Backcountry + Konbinis Is the World’s Greatest Combo

As you guys know, I’m located in one of the snowiest zones on earth. The resorts near my house average around 820 inches a year. It’s unreal tree skiing. Deep & consistent and never ending refills.

But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to appreciate something different.

I still love a resort powder day. But there’s something about spending a full day in the backcountry, hiking, talking with friends, moving at your own pace, that just hits differently. There’s no rush to beat a lift line. No stress about getting to “your” stash before someone else does. No powder panic.

Because no one’s out there.

Your line isn’t going anywhere.

And there’s no better pregame for a backcountry day than stopping at 7/11 or Lawson on the way.

I’m a cappuccino guy. I don’t drink drip coffee. I know, I’m spoiled. I’ve got an Italian machine at home and get beans shipped every two weeks. I make a legit cappuccino.

The problem with Japan, and I wrote about this before, is that none of the craft coffee shops we’re used to in the U.S. open before 10 a.m. That doesn’t work when you’re trying to be skinning by 7:30.

Luckily, 7/11 has a solid B, maybe C+, caffe latte machine. And honestly It’s good enough for me to get my fix.

But the real magic is the snack selection.

It’s endless.

Every single day you walk in, and it feels like there always something new. Things you didn’t know you needed. And somehow almost all of it works as a perfect backcountry snack.

You can go classic, energy bars, granola bars, protein snacks.

Or you can get a little reckless.

Pre-packaged katsu sandwiches with crustless white bread and thick cut pork. Packaged pancakes already layered with butter and syrup. The steamed egg cakes are one of my favorites. One of those on top of a mountain tastes five times better than it should.

One of my favorite moves is grabbing a hot container of miso soup and sipping it on the hike up. Cold air. Slow skin track. Steam rising out of the cup. It feels borderline luxurious for something that cost a couple bucks.

There’s nothing like this in the U.S.

Nothing.

And they’re everywhere.

You don’t have to plan the night before. You don’t have to meal prep. You wake up, check the route, decide which zone you’re hiking and I can guarantee there’s a 7/11 or Lawson on the way.

You’re not losing time.
You’re not pissing off your friends who are already geared up and itching to get moving.

You pop in, grab your latte, throw a few elite-tier snacks in the bag, and you’re back in the car in five minutes.

Then a couple hours later, you’re sitting on a mountain top, snow stretching in every direction, eating a surprisingly good pork katsu sandwich at 3,000 feet like it’s completely normal.

Backcountry + konbinis.

I’m telling you, it’s undefeated.

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This content is for informational and educational purposes only and reflects my personal opinions and experience. I am not a licensed financial advisor, tax advisor, or attorney. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult qualified professionals before making any investment decisions.