I thought I had perfected the cat-and-mouse game with the Skipatrol by now: but this year, the cat is doing better. The same Skipatroller caught me twice in the same place within a week. Luckily I was wearing different clothes each time and so he didn't recognize me. Uffz, otherwise that would have meant the withdrawal of my season ticket. I can probably put this downhill route out of my mind for this winter and watch my colleagues from afar while they continue to make their turns there. Everything else also seems a little more difficult this year with the boys in red.
My 6th week of skiing in Japan was once again extremely varied: the main thing was to take care of a stubborn cold, but this also included intensive care of my runny nose with powder - preferably in large quantities, of course, and always spread it nicely on my face. We sometimes had more and sometimes less of this. The wind was always an issue and the risk of avalanches also made our daily planning very difficult, as many lifts were closed that should have been open. Here in Japan, 1 meter of fresh snow can fall and all the lifts are open, then 40 cm fall on top, and although everything had been skied the day before, the temperatures were perfectly fine and there was hardly any wind, the avalanche risk in the area was said to be far too high. Numerous local avalanche experts beat their hands over their heads every day at the decisions made by the ski resort operators. If you like to mount your skins, you can handle it well and switch to the earn-your-turn method. I still prefer powder after a lift ride and I prefer to postpone intensive physical exertion until spring or when my health has improved again.
The outlook for the coming week is very mixed. Monday morning backcountry time, then two days of huge rain, and then snow again. Sales of antidepressants (also known as alcohol) are likely to rise again. At least there is some time to cure the stubborn cold that has now affected 80% of the lodge residents.
All pictures in the gallery
Japan - country and people
The honesty, politeness and famous decency of the Japanese are indescribable: every rule is strictly followed, instructions are followed to the letter. The Japanese are also very careful not to stand in anyone else's way. If you accidentally drop something and don't notice it immediately, a Japanese person will return the lost item to its owner seconds later. Consideration and decency are of the utmost importance, especially in rural areas. You also don't want to come into conflict with the law. The police are rarely seen and when they are, they are usually in the area by chance. However, if you do come into conflict with the law enforcement officers, it will be very unpleasant and everything will be immediately recorded at the police station. For example, you are not only liable to prosecution if you drive with more than 0.3 per mille alcohol, all other passengers are also guilty and have to pay a fine.
