Tokyo-Yokohama

Been traveling and working lately.  Burton Sales, Outdoor Japan, Mammut and catching up with old friends.
Here are a few from last week while on the road. Good to be home and see the family and stoked to go snowboarding this week.

Hakkoda Opening day!

Hakkoda opened the ropeway Tuesday the 13th 2011 for the Season.  In the States a place like this would be crawling with powder junkies on opening day.  But not in Aomori Prefecture Japan.  It's not Hokkiado, so anything north of Hakkuba gets lots in the shuffle.  Hakkoda has deep, deep snow.  Not the steepest mountain, with most runs just under or around 30% pitch, but an abundance of good snow.  What I love the most about Hakkoda is the local seen.  Pure Powder Junkies.

I pulled into the parking lot at 815am and there where only a handful of cars.  Unbelievable!, I thought to myself.  If this where Mt. Baker on opening day, I would have been late, especially with a couple feet of powder to shred.  But this is Japan and this is why I love it here.  I hooked up with a Hakkoda local Ryoma-san and friends for the most of the morning trading turns and powder boarder cross bumps.  The snow was pretty low tide so lots of bushes and bamboo where exposed which make for more things to bonk and jump over.  Great first day on snow for the season. More powder days head. 

Hakkoda Time Lapse

Spending time in nature, especially the mountains is what gives me peace. Although, I have been in the mountains when these magical sights appear, I have never had the time or the right equipment to make a serious time-lapse photography film. Some day when I have the time and the very expensive  equipment I will do some nature time lapse photography. The people who do this type of nature photography have great patience to wait for the right time and moments to take these amazing sights come to life.  Here are some time lapse photography from the Hakkoda Mountains and other areas in Aomori Prefecture.  This is all right in my back yard. Really amazing stuff and I am super inspired by this guys work. 

For more check out it out here-------> Aomorigonta youtube

Please open to full screen to get full effect on these Videos!!!!!