International (Europe/Japan/Southern Hemisphere) Cat Skiing in Japan or what I've been up to the last 2 winters

[Idris]

(Sorry if this is in the wrong place, please let me know which is appropriate)

I've spent the last 2 winters guiding in a Cat skiing operation near Neaba, Niigata Japan.

When I say guiding, I mean I turned up expecting to work along side other guides in an existing operation.

BUT when I arrived I was presented with this (instructions not included)

Which in the first season, I taught myself to drive an maintain the beast, surveyed the ski area that hadn't turned a lift in a decade and ended up with this

I think we had 10 days worth of customers the first season. Starting from Scratch I think the boss was happy.

In the autumn I returned gave the cat an overhaul, built a new cabin, better seats, heating etc.

Season 2

The cat skiing area is an abandoned side area of Naeba, about 2 hours out of Tokyo.

We are 4km up an old access road, that keeps us very very quiet (less than 10 ski rando per year). While not as light as Hokkido we do get a lot of snow - last year was officially low tide, we got 12m in 2 months!

Typical skiing

and snowboarding

 

[Jim McDonald]

I used to ski at Mikuni back in the day. I'm interested in heading your way.

 

[Philpug]

We need to get to Japan.

 

[Jim McDonald]

Phil & Trisha, come on down!

 

[Idris]

Finally got back to the Cat

It had been sleeping since March

A few hours work later

 

[Idris]

A couple of days ago I got the cat up to the top of the area.

We've had some snow since, and I didn't catch all of the area (I'm still learning the drone thing). But you will get the idea

 

[Idris]

Yesterday 8 Jan 2019

This morning 9 Jan 2019

Up at cat skiing

At work

 

[Bolder]

^^Can you send some of that white stuff to the Dolomites? kthanksbye!