The Hokkaido Proposal by Peak Design - Field Notes
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The Hokkaido Proposal

Dave and Molly get a lifetime of powder in the Japanese backcountry.

Peak Design
By Peak Design
In Adventures
February 9th, 2016
Link to story section - The DUO

The DUO

Dave is Peak Design’s financial controller. Molly is our dear friend and part time user experience designer. This February they took off to Japan for 10 days, and when they came back everything had changed forever.
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Link to story section - THE ITINERARY

THE ITINERARY

2 days in Tokyo
4 days in Niseko (Hokkaido)
2 days in Kyoto
board the Shinkansen
2 days in Nozawa Onsen (Nagano)
2 days in Myoko Kogen (Nagano)
Link to story section - The Gear

The Gear

Whether you’re in the city or in the mountains, you’ve got one back and two shoulders. Here’s what our friends lugged around, and how they lugged it.

Mountain Kit

Mountain Kit

City Kit

City Kit

Link to story section

TOP: MOUNTAIN KIT

Leatherman Skeletool, Black Diamond skins, BCA Link radio, B&W polarizing filter, Capture, P.O.V. Kit, GoPro Session, Fuji XT-1, Shell (small), Vapur collapsable water bottle, Kind bar.

Mammut avalanche shovel, Black Diamond ice axe, compass, BCA slope meter, BCA Tracker beacon, Petzl Tikka 2 headlamp, Black Diamond Super Tour probe, Black Diamond Jet Force avalanche backpack, engagement ring, Arc’teryx Cerium jacket, Smith spare goggle lens.

BOTTOM: CITY KIT

The Field Pouch (Heritage Tan), Amazon travel tripod, Arc’teryx Cerium jacket, 10,000 Yen (~88 USD).

SlideLITE, Everyday Messenger (Heritage Tan), Fuji XT-1, Leatherman Skeletool, StrongVolt phone charger, Kind bar.

TriggerTrap cable, B&W polarizing filter, Breakthrough 6-stop neutral density filter, Capture, Fuji batteries, dust blower, Fuji battery charger, Fuji 35mm 1.4, Rokinon 12mm 2.8, Shell (small), iPhone 6+

Link to story section - in the city

in the city

A trip to Japan is not complete without a few days of aimless meandering through the city. Tokyo is the world’s largest city and the economic and political center of Japan. In the midst of this megapolis, Molly and Dave met up with some old friends who showed them the local nooks, eateries, robotic toilets and supercomputer vending machines. Always be sure to wash down your Takoyaki with an ice cold glass of Pocari Sweat.
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Link to story section - In the town

In the town

Tokyo may be Japan’s economic center, but Kyoto is the cultural center. From the town center to the outskirts, Kyoto’s cityscape is dotted with thousand-year-old temples and sake distilleries. Life here is a bit more relaxed, which is perfect considering how much work it takes to digest Okonomiyaki.

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Link to story section - To The Snow

To The Snow

After a few long nights (and early mornings) of Karaoke in Tokyo, Dave and Molly headed up to the Hokkaido peninsula, the Northernmost point of Japan.

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Link to story section - HOKKAIDO Slopes

HOKKAIDO Slopes

Japan’s Northernmost prefecture is world renowned for its powdery snow. Dave and Molly put it to the test, and the results confirmed Hokkaido’s reputation.

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Link to story section - Myoko Slopes

Myoko Slopes

Near the border of the Nagano prefecture, the town of Myoko Kogen is known for skiing and the glorious Japanese tradition of onsen (hot springs) relaxation. Our team was lucky enough to meet a 72 year old local who took them to a backcountry hut.

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Link to story section - Oh, And the Other thing

Oh, And the Other thing

Our two protagonists got engaged. The Peak Design family just got a little bigger. Congrats Dave and Molly. We know you’ll do this type of stuff for the rest of your lives.

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Footnotes Photos taken by Dave Anhalt of the Peak Design team, and travel buddies.
Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan

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