Not many pics today so I may as well write something I guess.
Moiwa was a little busier than last year (same time) yesterday.There were lots of people (males) with cameras on sticks.This was the norm and I was quite surprised.
Gaijin were hunting in packs, maybe 8 deep; very destructive indeed. Luckily, lots of the packs go out the gate and leave perfectly good powder for the less adventurous. There were big "crack" signs, even in bounds.
Kiroro had 3 gaijin that I saw today and 2 of them were us. There were no men with sticks. The ungroomed run on the left was decimated x 10 45 mins after it opened, vs still being ok at 1pm last year, ie blasted by Japanese; the myth of the locals shunning powder is just that now. The ropes are ridiculous, they even roped off some of their "black" courses. Folks duck the ropes all the time. Read the small print on the large signs and if you # something by hitting a tree it will be embarassing and quite expensive. Most of the resort is benign enough looking, they really should do a "Niseko" there. They plug the place as a powder haven in the Niseko press.
Still, as I was ruminating on all this as I took that first pic, I told myself I was a wingeing bastard, hardened up, and enjoyed the view, in the light, not too cold breeze, with the clouds not obscuring the local star.
Reading matter at base is "Spitting Blood" the story of TB, afterall.
Maybe the Duchess of Bedford had consumption.