The New Zealand Chapters. V: Solscape, Raglan

Perfection, what we all strive for even when we know there is truly no such thing. Every once in awhile though, if you're lucky enough, you stumble across a place which comes pretty close. With Solscape, I think it's the closest I've come so far.

At the core, when I started this blog, I meant for it to be for reviews hence the name. It's morphed into more of a travel blog where I store my thoughts. However, I try to put an in-depth review out there every once in awhile when the time and place is right. This week, I'll take a break from my travel diary and review one of the coolest places I've lived at so far, Solscape.

Travelling and visiting Solscape and actually living and working there are two pretty different experiences in my view. Therefore, I am going to split the review into 2 parts. The first will be your traditional travel-blog review from the eyes of a traveller spending some time there. The second part will be more for the backpackers who are planning to do a little volunteering and have a bit more time to spend in Raglan.

one.

Solscape is designed as a place for rest, rejuvenation and playful inspiration, to nurture our connection with each other and the natural world.

That's what it says on the Solscape website. They are actually a BBH and YHA hostel although it bares almost no resemblance to any of the YHA and BBH backpackers I've stayed at before and after. At it's simplest form, owners Phil and Bernadette want to spread a positive message through the hostel. After acquiring the place over a decade ago, they figured that close to 30,000 tourists pass through Raglan through out the summer and decided that by using the hostel itself, they could spread a message of sustainability by having the entire place be a working model of sustainability and carbon footprint reduction.

That's the theme that you will find running through-out the entire place. Speaking of the place, Solscape is comprised of several forms of accommodation. Starting at the bottom, they have campsites, followed by cabooses, tipis/tents, earth domes, and fully self-contained houses. They also have an organic no-meat kitchen next to the reception called The Concious Kitchen and their own surf school which predictably also rents out surfboards. Rounding it off are a yoga space and a massage room.

Let's start with location. Any serviced-based business owner will preach location, location, location. If there's one thing Solscape has got locked down, it's location. Set into the side of Mt. Karioi, Solscape sits between Ngarunui Beach and the world famous Manu Bay, about 8 minutes drive from Raglan Town. Driving up the road which hugs the coastline, you could be forgiven for not knowing that a sprawling 10 acres worth of accommodation lies hidden above the myriad of cutbacks that form the Solscape driveway.

As soon as you get up there to reception though, do yourself a favour and turn around to drink in that view. A view to rival any other, treat your eyes to the crashing waves along Ngarunui beach that stretches into the horizon, flanked by lush green rolling hills on one side and nothing but blue sky on the other.

Your next task will be to pick your accommodation. Let me try and help you with that. As stated earlier, your cheapest option will be to rent a campsite to either sleep in your tent, or in your car. If you're a backpacker there's a good chance this will be your option. Unlike any other campsite or hostel I've lived at since, sleeping in your tent or car here does not take anything away whatsoever from the Solscape experience. With all the facilities like several kitchens, and bathrooms scattered around the place you're not far away from anything and because everyone hangs out in the central kitchen where there's a fireplace, I really think Solscape is one of the few places where sleeping in your tent or car takes nothing away from your experience.

Next up are the cabooses. They're repurposed train carriages and are the closest you'll get to the traditional multi-bed backpacker room. Each caboose holds from 3 to 8 people and I believe there are 12 carriages in all, including a huge overlander that is self contained. The majority of beds in Solscape are in cabooses and are the option I'd recommend to most people. Sleeping in a train carriage is definitely a novelty.

In the summer, Solscape opens up a tipi/tent section which is a small walk on gravel through the forest from the main area. The tipi area has it's own set of bathrooms and kitchen, including a really cool wood-fire pizza oven. Everything in the tipi area is built to be self-sustainable. The hot water runs on solar power and so do the lights. This also means there are no plug points but if you're looking for plug points whilst sleeping in a tipi I think you've missed the point. The tipi area definitely evokes the strongest opinions, especially from the volunteers who've been at Solscape for awhile. On one hand, it's the coolest area. Who wouldn't like to live in a tipi and make pizzas every night while lounging around in the open kitchen? On the other hand, if the weather is damp, things get rough pretty quickly. I could be wrong, but I believe tipis were not made for wet weather and this becomes very apparent very quickly. The interiors get very damp and there won't be hot water as it's purely solar-powered. Also, as it's about at 10 minute walk uphill and downhill from the main area, forgetting to take something becomes infuriating, especially when it's the third time in a day. It's still a really awesome option, you just maybe want to check on the weather before you book your tipi. Also, small tip to pack light. You are not be able to drive your car to the tipi area.

Inside a tipi.

I unfortunately did not manage to live in any of the self-contained options. However, the earth domes are extremely interesting. Built to be sustainable and sourced from the earth (hence the name), they're the only ones of their kind in the world. The walls were formed mainly by sacks if my memory serves then covered by clay. The houses, luxury options in Solscape, give you the best views. Instead of sitting in the area behind reception where it's relatively flat, the houses sit alongside the winding driveway up, giving unobstructed views of the ocean. There are interesting stories to how most the rooms and houses were conceptualised and built and if he has the time, ask Phil about them.

Attractions wise, the obvious one is the surf. I won't bother going into that as it's more a Raglan attraction instead of Solscape in particular. It is really convenient to be able to rent your board and walk down to the beach in about 10 minutes though walking back up is another matter. In fact, you can walk all the way to town on the beach when the tide is out. It'll take you about 2 hours probably. I also believe Solscape is the only backpackers that sits between Ngarunui and Manu Bay, giving you loads of options based on your ability level.

Almost as big an attraction though, are the yoga activities on offer. There's yoga sessions every morning and some evenings. I participated in a meditation session by Venu and it was an amazing experience. The fact that you step out onto the deck and have the ocean spread out in front of you when you're feeling super zen does not hurt at all. Even if you don't go for the actual classes, there'll be bodies littered all around the place in various states of yoga, more than happy for you to join in.

After your activities, make use of the huge open spaces and hopefully good weather, grab a huge pillow and just lounge in the sun. Book in hand, just relax away into the evenings, where on the colder nights there's usually a log fire in the kitchen. For the more social, you could just as easily replace the book with a guitar or cards or even drop it all and just talk to people. I had many an interesting conversation in my time there.

The only reason I would discourage you from staying at Solscape is if you are a party person. There is Karioi Lodge up the road for that. With the 10-11pm lights out / no alcohol policy, there are hardly any parties and if you're staggering around drunk, you will quickly be casted out anyway when compared to the chill vibes of everyone else. The other type of person that I would advise against staying at Solscape is the business type who's stuck to their laptops and emails. Whilst there's free wifi at reception, it closes at 8 so you'll be sitting outdoors to connect to the wifi. There are also very few plug points around the place and in most areas there's no wifi even if you want to pay for it. If you're that desperate for plug points and wifi though, you're probably missing the point, which is to disconnect from technology and reconnect with yourself and others for a while.

Rest, rejuvenate, inspire they say. I guarantee you, when you leave Solscape you'll have all 3 in bucketloads.

two.

Our volunteer programme has been designed for travellers who wish to spend time in this beautiful place in a meaningful way- contributing, learning, connecting to the place and people and enjoying what is on offer in a very affordable way.

Now is probably a time as good as any to put in a disclaimer about me having volunteered at Solscape which probably affected my views of the place. This is also where I review the volunteering experience there. If you're a backpacker going around New Zealand looking for wwoofing opportunities, this should be useful for you.

The policies Solscape have in place change over time and the woofing experience for me at the start and towards the end were quite different. I believe for a majority of the year, you work 2.5 hours, 6 days a week in return for accommodation. Solscape also seems to prefer you to be there from 2-4 weeks. This probably increases in the slower months like winter where the turnover is slightly lower.

Most of the work revolves around cleaning the place daily. You work alongside the full-time housekeeping staff cleaning up the kitchen and mainly the showers and bathrooms. The work is not difficult and at 2.5 hours a day, it breezes by, giving you a lot of time to indulge in the plethora of activities available or pick up another paying job in town. Apart from housekeeping, you can be rotated to be involved with gardening, laundry, or some maintenance around the place. Again, none of the work I would describe as difficult or back-breaking. It's all relatively enjoyable especially in the company of your fellow volunteers. More than that, learning about permaculture and how and why certain things work the way they do is great and if you spend an extended amount of time there, I believe even the staunchest of skeptics will slowly come round to seeing the logic. A little bonus from all the gardening and permaculture is you can use any of the herb, flowers or veg planted in the various gardens.

Amongst the benefits of being a volunteer is discounts at the Conscious Kitchen, where they serve up some incredible meat-free food and lots of interesting vegan and no-bake cakes and muffins alongside standard coffee fare and great fruit smoothies. You also get surf rentals at half price. Whilst I don't agree with companies charging their own staff for rental gear, it's better than nothing. Worth noting though that Raglan Backpackers in town gives their volunteers free rentals.

Now, if you've been reading my blog you'll have noticed that I mentioned I volunteered at Solscape for close to 7 weeks. Wait a minute, I just said 2 paragraphs ago the maximum period is 4 weeks. Towards the end of my time there, the policies changed to match the increase in occupancy. Instead of 2.5 hours a day, hours went up to 4 hours a day in exchange for breakfast in the cafe daily and dinners on what seemed like alternate nights. During my time we also had pretty fixed duties so everyone kind of knew what to expect. With the change though, I believe Phil wanted volunteers assigned to different tasks weekly for their 4 week period so they could experience all facets of the operation in their time there.

No pipi, sleeping doesn't count as a task.

4 hours of volunteering a day means finding a paying job in town becomes significantly more difficult, so you probably want to keep that in mind. Volunteering is a great way to base yourself when you're new in the area though and finding your feet. You'll meet loads of people and especially in small towns, someone always knows someone who has a room for rent or is looking for help and that's how you move on from your 4 weeks. You could even start working full-time in Solscape itself should the opportunity present itself. Housekeeping, barista, kitchen hand, maintenance crew, reception. Just some of the positions you may find yourself in.

Accommodation-wise, you usually start off pretty fancy in one of the cabooses for a night or 2 before moving into "real" staff lodging. Yes, we got moved around quite a bit and some of the volunteers actually preferred to sleep in their cars through-out but you'll soon find out that it does not matter. At the end of the day it's just a bed to rest on at the end of the day as you'll be spending all your waking hours outdoors anyway.

If you've made it this far through this post, you will probably enjoy volunteering at Solscape. Lots of fun in the sun, deep conversations, music sessions, group dinners, random celebrations, pizza nights, and just all around awesome people to surround yourself with. Personally, their mission of spreading a positive message worked for me. I tried out some stuff I never would have had I not spent time there and the sustainable and permaculture message definitely affected some fundamental thinking in me. If you're a creative, chilled-out person, you'll easily fit into the hippie commune that's Solscape and all the good that comes with it. Good times.

I still have at least a chapter left for Raglan where I explore more of Raglan Town and the activities that come with it. My adventures surfing, German lessons, jumping off a bridge to ill effect, and awesome live music. I shall see you then.

All the better looking pictures in this post, including the header are taken by the super-talented Kali Garbaczeski whom I'm blessed to call a friend and part of the Raglan squad. Check out her website http://www.kaligphotography.com/ for more insane shots from around the world.

If you don't know how hyperlinking works and want to check out the Solscape website, it is http://www.solscape.co.nz/

The New Zealand Chapters. III: Hei konā rā Ohakune

"More so than the beauty and landmarks you see, it is the people you encounter that makes travelling what it is for me."

The amount of interesting people I've had the chance to meet and befriend over my years abroad, in their own ways, have shaped who I am today. For better or worse, usually better as most people you meet whilst travelling have open minds and similar mindsets, these connections and relationships are the key driving forces behind my travelling desires. Think about it this way, if I did not leave home, I would not have met some of my best friends today.

One such person is Mary Vu. Mary is another person I had the chance to meet in Japan, much like Sean. In fact, Mary and I were housemates for about 6 months in our lovely Octagon home. If you were ever housemates with me, there's a very good chance that you are British and Mary is no exception. Actually, despite constantly pointing out her Vietnamese roots to anyone new she meets, she's probably the most British person I know.

Mary was set to visit New Zealand for the second half of October, coinciding with both our birthdays. We decided it would be awesome to road trip around the North Island together. Her dates also lined up nicely with the end of the winter season in Ohakune and I decided our road trip would be my departure as well. Going back to my point about people you meet travelling, it's crazy how much of my New Zealand journey has been shaped and touched by the friends I met in Japan. Like I said, similar mindsets.

I'll eventually get to the road trip, but in Chapter 2, I promised to reveal more attractions around Ohakune so I'll do that first. Bear in mind that as it's relatively rural, you need a car to get to most place. First up, is Waiouru. The army museum is here and it's about 30 minutes drive from Ohakune. I enjoyed it and it shed a bit of light onto the ANZAC forces and World War 2. On the way to Waiouru, you also pass the Tangiwai memorial which was one of New Zealand's worst rail disasters. It's worth a look but if you're pressed for time, you could skip it. Just outside Ohakune is also the Ohakune carrot that is the town mascot because there's loads of carrot farming in 'Kune.

If you're keen on camping or hiking, the Waitonga falls half way up Turoa is a beautiful walk in any season but especially magical in winter with frozen pools and breathtaking views of Ruapehu dressed in white and painted in sunlight. It's part of a 4-day round the mountain great walk if you're keen on that. I could be wrong but I believe there is a freedom camping spot on the way up Turoa as well. Slightly further out of Ohakune is the Ruatiti Domain. It's another one of many free Department of Conservation (DOC) camp sites peppered around New Zealand. It takes awhile to get to but the drive there is beautiful, snaking around cliffs. It's one of the rare spots where having an open fire is allowed. I recommend visiting if you get the chance. Walk along the river, have a picnic or barbecue, and just hang out in its beauty. Like much of New Zealand, you'll feel like you've stepped into the set for Jurassic Park. Obviously there are loads more spots to see in the Ruapehu area such as National Park but I can only review what I have been to.

Waitonga walk

Ruatiti Domain

Alright then, back to the road trip. It was split in 2 parts as Mary visited the South Island in between while I chose to squeeze out a couple more hours of work to fund my trip. Little did I know, it would be the last of any steady work I would have in New Zealand. In part 1, we mostly hung out in an Ohakune which was slowly being evacuated due to the end of the winter season. It finished off in Taupo where we decided to spend a night to celebrate my 26th birthday. In a packed schedule, we started with white water rafting in Turangi. I found it pretty fun even if I expected slightly more from it. It's still great if you're new to rafting but I wouldn't do it again as you don't get any real sphincter-clenching moments.

We booked a bach in the DeBretts Hot Springs and got some dinner after checking in. Fish & Chips down by the great lake for the sunset. That's where I recorded the timelapse which is at the start of my Taupo video. Fun fact, you could fit Singapore inside Lake Taupo if you want a little sense of scale and have some pretty big tongs. We then went back to get baked in the hot springs after which you can hear Mary singing Happy Birthday in Sean's video. The next day, we hiked to Huka Falls then got baked again in some natural hot springs before enjoying the sunset on a different side of Lake Taupo.

Part 2 starts with the hiring of a Jucy camper van. Mary picked it up from Wellington and drove it back up to Ohakune. Note that if you're not present to collect the vehicle, you're not legally allowed to drive it. So as far as Jucy and the NZ Traffic Association is concerned, Mary did all the driving. Our itinerary started with black water rafting in the Waitomo Caves, followed by Hobbiton, Rotorua, Lake Tarawera, then Wellington. We slept in the camper every night.

I daresay black water rafting in Waitomo is a must-do if you're visiting New Zealand. After a quick intro, we changed into wetsuits and sexy pants then abseiled into the caves. Once down there, there's walking followed by crawling and then floating down the caves on a inflated tube before climbing back out of the caves at the end. Famous for the glow worms, the caves are a truly amazing sight when floating down in absolute darkness with the whole ceiling glowing like a infinite green galaxy of stars.

Sexy pants galore

Hobbiton, seems to be a strangely divisive topic in New Zealand. Speaking to most kiwis (the people, not the bird), they don't seem to be massive Lord of the Rings fans and seem to think visiting Hobbiton is a waste of time and money. Then again, maybe because they're constantly surrounded by greenery and rolling hills, it's not special anymore. If you're a fan of LOTR, I can assure you, it is special.

Hobbiton was initially built on a farm with very disposable materials, to be torn down after filming. However, because of storms, the crew could not tear it down and decided to only return to finish the job after 6 months. By then, the Fellowship had been released and locals recognised the hills in the horizon before working out which farm it was on. Needless to say, word got out and the rest is history. So Peter Jackson came back to film The Hobbit and this time, the farm owner agreed to let him use the grounds but on the condition that the structures were built to last and Hobbiton as we know it today was built.

Apart from the obvious appeal of being in the Shire, the fact that there are no visible modern structures like power lines as far as the eye can see is pretty amazing in this day and age. This is also what drew Peter Jackson to the area during location scouting. I have to note though that none of the hobbit holes have anything inside and are just doors cut into the side of hills.

Sulphur is the smell that will assault your senses as soon as you arrive in Rotorua, as well as the biggest i-Site I have seen so far. Known for it's geyser activity and subsequent hot pools, Rotorua is probably one of the bigger towns in the North. On our first night, we went to a Maori Show at Te Puia. Unlike many cultural shows I've been to, it was not over-the-top or gimmicky. The hangi buffet dinner was a nice touch as well. Again, I'd recommend going to a Maori show just for a glimpse into the principles that have shaped so much of New Zealand's history.

On day 2, we decided to drive to Lake Tarawera, mostly because I wanted Mary to do some proper camping. I wouldn't say the drive in is scenic but it was definitely interesting. A long drive on gravel roads past logging areas smothered out green camper in dust. With the Tarawera site, there is absolutely nothing there apart from a long drop which of course Mary loved. It was a 3 hour return hike to the Tarawera Falls which was a nice place to chill and have lunch. If tranquility and complete silence is what you're looking for, this is for you. Sit and watch the sunset reflect in the lake as long as you want with absolutely nobody else around.

We spent the last 2 days mainly driving and walking around Wellington. This chapter is long enough already so I won't bother with describing the city. I will say that I prefer it to Auckland and it is the windiest city in the world. After that, Mary flew off back to Japan and I prepared to start phase 2 of my New Zealand chapters. Easily the most interesting phase not just in New Zealand but maybe my entire travelling life, stay tuned for tales about my car, amazing Raglan and the hippie commune in the next few chapters.

Until then, thanks for reading.

On our trip I booked most of our activities through BookMe which is great if you're looking for discounts.

I also made a video of our road trip:

Doing a Ski Season in Niseko: What you should know

So, you've been thinking about doing a winter season in Japan for awhile now. Whether it's from the parts that you see in the pro videos, or from one of your buddies who's recently done one, it doesn't really matter. Stop thinking about it and do it! You can thank me later.

Having done 3 winters in Hirafu (which is the main village in Niseko) in a variety of positions, I feel the time has come to pass on some tips. Bear in mind I started my first season here having no idea what snowboarding even meant. Evidently, I got bitten by it as quickly as your face hits the ground after catching an edge. So, first timers, this may be of some help to you too.

1) Look For Jobs Early

• Failing to plan is planning to fail! Get your applications in there like swimwear. It is quite common to see staff who go for whatever’s available at the last minute and end up whinging about it for the rest of the season. That’s not saying that the rest of us who get the positions we want don’t do it as well! Have a look at a couple of the bigger companies like Ski Japan, Niseko Central, Ki Niseko, Nisade, and Holiday Niseko. Interviews usually get properly underway in June but it definitely won’t hurt to show your enthusiasm early. Then again, what’s life without some spontaneity?! Knowing most seasonaires, you’ll probably end up deciding to come over some time in late November and just taking whatever you can get. When looking over offers, keep in mind there will be 20% government tax.

2) Buying Your Equipment

• If you’ve done a season before you probably already know this, but try not to buy your riding equipment here in resort. As it is, the prices here are quite inflated (unless you’re comparing it to Straya where it’s completely screwed). Combine that with the few stores in town that carry decent inventory, and you will be paying well over the odds out of desperation.
• Get outlet/off-season stuff from the states and online shops. If you really can’t help it, use local online shops like Amazon, Rakuten or Yahoo Japan where you’ll find good deals on last seasons’ stuff. And if you still can’t find what you need online or just prefer to buy from a brick and mortar shop, get here early-ish and pick up past season rental gear from shops like Rhythm and Niseko Snowsports. Both of whom clear stock before the season proper gets underway.

Car? What car?

3) Stay in Hirafu!

• As the community and demand for accommodation has grown in Niseko, so has the need for staff and land. Because of this, many companies now push some staff out to Kutchan which is the neighbouring town for accommodation.
• As always, this comes with pros and cons. On one hand, living in Kutchan means your company will probably offer you door-to-door service for getting to work. You will also be really close to the supermarkets and local shops which will save you a fair bit when it comes to food. Rent is usually also cheaper in Kutchan compared to Hirafu.
• However, that door-to-door service also means that’s all you have to rely on. As most nocturnal activities will be happening in Hirafu, it will be fairly crap for you to leave the party early to catch your shuttle. The shuttle service also usually gives priority to staff who are working that day. The last thing you want is to not be able to get into Hirafu for first lifts on a powder day because the shuttle is full.

4) Data Sim Cards for Travelling before/after/during your Season

• It is close to impossible to get a sim card in Japan legally. If you plan to travel around Japan before, during or after your season, the wonders of having data to use with Google Maps are truly unparalleled and has saved me more than once. Definitely look into companies like e-connect Japan, who does both data only sim cards and portable wifis. Alternatively, you could pick up a portable wifi unit when you land at the airport. In-resort though, you’ll have no problems living without a simcard. There’s wifi most places and living in the mountains without a phone is actually really freeing!

The Niseko Whiteroom

5) Luggage and Taking the Train

• Ah… the train from Chitose Airport to Kutchan. Not once have I enjoyed this ride. If you arrive pre-season like most people, there will probably be no public bus options to get you to the village from the airport and the train will be your only option. It takes over 3 hours and the last leg will be on a cramped single carriage train where locals are giving you strange looks because you’re getting in the way with your board bag and 6 months worth of shit in luggage. You will also be lugging all that stuff up and down stairs when switching trains.
• My advice, send your stuff to your company before arriving. Local luggage services like Takkyubin allow you to send your luggage from the airport directly to the resort and vice versa. Especially if you’re visiting other parts of Japan en route to Hirafu, this will be a godsend. Alternatively, you could ship it from home with services like luggage forward but this will cost a whole lot more. Compare it to the oversized luggage charges you will be paying your airline to see if this will be worth it.

6) Stuff You Probably Should Bring

• Pretty obvious one, your winter boots. Proper ones like Sorels or the North Face are ideal as road clearers do not keep up with the amount of snowfall and if your job involves you being outdoors, you will be trudging through ankle deep snow all day. I thought I would be able to get through with sneakers and spikes but quickly learned that working with frozen toes is definitely not ideal.
• If you’re looking for winter gear, the snow in Niseko is very light and very dry and you could probably get away with gear that is slightly lower on the waterproofing scale. What you really want to make sure you do have, is a powder skirt. The combination of not having ridden powder and lack of a powder skirt means having copious amounts of melting snow constantly up your back. Then again, just don’t fall.
• Condoms and medication. Living in a village slightly removed from the town, they’re harder than you think (no pun intended) to find when you really need one. Definitely bring from home.

7) All Mountain vs Grand Hirafu

• If at all possible, check if your company provides you with a personal season pass. While some companies save on this with using a shared passes, having your own is just that little bit less of a hassle. Your next decision is between getting a Grand Hirafu pass or an All-Mountain pass. The price difference is really quite drastic with the All-Mountain being up to 6x more expensive. Grand Hirafu gives you access to Hirafu and Hanazono, All Mountain opens up Annupuri and Niseko Village as well. If it’s your first season here, you will probably be able to get away with a Grand Hirafu and then buying a 50 hour pass for the other 2 sides as you will be spending most of your time exploring Hirafu and Hanazono anyway. I’ve personally always gone for the All-Mountain as it’s one less thing to worry about when you want to get those first tracks in! Do keep in mind that as a majority of the guest accommodation is based in Hirafu, it's naturally the busiest of the 4 resorts and you will very rarely be able to find fresh tracks after mid-day (unless you know where to look of course *wink*)

8) Travel Insurance

• You want travel insurance. Look at all the options from home as they tend to be quite expensive once extreme sports is involved. You definitely do not want to be stranded with mounting bills for injuries and out of bounds rescue, amongst other things. For the sheer value of it, I also recommend getting local insurance from the Kutchan council office. It will cost something like 20 bucks but you get the benefits of local government healthcare at ridiculously low cost.

9) Stay Alive credits to Luke

• Sounds easy, but can quickly become a lot harder than you think if you let it. Unfortunately, there have been deaths every season I've done in Niseko and it typically boils down to 2 causes.
• The Gate System. Niseko devised a gate system to ensure the safety of all riders by having an in-bound, and out-bound area. Most of the sidecountry or backcountry you see in my videos usually are accessed by marked gates which open or close based on Ski Patrol's discretion. If you do not know the area I highly suggest not going out the gates alone, doubly so if you do not have backcountry gear. I know it's easy to go "nah, she'll be alright" but I have seen massive avalanches and cracks that open up due to the bamboo under the snow base. Also, respect the mountain!
• Drinking. Again, this one seems absurd when you're sober but has claimed probably more lives than the mountain? Please always make sure you're never alone when walking back to your accommodation after a big night. There has been countless cases of people falling into streams, lakes or falling asleep in snowbanks only to be found in the summer when the snow melts. Those lovely fluffy snow pillows are not meant for sleeping in believe it or not. 

And that should be it for now. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to shoot me a comment and I will try my very best to answer them. If you have done a season before and have something to add, I'll happily add it to this list and give you credit.

This is a little playlist for the riding you can expect in Japow:

As always, I look forward to any feedback and you can follow me on:
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