The Anticipated Curve Ball

We are far away in a new place
But they are kind
The snow is white and cozy
and makes me feel at home
There is so much comfort
To glide quietly through the storm
To see the tracks of the animals in the forest, in the trees
My feet are grounded on the same planet
Where Tooksok, Chignik and up on the Ridge
Each confidently or humbly displays
Its magnificent unbelievable natural phenomenon


Niseko is known to have frequent and consistent snow storms all winter that make the snow deep and stable. During part of our stay we had some very warm days (two nights in a row without good refreeze) followed by heavy snowfall. The snow conditions where very much like I am used to and normally back home my alarm bells would have been going off. In Niseko, the avalanche report read "low" and the backcountry gates opened and this influenced me to ski things that I probably would not have if I had based my decisions soly on my own observations of the weather and snowpack. For all I know, they were about to have the worst avalanche cycle in their history and had no clue. In arm-chair quarterbacking myself, in hindsight, I may have taken to much risk.

In our quest for Goshiki Onsen, we traversed across high alpine bowls above tree line though unknown territory in a white out. I knew what loomed above, unseen, from my hours of poring over the maps. We gained the ridge and started to descend. We became slightly disoriented for a few moments in the white and found that we had lost the main ridge and had followed a sub ridge that dissipated into a steep slope. We descended, and finally came out below the clouds and into the most beautiful snow choked valley where we could see the steam of the onsen below. We put our skis in

the snowbank of this uninhabited onsen quietly slipped inside, out of our ski boots and into slippers and into steamy hot water. We were the only two at the onsen and I whispered quietly to Jill over the wall dividing the boys from the girls.
Later the next day we skied the north bowl off the peak which is a run I will never forget. Skiing a long steep untracked powder run off a peak in a far away land with the one you love is unforgettable. The fear, the adventure, the gliss, the bonding, but if anything had happen to Jill I would give back every powder run to have that one decision back. Maybe that is the joy and appreciation of being alive.


Freedom of the Hills - Napon Style:

White Ninja

3 plane rides 2 buses and a van ride later and we have arrived in Niseko. With all our luggage! Niseko has so many elements that are so different from home that it seems like a sort of ski dream. There is more snow in the village than I have ever seen anywhere. Snow mushrooms on everything and roads like a 15 foot deep rat maze
through the town. The trees act like the willow bushes back home to slow the wind just enough to deposit super deep snow...but on a more grand scale. Something about being so far from home and having the mix of visitors from around the world makes this place seem like a ski melting pot where anything could go down kind of the like the movie :"the Beach" Mt Youti is absolutely magnificent. Something Cant wait to ski!