Coronacation: Japan W20, W21, W22

[singlecross]

FKNA! I had somehow missed this thread. I’m coming over for the second half of January. Thanks for all the info!

[boltonoutlaw]

FKNA! I had somehow missed this thread. I’m coming over for the second half of January. Thanks for all the info!

Doitashimashite, Singlesan

[boltonoutlaw]

boltonoutlaw - what would you say the SWE is for the snow in tohoku (generally)? Couldn't believe the snow in central hokkaido a few januarys back. Better than the best snow we get in UT.

Been curious about that but haven't found the answer online anywhere

My friend got back to me and the information you seek is in this link: https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats...mjt4gKHq9VP-2Y

EDIT: You may find this helpful: https://www.jma.go.jp/jma/en/menu.ht...30S85Fskpu99TU

[boltonoutlaw]

Well, kiddos. I got derailed with this thread. I began chronologically, and then veered into some themes. I will resume where I left off in March of 2020:

COVID-19 eliminated inbound tourism and decimated the hotel business. The hotel remained open for domestic visitors but that too dried up as travel between prefectures was strongly discouraged. After that we relied on government subsidies to keep the hotel afloat. In return, all the employees were retained and no one was dismissed. Not much here to do for the waitstaff - I was dining alone.




Chairlifts kept spinning for the remainder of the scheduled season (4 April) to accommodate local skiers but many of the school programs cancelled, so the slopes were pretty empty and I had the place to myself. I thought that was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Little did I know that the next two seasons would be similar.




More empty chairs




When the season ended the hotel shut down until the cherry blossoms arrived bringing some domestic visitors (who were receiving vouchers to spend in hotels and restaurants to prop up the tourism sector). I was moved down to the local glampground. No complaints.






During the winter season I almost never left campus. Rode nearly every day that chairlifts were running. Lost two days to injury, and two days to the wind. Now, with spring in the air and mank on the ground I turned my attention to four items: Sledding for glading; learning to pilot a drone; learning to ride a moto; and seeing as much of the region as I could. First stop, Iwakiyama Jinja:





By the end of May all the snow was gone and the new rice was beginning to emerge from the padi.

[boltonoutlaw]

Final days of May, and the last vestiges of winter near the summit of Mount Iwaki. I spend these spring days learning how to fly a DJI Phantom drone. Time to survey the ropeways for deadfall.




Shasta daisy, one of the early bloomers of spring:




Looking north from 500m (1640') surveying lines and infrastructure. The view takes in the Tsugaru plain and its many rice padis, melon fields, and wind-energy farms. Gongenzaki peninsula, in the town of Nakadomari, is visible in the middle distance. The peninsula obscures wild Cape Tappi. The scenery up there is spectacular, reminiscent of Big Sur. In the background is Daisengen-dake, on the Oshima peninsula of Hokkaido.






Blue Dutch Iris:

[boltonoutlaw]

Welp, back again with pictures of summer just as the snow is falling and the bikes and golf clubs are getting packed away.

I had not expected to be spending the summer in Japan and it was a lucky accident that I am glad befell me. Aomori Prefecture is a true 4-season biome but is far enough north that summer temperatures are super comfortable.

I got myself into a free-to-use motorbike, a Honda Ape, and I was determined to become a good rider and see as much of the prefecture as I could from two wheels. Embarrassed to admit that I had not much time previously on anything but mopeds. That was enough to spur me on, plus Japan might be the safest place on earth for a novice to learn.






Mt Iwaki in early June peeking out of the clouds.




The first trip I made was south along the Senjojiki Coast of the Sea of Japan to the Juniko Twelve Lakes.




The coastline is spectacular and serene. One of the best railway lines in the country (in terms of scenery) is the Gono Line which runs next to the sea for a great deal of its length. It lies within the Shirakami-Sanchi, a World Heritage site.




The next trip I made was north along the Tsugaru Strait to Nakadomari and Cape Tappi. Spectacular. A do-not-miss if you are in that area.

[singlecross]

You, Sir are doing it right! That Ape looks fun

[Name Redacted]

I would like to subscribe to this thread.

[boltonoutlaw]

You, Sir are doing it right! That Ape looks fun

Thanks yeah that bike is a lot of fun

[boltonoutlaw]

2022.01.08 - 2022.02.28: An Epic Run

These are screenshots of the Snow-Forecast for 52 days last season. I was doing the reporting from the base area.

[boltonoutlaw]

One of those special days from W22

[boltonoutlaw]

Hard drive corrupted and so most of my photos from W21 were lost to the ether but good memories remain. Was able to salvage a few and sharing them here. Iwakidake is the highest altitude summit in Aomori Prefecture and is a snow magnet.

Working here was outstanding. Housing on the 5th floor, dining on the 3rd floor, office and onsen on the 2cd floor, locker room on the ground floor, and a short commute to the lift station(s).




Top station of the gondola from which ascents begin to the broad cone of Iwaki-san. This from mid-February, everything well buried, nice touring conditions. Evidence of prevailing westerlies seen at summit.




Beech tree glades and the "snow monsters" of the alpine zone. (Link from Zao Ropeway has a good explanation of this phenomenon).




Another view of Iwaki and its station above the double chair.

[Danno]

bump