Still snowing

Quote of the day on the chair...
"I don't think that it ever stops snowing here."

Not sure if life could get much better when my biggest decisions of these days are: what time should I stop riding and what onsen I should go to today. Someone's gotta do it right?

The Magic Massage Chair and the Magic Cheesy Pancake

Greg from Sapporo was out visiting the past couple of days. Great fun. Shredding was accomplished, followed by onsen soaks and free massage chairs. Oh, the massage chairs... true magic, and not the black kind. The Japanese know how to do it, and they do everything better than we do. These pics were taken today and last night. The house in one of the pics is my current abode where I live with a super nice Aussie names Wade. Sweet pad, I'm digging it. And that pancake looking thing is the best vegetarian japanese food that I have found so far. Its called okonomi-yaki, which if I recall correctly basically translates into fried stuff that you like. Thanks Greg...so delicious!

Today

More of the same... ENDLESS POWDER!!!

What can I say...it's still snowing like mad outside. My body needs a rest, but I can't stop because the snow doesn't stop. I made a few shred rippin' friends out on the slopes today, so that's cool. Fun to rip around with them and they took me to some new zones that I had yet to discover. One dude from Denmark and two from New Zealand. I also have my friend Greg from Sapporo coming into town tonight, so I'll ride with him for he next couple of days. We're planning to go to an onsen tonight and there I can soak my weary bones... and knees!!! I'm finally getting used to the onsens and actually crave them now. It was a bit odd to bath with a bunch of other naked chicks at first, but it's just the way it is in Japan. I can dig it. The onsens are amazing!

It's snowing

Times they change and yesterday it rained. But, today when I awoke and managed to poke myself back outside I saw that 'it' is once again producing the white fluffy sweetness in life. It can't be THAT good all the time, can it?? Time will tell. I have posted a bunch of pics on facebook that most of you bloggers will be able to see, but for those of you who who still proudly revolt the facebook, I will post a few pics here too. Hopefully these photos give you further insight into my current plight of bliss. Off to the slopes...

Dingo Bait

My legs have finally given in and have failed me. I have succumb to the scootch leg and have used this day to rest, well somewhat anyways. Did a quick boot pack up the hill and a few runs as well, but then the fork was in me and I was done. Today I finally located a place to live in town. Pretty stoked. I'm living about a 10 min walk from the base of the closest lift and have the loft of a wood house to myself. There is a dirty dingo living downstairs, but actually he seems to be rather clean. The snow has settled down a little, but forecasts are saying that we are in for another big storm in a few days. Like always, I'll believe it when I see it. But so far, the pow in Japan has far and away exceeded any expectations that had ever built up in my brain. Nutty times. Hope to get some pics up soon-ish.

Another HUGE pow day

Well, what can I say. Today was even deeper than yesterday. I can't even believe this place. The roads are like seriously like tunnels through the snow. I feel like I'm in another dimension. Bliss. It actually isn't snowing right now, but every run that I had today was incredible. Like, seriously. People are saying that there is just too much snow. A lot of people appear to be unable to handle all the pow.

Whop whop!! Miss ya'll.

Niseko

Had yet another sick day of shredding the sick pow. Holy moly is all I gotta say. Today was the 6th day in a row where I got to ride in an incredible amount of powder snow. It's amazing. Needs to be seen to be believed for sure. The snow here is like icing sugar and the cake is coated well. For the past few days its been snowing 30-40cms a day, at least. I don't even know exactly though. And its still snowing?!?! I've been shaking my head several times a day. The terrain here is not super steep or anything, but there are some amazing zones that get fast and super fun to jump around off the pillowy goodness. Been going to some great onsens in the evenings as well and hanging with wicked people. I'd post some pics if I could, but currently I do not have a place to lay my sleepy head, far less a place to download pics. I mean I do have a place to sleep at the moment, but I don't want to out stay my welcome at a friend of a friends house, so I am doing my best to find a room. I just got back from checking out a spot that I thought would be good, but turns out to be littered with beds and booze bottles. No exactly my style. It's probably filled with aussies who like to pass out in ditches too, so I'm still on the hunt for accommodation. But.. I bought a months ski pass here, so I'm staying, even if I have to sleep in a closet. Let's hope that it doesn't come down to that. Tomorrow a friends movie (Signatures, check it out if you haven't already cuz its sick!) is playing in town. Should be fun with some partying to occur after I'm sure. Happiness....

The time is now.

Made it to the dream land....Niseko. Spent the past few days ripping some of the best pow ever (no exaggeration), with some of the best people ever as well. I can't really even explain the amount of that I am having right now in this time of my life. Warning... it is going to be rather tricky to drag me out of Hokkaido. I might be kicking and screaming.

rachel

Trip to the grocery store...whale meat, live snails and who knows what it is that I am holding...

Snowboarding- Day 1 in Japan. 18 so far this year.

Yipee!! Made it snowboarding and I'm ecstatic to report that the rumors about the trees are true. Delicious powder. Had a great time out with Greg and the sake last night. Had an amazing dinner too with some new Japanese food to try. Went to the Sapporo beer museum also and sampled some refreshing adult beverages. Tomorrow I'm heading to the Whistler of Japan...Nesiko. Should be good. Probably great.

Bye bye Disneyland...hello playland!

Been good!! Went to another old Samurai castle and some beauty temples. Went to this cool house near this mountain town too, a couple of Tood¥s friends live up there in this cool house with their cute little kids. They are living a self sustained existence in the mountains and have monkeys in their backyard. They have a huge organic garden too, but its covered in snow right now. Rad place for sure. It took us about 3-4 hours to get there driving on these crazy highways with big plexiglass sound barriers all along them. And you have to pay to use the highways. And there are hydro lines running everywhere. Last night Todd and Tomo also took me to a Pachinco parlour...SO LOUD and Ill explain it better when I see you or put a video up too maybe. I got to sleep with a cute Japanese kitty last night too.

I arrived in Sapporo (city in Hokkaido) today, after a pretty big day of train/plane travel to get here. Didn:t see one white person the whole way to get here, which is crazy. Need to get better at the Japanese now that I:m more on my own. Back to starvation otherwise. Tons of snow all around and it appears to still be snowing on the mountains. Unreal that I am finally in Hokkaido!!!! Going to shred tomorrow with Greg B. Staying with him for a few days. Going to go to an onsen tonight too. It will be my first time. Yikes! Hope that the pics give you a little further insight. So much going on here. Sorry that this is so scattered. Miss you all...

Happy New Years everyone. Yes, I'm still alive. These pics are still from my time in Tokyo..notice the real dead panda bear wrapped in plastic in the right corner of one of the pics. Very peculiar thing that I found at this fish market. I've taken a 300km/hr train to get where I am now. Went to an old Samuari Castle today and its been dumping 50cms+ in Hokkaido for each day for the past 3 days. Whoa. I'm stoked here though, visiting Todd and his Japanese ladyfriend. Will be flying north in a few days for the sick pow. Hope you are all well and lovely as always..

rachel