Sake, Powder and Skin tracks-Refections of Japan

As I sit in the Tokyo Narita International Airport waiting for my flight home,  I have time to think of my time in Japan. I can't believe how fast the time went while here as I fell into the rhythm of life in Japan. In our little Kutchan apartment we became a  little family of dirty ski bums, all sharing the passion for the mountains and for skiing.  I got used to the morning ritual of coffee with Steve and Anthony and making banana and chocolate sandwiches with Caroline, while we talking of the film crew's plans for the day.  Our only concern was the weather, overnight snow accumulation, and when (if ever) the sun was going to come out.  The outside world just seemed to dissolve away.

Everyday the snow was waist to chest deep.  We couldn't always see it, but the the of Japan was always at our backs watching over us.  We spent most days and evenings wallowing up boot and skin tracks with the constant volcanic smell of sulfur in the air.  We all were so stoked at the tops of these skins or booters 'cause we would soon be lapping powder filled lanes between Aspen, Birch, and Alder  snow caked trees, or sessioning little cliff or pillow lines, leap frogging one another's tracks, as the crew and filmers worked down the mountain, until the  last of the days light dropped behind far off peaks, turning the backcountry to pink and orange alpinglow.  We always tried to get one more shot in, before calling it a day and heading home in the dark, tired and hungry.  Many days we would head to the unsend (a traditional Japanese hot spring resort) for a little R&R and a well earned beer. 

While most nights were spent talking of the day events, blogging on our respective websites, surfing the net, drinking Kirins tall boys, while rocking out to the sickest french pop Yelle.  Some nights we walked the snow packed streets of Kutchan in search of new little Japanese restaurants for dinner, or just a trip to the grocery store.  The snow perpetually continued to fall. 

The greatest things about traveling are the people met along the way, the new friends made, and the places visited.  Its not about the outcome but the journey that matters the most.  The friends I met while filming with sweetgrass I will have for the rest of my life. Thank you for the turns and for all of the laughs.