chotto ski vacation

I got away for five days.

Met up with Denis, who I met last year (14 months ago!) in Furano[富良野]. This year we met at the Fukushima-ken's [福島県の], Koriyama [郡山駅] station at the south exit (which didn't exist). We planned the entire trip via email and it was a charm. Despite spending too much money and breaking my thumb (yes, you read that properly) it was a fabulous trip. We explored the ALTS [アルツ] resort and then enjoyed two days in cozy lodge, learning to telemark ski. That was truly awesome because we had both wanted to learn how. The manager and our instructor, "Boss," was a pretty tough dude. He's been at the telemark thing for 25 years... one of the original Japanese telemark association members. I only know him as Boss, that is what everyone called him!

Reuinted!

The new boots!@

The entire, flossin' "White" package!

Denis and backside of Ura Bandai [裏磐梯] volcano (dormant)

Me and the "snow mochi" [もち] at the bottom of chair 9.

Cool jump sequence... guess who.

Boss explains how the volcano [火山] exploded 120 years ago... leaving that huge empty space, hence the name "Ura" Bandai.

The telemark crew... in the background, the basin created after the volcano had its way with the area!

See you... next year...?!