Car Danchi Camper for sale!

The Camper van has been sold!  Thanks to all who sent in offers!

Camper van for sale!

The legendary camper featured in the snowboard movie series “Car Danchi” is for sale!
Custom built on a Toyota HILUX truck Manual 5 Speed 2800cc 3L engine. This camper is made for the all terrain all access go anywhere lifestyle!

Legal to carry up to 7 people, and comfortably rides and sleeps 4 or 2 adults and 3 kids.
It has all the basics and none of the unneeded items like a shower that you never use.
It features a sink a table.  Plug for external electric hook up

AC
Window screens and shades.
Very warm to sleep in even in the winter.
Has a heater that runs off of the diesel fuel (I never used it).
Air suspension for level sleeping and carrying heavy loads.
Summer and winter tires included.
Shaken for TWO YEARS. Valid until 2016 July 14th. Just paid ¥170,000 for that!
Stereo / CD player

Best offer takes the camper! Including a full tank of gasoline, window washer fluid, an ice scraper, sunscreen for front window and maybe a few other goodies!

Time limit for offers August 15th

Price ideas.  My local car repair master tells me the Toyota Hilux is worth about ¥600,000 just as parts.  A check of similar campers on the internet shows some dealers selling this type model with similar mileage for about ¥1,200,000 or more.  So some where between those two numbers!

I have added a form at the bottom of this post to send in comments, questions, and offers!

Now check out a few photos for details!

Look how good it looks on the road!

Spare tire on the front.  Needs to be removed for the bi yearly “Shaken” test.  This keeps the car registered as a vehicle under the 5 Meter limit which means ferry fees and highway tolls are the same as a passenger car.

Large awning rolls out and makes for a shady spot.  Fiamma brand.

The body is not much wider than the truck itself which makes driving easy on Japan’s rather narrow roads.

Screen door and step.

Beds ready for sleeping!

Table mode.

Sink and storage.  The sink is basically there to keep the “8” (camper) license number.  I never had the need to use the sink as there are sinks and bathrooms all over Japan.  The doesn’t mean you cannot use it, there is a tank underneath the camper that collects the drain water as required.

Some storage space underneath the sink and storage under both seats.

Electrical control and battery check panel.

Windows have built in screen and shade.  Just pull up or down depending on the season and activity.

HID headlamps that cost me ¥50,000 and are worth the cost.  Very bright and makes for safe driving!

Electrical hookup.

Captains position!

Storage space behind the drivers seat.

Now if you still want to see more watch the video I made about the camper below.  All in Japanese but you will be able to get a good idea of what it looks like and drives like!

僕、ニールが約４年間乗ったキャンピングカーを売ります！
車団地にも登場したこのキャンピングカー、欲しいと思いませんか？
詳しくは動画で紹介していますので、ぜひ見てください。

キャンピングカー
トヨタ・ハイラックス
年式 H５(1993)
燃料　軽油 3L
マニュアル
乗車定員　7名
走行距離　85773 キロ
車検２年付き（H２８年７月１４日）

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締め切りは８月１５日です。
楽しみに待っています。

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The North Face Lhotse Expedition wraps up

The final video dispatch is on line for viewing. Another great piece of filming and editing that really takes you along for the trip, and it is a hard core trip. Check it out!

Lhotse Dispatch 4 their skiing up there!

This crew continues to amaze me! Hiking and skiing above 7000 meters is of course amazing, but the fact that they can film it, edit the footage and broadcast it to the masses from a satellite modem in the middle of the Himalaya’s… Well that is just ridiculous. The footage is beautiful, and you really get a great sense of what it is like to be living at that elevation. Good luck with the rest of the expedition guys!

Great footage from Lhotse Ski dispatch

Great footage and editing in these videos. The fact that guys can go ski mountaineering in the remotest places in the world and somehow find the time to edit and upload these high quality video’s always amazes me. Respect to these guys!

The North Face Expedition!

Freestyle ski magazine

The new issue of Japans Freestyle ski magazine is out now. I got involved in this issue with a two page story about Shimomura Motoki and the annual trip/event we go to in Tateyama. The TNF outdoor meeting. We will be there again next year the final weekend of Golden week holiday. Check out the story and hope to see you at Tateyama!

Very dumb

Yesterday I had the great displeasure of witnessing one of the dumbest actions I have ever seen.

Went to a local ski resort to partake in a special photo/filming session. Invite only, skier produced with some guest snowboarders to come as well. I was there through on invitation from a friend.

When we got there yesterday morning I watched as the resort crew worked with four pisten bullys to put the finishing touches on a huge jump. I have seem some big jumps in my time, but this is by far the biggest I have ever seen in Japan. When it was finished the distance from take off to beginning of landing was 32 meters.

And not only was the jump huge, it was a gap jump. I guarantee it was the largest gap jump ever built in Japan.

at lunch time I went back to my house to get my snow mobile to use to shuttle riders to the top of the jump. upon returning to the mountain I found the crew digging the landing. They we trying to fill in a hole in the landing. As I stood there looking at the landing I started to get a bad feeling. I was looking at one of the shortest landing I had ever seen, certainly not enough for a 32 meter jump. The pile of snow was massive, but the sweet spot that you needed to land in was less than 3 meters long. I made a few comments to that effect, but things had unfortunately already been set in motion.

As the sun neared the horizon I assumed there would be no jumping going on that day. The session was set for the next day anyway. Then I got the call to shuttle a young skier who was in charge of the design of the kicker up to the top of the drop in.

I assumed he was just going to do a speed check, and I was right. I came back down with the snowmobile and he signaled me to take him back up again. I assumed another speed check. I mean really, seriously, if you built a huge death gap, would you not take a bunch of speed checks before launching yourself across 35 meters of certain injury? I witnessed Mads Jonson set a world record a few years ago in Norway. I remember him taking lots of speed checks before even thinking about trying it. Plus the landing on that world record jump was much longer and it was not a death gap.  He also had one of the longest approach lines I have ever seen.   You could hardly see him when he stood at the top.

Anyway I am rambling, the skier dude takes a few stretches and then waves to everyone and drops in. I sit on my sled and watch as he actually takes a few turns on the approach, I am still thinking he is doing a speed check when suddenly he points it and launches the jump. He comes of super short of course and lands on his side half way up the slope in the gap. Amazingly he seems fine. he gets up and shakes it off. Everyone if laughing at him and he says something like “you guys will know what it feels like soon” Then he signals me to shuttle him up again.

Oh shit, what have I got myself into here. That was the thought on my mind.

I pulled him up the approach assuming that he would start much much higher to get more speed and just do a speed check. Wouldn’t you after coming up that short?  I aimed the sled higher up the hill, but I felt him let go of the toe rope at the same spot.

No way I thought,  this idiot is going to launch it again, from the exact same spot. I wish I have a photo of the run in to show you. It was way to short. I mean really way to short. Ridiculously to short.

This time he didn’t even do his strech routine so I had no time to ride my sled down before him. I just sat there at the top with my mouth open letting my sled idle as I watched this dude point it at one of the most dangerous jumps I have ever seen. He didn’t even have ski poles. I am not to clued in to the ski scene lately, is this the new trend in freestyle skiing?  It looked pretty wack to me.

Anyway I remember mumbling something to myself like “dude you are fucked up” or something like that. Then I watched as he flew through the air for about 27 meters and landed exactly on the corner of the death gap. The Death corner it you will.

The kuckle or corner of the jump is always a bad spot to land. If you land on the corner it can send you bouncing down the landing out of control.

But landing on the near corner of a huge gap jump is something altogether different. A head on collision with a truck, would be a good analogie….

When I got to the scene the closest patrol guy was already there trying to stop the flow of blood gushing from dudes neck. Aparently the side of his neck had split open about the size of a golf ball. There was blood everywhere.

After that everything was a rush as everybody worked fast to get this kid on the stretcher sled and down the mountain as fast at possible. Amazingly he was concious and knew what was going on so that was a good sign.

Just as we got down to the base area the Doctor heli arrived. Basically a flying ambulance, the crew took over from there and a few moments later he was in the heli on the way to the hospital.

The session was canceled and everybody packed up and headed home. What a strange day.  What a wasted day.  Then I started thinking, this is why there are disclaimers at the begining of ski and snowboard movies.  you know “don’t try this at home kids, these stunts of done by professionals”  that kind of disclaimer.

Obviously this kid had been watching too many ski video’s and drinking too much Red Bull.  He was acting cocky all day long.  I even heard him tell someone “I am going to be number one in Japan”.  Anytime someone starts talking shit like that you know these are asking for trouble.

Here is the only photo I have, this is from the first try.  You can get an idea how big the jump was and how short he is going to land.

On the way home stopped to snap this shot of the Otaru night view.  Had to do something to make all the driving I did yesterday worth while…

Mountain Party at On Cafe

Tomorrow we are holding a season ending party at On Cafe. If you are a skier, snowboarder, or just a mountain lover come by for some cheap drinks and a chance to meet like-minded people! We’re planning to have these mountain parties at the beginning and end of every season.

Sweetgrass teaser

The Sweetgrass crew spent the entire winter in Hokkaido filming for their new movie entitled “Signatures” Featuring Patagonia team rider Taro Tamai and a bunch of others. The teaser is a classic for sure, and I am looking forward to seeing the movie. Had spoken with the Sweetgrass crew a lot before the winter and through email during the season, but unfortunately never got to hook up while they were here. Congradulations on a very classy teaser and film.

Ice Skate rink

That would be the best way to describe the conditions here in Tomamu today after it rained last night.  I got here after dark, but that is what Masa told me.  He took only one run so you know it sucks.  Tomorrow we are going to head for Tokachi mountains and hope there is a little snow left in the shady pockets, or at least a nice view for a portrait or two.

Met Masa and the boys in the lobby and headed straight to dinner, as you can see the crowds have not arrived in Tomamu yet.  Good time to come here if you want some privacy.  Should be snowing here this weekend. 

They also finally painted the second tower to match.  Very green now.

Finally take a few runs

Finally got to take a few runs at Kokusai this morning, five to be exact. My legs told me it was time to go home. After hurting my neck on November the 7th it has been a long three weeks waiting to get back on the hill. Beautiful day today with a little fresh snow from yesterday afternoon. Must have snowed right as the hill was closing yesterday, there were no lines! So got a little powder and did lots of carving on the groomers, trying to work out my stance on the new snowboard.

I am riding the new Fish limited edition from Burton. Amazing board, took me four runs to get the stance pretty good, the fifth run was great. That board is basically what I have been waiting 15 years for. It floats, yet is super quick and responsive. I can’t afford to buy a European sports car to drive, but this board is the equivalent on the snow. The new channel binding system is great, just takes a little while to fine tune your stance.

Shinya was there taking a few runs and showing off his new green mouth piece. Looks crazy but suposed to be great for safety and also power. I got the mold made last week and should be getting mine real soon!

And here is the view out the gondola window, 80 cm at the top and 50 at the bottom. Maybe 15 cm of fresh at the top today!