| Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Adventure on the advanced slopes of Happo and Checklist
Survived accidentally going up the wrong gondola to the advanced slopes of Happo One, Nagano, Japan. Refused to give up, but will ski board rather than use alipine skis next time. Falling face down crossed skis is a killer done too often, which couldn't be helped. Four hours to get down the mountain LOL.
Checklist:
1. Wear contacts or get powered goggles. Glasses fogged up and blinded me.
2. Wear ski mask or balaclava. Would have saved me from eating snow.
3. Wear my inner snow gloves next time. Rented gloves got wet and froze my fingers.
4. Wear thermal leggings, waterproof. Pants under the rented ski pants (which got wet) didn't do too badly however.
5. Go on ski boards rather than skis. Took the last ounce of my energy to get back up after falling down over a two hour period down the slopes. I was saved by a frenchman named Olivia(?) who walked me back to the beginner slopes. Nearly gave up on the slopes and sat buried in the snow which was warm and soft. And easier than trying to lift the skis back out of the snow. Difficulty lay in trying to uncross the skis to get them back side by side to get up. Required inner leg muscles I've never developed.
6. Wear my thermal sleeved t shirt, with my turtle neck U2 and turtle neck cashmere, and my light hooded fleece under the ski jacket again. Kept me warm and probably saved my life.
7. Thermal socks and proper sized boots. Toes in pretty bad shape trying to hike down the mountain with skis on shoulders and poles dangling everywhere. Fingers were too frozen to carry skis properly.
8. Know the trail!!!!! Or don't go ahead without the guide next time. Serves me right if I died.
But it was an adventure of a lifetime! :) Definitely ski boarding again next time. Shiok. And my very first snowy white winter over the new year :) :)
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posted by Paul @ 6:57 AM 0
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