Yesterday, after an early start turned out to be a good day.
We had breakfast, which I can't really say much about, other than half cooked omelette is not my idea of fun. We had breakfast and Conrad said he wanted to take it easy, so Dean and I went ahead and got suited up and headed out and Conrad would meet up with us at the bottom of Ichinose Family. After a slippery first run, we went and did an easy red run before noticing Conrad headed towards the vending machines, but Dean and I were already on the lift so we got a third flying run in before we had to slow down.
After a solid first run by Conrad, we took him around the back to Terakoya, which neither Dean or me had done last year. It was a good area. Not too many people and wide green run for Conrad, allowed him to get a bit better at holding his speed and carving. We headed to the left of Terakoya where there is a run that links to the back of Higashidate-yama. With some flattish sections, it was imperative that Conrad hold his speed, and he actually was looking a lot more solid on the board, and although a tad slower than Dean and I, he was still keeping a good pace. After going around Higashidate, which Conrad did much better than the day before, we headed up the gondola and back down to Ichinose for Conrad's green run. This was good, as it was getting on to about 12.30, and we were all getting hungry and tired. Time for some Nepalese curry buffet. Only problem is (well, not really a problem) that after two lots of curry & rice, and some salad and naan, we were quite full and spent the next 10mins letting the food settle before heading out again.
A few more runs with some tree runs by me and some playing on the sides by me and Dean, and a good showing by Conrad had us getting down the green run in about 7 mins or so. It was about 3.30 by then and Conrad was getting wrecked, so he waited down the bottom while Dean and I had a game of follow my line. I followed Dean's up the top, where he circled around some trees at the edge of the run, then toward the bottom he followed me through the trees. Tree riding gets a bit difficult, as some of the gaps between the trees are small, and the powder is so thick that it makes control/turning in a hurry a little difficult, but we had bit of fun with no injuries. At the bottom, we met Conrad who decided to do one more green run before packing it in for the day. Poor boy isn't used to the strenuous exercise. :P Another red run saw us back down the mountain before getting the last lift of the day. A flying green run to finish it and by then we were shattered. I don't think the getting up at 4.15 helped this.
After some rest and a quick onsen (I got told off by one old Japanese fellow for wearing shorts in the onsen) we were trying to find somewhere to eat. After only 2 and a bit days riding, I was starving for some red meat, but I couldn't find anywhere that does steak. We headed for the "Canadian Restaurant - Victoria" at the Hotel Ichinose. It had a buffet going, so we thought we'd give it a shot. After initially being refused entry (there was a whole bus load of school kids in there) the front desk clerk allowed us in. 2100Y isn't bad for a buffet, and the food looked good. It was spread out over 4 or 5 different areas, with the first area having yakitori skewers, chips, lasagna, pork with tomato sauce and cheese, and some other things. I couldn't wait, loaded up my first plate on just that table alone. Then Mum tells me some wonderful news - They had steak!! Nice Tenderloin done medium, and I wasn't waiting. I finished my plate of skewers and such then headed over to the chef and asked him to cook some for me. A plate of thinly sliced tenderloin cooked nicely and I was a happy lad. A few more bits and pieces, and a couple of apple jellies later and we were done... stuffed to the gills. A trip to the gift shop saw us stocked up with ice cream, beer, umeshu, and other bits and pieces, then back to our room for some weird japanese TV comedy sketch show. Only thing was, that as soon as I sat down on the bed, I was nearly passing out. I barely finished my beer before everyone decided to call it a night by 8.30.
Pics are here. (I had my camera on me all day)
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