January 29 2012 - Ok, the above isn't an actual "snow monster"! But it is a great photo of the deep powder that they get in the mountains for skiing. And no, that's not me. Sooooo not me! All of today's photos (except for the very last one) are courtesy of Mr. Simon Bernard. I have decided he is a guru of the Hakkoda Mountain experience. With his permission I opted to go with some of the shots he has taken this winter. His photos have been among some of the most gorgeous I've seen. (plus we haven't been out this week....colds, runny noses, and stress run amok in the house)
Above: "Snow Monsters" or "Juhyo" (in Japanese) with the night lights of Aomori City in the back ground. The snow monsters are the once tall trees that are on the mountain. The snow is so deep, that you can walk, err, ski, around the tree tops.Below: Taken from Mt Hakkoda. Mt Iwaki, Hirosaki City and the Tsugaru Plain caught in the twilight.
Above: At the top of the Ropeway. Look at the contrast of the picture below (my own photo from October....my lone contribution to the photos this week). That is the same radar station.
My thanks to Simon for getting us "out of the house" this week. I'm not much of a skier...well, truth be told, I don't ski. Yes, I've tried it multiple times. I like the theory of the sport. It just doesn't seem to like me much. It could be my lack of balance though. But that's ok, I'll stick to living vicariously through others. Though I'll have to admit I'd love to back up the ropeway just to take pictures. Easier said than done in the winter time however.
Above: At the top of the Ropeway. Look at the contrast of the picture below (my own photo from October....my lone contribution to the photos this week). That is the same radar station. 
My thanks to Simon for getting us "out of the house" this week. I'm not much of a skier...well, truth be told, I don't ski. Yes, I've tried it multiple times. I like the theory of the sport. It just doesn't seem to like me much. It could be my lack of balance though. But that's ok, I'll stick to living vicariously through others. Though I'll have to admit I'd love to back up the ropeway just to take pictures. Easier said than done in the winter time however. So another week ends/begins. I'm hoping to get out today. 6 inches of snow fell yesterday, today the sun is shinning, perhaps a drive about is in order!
Once again, my thanks to Mr. Simon Bernard for giving me permission to use his photos. I appreciate it so much!
