Another Long, Drawn-Out TR: Japan and Alaska Season Review

[llyon]

With my northern winter coming to a close, I thought it would be a good time to look back on what has been a pretty fun season for me. Bear with me here, this could take awhile.

A quick preview.


My winter actually kicked off with a trip to Thailand and Myanmar. While I do enjoy the occasional non-skiing adventure, it was hard to focus while the snow was flying elsewhere. Nonetheless, a great trip overall.

Deep water soloing. Rai Lay, Thailand.


Neat caves.


Out of the cave.


Too many temples. Bagan, Myanmar.


Ayarwaddy River, Myanmar.


Sunset near Inle Lake, Myanmar.




In December, it was time to head back to Japan, to really get winter started.



The transition was… abrupt. Patrick Fux photo.


Per usual, Japan offered up quite a few storm days. Patrick Fux photo.


Good to be back in the cloud. Patrick Fux photo.


Patrick Fux photo.


Zach Paley photo.


Pillows. An old favorite. Zach Paley photo.


Trees. Zach Paley photo.


Miles sliding tree spines.



I'll keep cracking away at this and get the next part up soon...

[Rodneyyee]

You are doing it WRONG!!

Mike Pow could easily get you on the right gear and groomerz pow.

PS-insane.

[brannen]

nice work! the pillows in Japanland are re-dic-erous!!!!

[Graham]

Beef Dave, is that you?

[Dhelihiker]

powder sluts

[mc_roon]

still living the dream, well done!

[neck beard]

No prize for guessing what the rest of this TR is going to be like.

[llyon]

Ok, round 2:

While flat light, trees, and powder tend to be the norm in Japan’s winter months, we were lucky to have our fair share of sunny days this season.


A good run on the Lone Tree.


Zach Paley photo.


Zach Paley photo.


Zach Paley photo.


Much of the season was spent getting familiar with a favorite zone in the area. We’ll call it the spine pillows.

Ian on Safety Spine.


Miles Diesel.


Matthias on First.


Bottom of Lone Tree.


And another favorite zone, not far off. The spine pillows’ evil twin.

Unknown Japanese snowboarder on the dark side.


Matthias silhouette.


Ridge running.


Ian 100% organic hip jump.


Miles above the rollover.


Miles in the mix.

[llyon]

I didn't film anything this year, but my buddy just sent me a few clips the other day, which I thought I should share. They're from early March in Japan.

[neck beard]

As expected.

[Ted26]

Awesome stuff

[cyborg]

Great stuff. Really enjoyed this photos. Not too many pow days left in the central Rockies, but this post definitely increased my stoke to keep skiing!

[Mike Pow]

Very fine.

[gointhedistance]

Fun looking vid!

[sqikunst]

holy shit that was awesome!

[llyon]

More fun moments from Japan.

Miles backflips.


Travis Gohan flies in helicopters.


Chaz on the guide run.


A new view of some old mountains.


On my birthday, I skied this “fun” variation of Ross’ Gold.


Zach working some pillows in less than average snow.


Moritz in the spine pillows.


Moon and chair.



We were also able to ski a couloir that I’ve been eyeing for a few years now. It was good to finally get it done. And in great snow, too.

Entrance.


The line.


Japanese scenery.


Watch the sluff.

[neck beard]

That shaded second cirque is absurd, isn't it. Too much for me. Good to see it being loved. At least it looks like there. No need to confirm.

[llyon]

In March, it was time to head for Alaska. We arrived in Anchorage just in time for a good-sized storm. After a couple of endless days of shopping and organizing our van for camping, we headed for Turnagain Pass.

Good to be back in Alaska.


Unfortunately, new snow and rain crust weren’t getting along so well.


We kept walking and stuck to mellower slopes.


And eventually stability improved.


Thin snow year equals more interesting couloirs.


Elevator Shaft. Eekey Popplemayer photo.


Manitoba. Eekey Popplephoto.


Hatcher Pass.


A fun day on Bard Peak:

Eike. Definitely not posing.


The walk and Whittier.


Leaky Popplemayer photo.


A day in the Front Range.


Then, it was time to head for Valdez.

Wrangells.


Thompson Pass.


Promised Land with the Gunbarrels behind.


Valdez.


Berlin Wall.


I struggled with broken gear for most of the trip. Here I am practicing my one ski powder technique.


With weather rolling in, we moved back to Anchorage.

[TahoeJ]

Wow, awesome. Thanks for posting.

[::: :::]

dang..nothing but stoke!
thx for posting!

[ak_powder_monkey]

Tagging Baird... Well done sir

Did you access from shittier or portage?

[llyon]

Portage. Fun adventure out there, some good looking terrain!

[llyon]

Onwards.

While the storm didn’t exactly deliver as much as we’d hoped, we still caught a couple decent powder days at Alyeska.

Chair 6 pow. Miles Clark photo.


North Face pow.


Tram pow. Miles Clark photo.


Sunset, Cook Inlet, Tordrillos.


The skies cleared, and the skiing was good on Turnagain Pass.

Blower.


Skin tracks.


Eike Poppleights.


Drop in.


Miles Clark photo.


Back to the top. Miles Clark photo.


Pastoral. Miles Clark photo.


Miles Clark photo.


Miles Clark photo.


Miles Clark photo.

[ak_powder_monkey]

Portage. Fun adventure out there, some good looking terrain!

Yeah, if the wind isn't blowing!... Looks like you hit the only good day of the year

[llyon]

Things were starting to heat up around the Arm, so we headed for higher climes.

Hatcher. Same run different day.


Matanuska.


Billy from the Powder Palace.


Still good north facing powder on Thompson Pass.


Long couloirs, long bootpacks.


Phantom, Berlin Wall.


Berlin again.



We were able to ski the North side of Mt. Dimond.



From the top.


Eike Poeppi photo.


Lonely turns on the Worthington to finish April.