunately Takatch (most left on photo above) left us this evening

Before sunset of that day, we decided to go up to Senjojiki Kar in 2 days
Komagane city is surrounded by peaceful nature, so we spent 1 off day with Picnicking 🙂

Monkeys chill out at greened Komagane-Kogen Ski Ground

And we chilled out at pond-side (Itaru-Shredder and Atsushi–INDRES Formation)

White Flower fascinates me but I don’t know who you are…

And then, nice weather for 3rd day
3 faces joined us and started comfy climbing and riding on snow

The View of Hotel Senjojiki and Komagane-Kogen Ski Ground from bottom of Houkendake

Climbed and Walked around well from earlyer morning until afternoon…
So that, we went back to Tummy Service Area for late lunch
Though, I normally become kind of DONE mode if I have normal lunch…
I wanted to go back up hill somehow…
Kind Shredder-Itaru and Yuta da Local followed me to be my The-Last-One ride company

This is Itaru-Shredder, shows full use of axe during his rehab of major knee injury

The last shot with this day’s crew, just before the last Ropeway to go down
I requested them to make Nice Air for my shot, but I’m not good to use my Smartphone well…
Though, I press the shutter with calculated time lag baddly
シャッターは押したんだよ、でも時間差が…
Ayumi Hamazaki→Itaru Fujinuma→Yuta Miyazawa→Atsushi Nakane→Piro

Looked back at Komagatake when I got back to the base after sunset

It happened just before we break up this trip
Brand new dual, “INDRES The KihamaItaru” 🙂
Nice mellow sound made my fatigue comfortable

It seems/hope this area “Senjojiki Kar” keeps enough snow for ski-touring until the end of May
It will be nice to get there to have delicious foods!
When it’s clear, there is luxury scenery with Mt Fuji in the distance 🙂

Thanks a lot to Chef Sasaki who always treat us kindly!!!

I wonder if I will be able to find another chance to go there sooner…

= 20160511 =

春の、ある日最後のオマケの登り返し
陽は陰り始めとったけど雪は大丈夫だと予想できたけど重い感触だった
滑落……、はせんかったけど転んでしまって大反省
一日の終わり際、筋力の弱り具合も理解せなアカンのですよ！

It was the last extra climbing-back at that day in spring
I could guess that snow would stay soft enough even though the sun hid behind the ridge and it was heavy feeling for edging
I missed balance and slithered……not, but I fell down, “Huge Regret”
I need to understand how much my muscle loose power at the end of the day!

『駒ケ岳ロープウェイ／千畳敷カール』

今春もお邪魔させてもらいました、駒ケ岳ロープウェイ

GW後半に新緑と晴天につられて早朝からバス待ちの皆さん

ここもやっぱ雪が少なめなこの雪シーズン…
下界はえぇ天気だったのに山の上はこんなんで始まった今回の撮影隊

ほんでも日頃の行いの良さか、予報通りに青空が広がり始めた1日目の正午頃
遠くに富士山も見たけどやっぱ雪少なぁ〜いっ

午前中は曇天強風でめげそうになったけど午後からは気持ち良く滑れる雪になって最高でした
1日目は彼らと充実の時間を過ごせました 🙂

実は…、上の写真の右から2人目、プロスノーボーダー池上匠を除いた僕らは山の上のホテルでの滞在！！！

お風呂もあるし、料理長が腕をふるうどえらい旨い料理たち！
夜も朝も、ついでにお昼まで、お腹と顔はずっと笑顔 🙂

夕食からの一品
料理長のおもてなし心が伝わってくるだらぁ〜！

朝食からこの彩り（慣れない僕の目はチッカチカしとったわ 😉 ）

2日目は、まずは朝陽のライディングショットには恵まれんかったけど気持ちのえぇ青空
午後からの曇り予報っぽい空色が僕のお気に入りのFullonのサングラスに…

雲が流れてくる予報前の午前中にサクサクと登山して滑って撮って、美味しいソースカツ丼に頬を痛めて… 😉

残念ながら、タカッチくん（上の写真の左端）はこの日でお別れ

その日没前には、翌々日に再び千畳敷カールへ上がることが決定
空いた中日はピクニック気分を自然の中で過ごせる恵まれた駒ヶ根市

緑に包まれた駒ヶ根高原スキー場でノホホンとくつろぐ猿たち

池畔でノホホンとくつろぐプロスノーボーダー藤沼到とインダレスフォーメーション監督の中根篤史と僕

未だに植物に疎い僕にも魅力を振る舞う白い花

そして晴天予報の撮影3日目
3人が合流してぇの気持ちえぇ登山開始

宝剣岳麓からのホテル千畳敷と千畳敷スキー場の眺め

早朝から午後一までしっかり歩いて滑って撮影して、体力をかなり使って…
だでやっぱ料理長の美味しい昼食に舌鼓
いっつもなら普通の昼食食ったらまぁ終わりモードなんだけど…
僕はもう一本滑りたくなってしまい…
優しい藤沼到プロとどローカルの宮澤裕太がラスイチに付き合ってくれまして

こちらは歯をくいしばって同行してくれた大怪我から復活のためのリハビリ中、アックスを使いこなす藤沼到プロ

最終の下山ロープウェー直前に撮影隊でパシャリ
「ジャンプして〜っ」とリクエストしときながら、スマホのカメラを使いきれんワタクシ…
シャッターは押したんだよ、でも時間差が…
浜崎あゆみ→藤沼到→宮澤裕太→中根篤史→ピロ

日没後に下界からお世話になった駒ケ岳を振り返る

解散直前にその瞬間は訪れた
デュアルギターバンド、「インダレス・ザ・キハマイタル」発足 🙂
心地えぇ音で疲れを忘れられたよ〜

5月末までは千畳敷カールでのバックカントリースキーの望みは続きます
美味しいご飯を食べるのも目的に行くのもアリですね
遠くに富士山も見られるっていうのも贅沢な景色ですよ 🙂

料理長の佐々木さん、いつも本当にありがとうございます！

もう一発遊びに行きたいな…