It's a tough one at Kiroro. I agree that it's not particularly dangerous with regards to avalanches, although there are a couple of steeper pitches in there that do slide.
Not for far, but in to terrain traps.
The bigger issue is discouraging unskilled people going in there because of the track out. Still plenty of very average skiers and snowboarders going in there mind.
I've seen two helicopter airlifts from the river track, and got one Japanese snowboarder out of a hole myself. He was 2 m below the snow surface, standing in the river.
They are in talks with the Forest Service to start a gate system similar to the Niseko Resort Area, but with the Sunshine, Alberta, Canada rule of access only allowed after a safety talk, with avalanche safety equipment, and with a partner.
Will keep you posted.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
DAY 52 : SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2014
0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Who forgot to put the money in the meter?
The streak has ended after 27 days straight of snowfall, dropping 534 cm (210") of the finest powder all over the Shiribeshi area.
Day five at Kiroro for the Lovelocks and Craig.
Sunshine and warmer temperatures made the untracked and tracked powder heavier than previous days necessitating steeper pitches and stashes in the trees for smooth powder.
But there was still plenty out there.
'Finding Your Feet'
Craig
Hayden
Alex
Ria
Neil
DAY 53 : SUNDAY 19 JANUARY 2014
1 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Day six at Kiroro for the Lovelocks and Craig.
The Lovelock's & Craig's last day of their holiday, and unfortunately I was unable to ski with them today.
Severe abdominal pain at 8pm last night resulted in a trip to Kutchan hospital with Ian MacKenzie to discover that I have kidney stones and they want out!
Ian skied with them and reported 10-15 cm of new snow and smiles all round.
In the 23 days they've been here the Lovelock family and Craig have
Unfortunately an old knee injury made a very unwelcome appearance on the track out of 'Hangman' and we headed straight to Kutchan hospital.
X-ray, consultation and MRI later and it's 7-10 days off snow to see if it takes care of itself. If not it's arthroscopy time.
Fingers crossed he can avoid the knife.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Spending a bit too much time at Kutchan hospital eh!
Gonna be at Rusutsu tomorrow and Sunday if anyone is around.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Mike Pow, hope you get better soon!
Yesterday was OBSCENELY deep at Kiroro. Pretty sure I will never ski snow that deep again. Total insanity.
Today was spent jumping off stuff at Furano. Lots of great steep terrain in the trees, and the hike up to the peak yielded a great long untracked pow run.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Thanks clarky999.
Saw the Black Diamond bus heading to Kiroro as I was on my way to Sapporo Kokusai.
EPIC day.
Vid(s) to follow soon.
Great to read you caught Kiroro at its best.
Enjoy the road trip.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
I'm in two minds as to whether I'd rather you guys stop updating this because every day I'm growing more envious, or whether I'd like to see you keep putting new pics and reports up because it looks incredible this year and it's amazing to see!
I'm glad Kiroro has delivered the goods, I only got to ski there for one day last year and apart from the vicious wind, once I got down into the trees the powder was phenomenal. It looks a whole different level this year though!
Mike - I hope you manage to loose those unwanted stones ASAP!
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Thanks Chrissyg.
The base depth is much lower at Kiroro this winter with more trees and bushes to negotiate.
But what's fallen on that base has been top of the notch.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
DAY 57 : THURSDAY 23 JANUARY 2014
12 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
With Ian temporarily incapacitated and other friends working it was a choice between a day off snow or skiing solo.
Easy choice and I was on my way to Kiroro.
When I got to Kutchan I was last in a line of 5 vans packed with skiers and snowboarders heading out of the Niseko Resort Area looking for deep turns.
They all turned left to Kiroro and I changed plans and headed straight on to Kimobetsu and over Nakayama Toge pass to Sapporo Kokusai.
Sapporo Kokusai is a small but perfectly formed day resort close to Otaru and Sapporo which sits on the backside of Kiroro Snow World.
Unfortunately they're not linked by lift, but you can tour between the two.
I've always got the goods here and today was no different.
Didn't get on the gondola until 11am and the blazing sunshine of earlier had turned to mixed cloud and sunshine.
But looking out of the gondola window I could see a couple of skiers and snowboarders skiing gut deep powder in the trees and acres of untracked.
Got off the gondola, clicked in and made two massive schoolboy errors.
Schoolboy Error #1
I didn't check the alignment of the Contour camera so the first two vids of the day will give you a neckache unless you flip your computer 90 degrees or set your phone / tablet to screen lock and flip 90 degrees.
Schoolboy Error #2
I headed straight into the untracked Kokusai sidecountry skiers right at the top of the gondola.
Took me 15 mins to put the track in and then when I was ready to drop in to the pristine powder I found the snow was too deep for the pitch and ended up poling and breaking trail downhill for 45 mins until I got back into the ski area.
I met a Finnish skier on the gondola later in that afternoon and he told me his friends had done the same but ended up taking 2 hrs to get out.
Back on the gondola, this time I headed to the fringes of the pistes and found plenty of deep and light powder.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Bonza bonza bonza. There in 2 weeks and cannot be more excited. fingers crossed these sort of conditions keep on coming
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Kokusai really looks quite good Mike. Let not make it sound too good! Great footage over the last week, especially from Hangman. Keep the good times coming. Should look at getting back for a March assault....
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Mike Pow, loving the face shots! Is the bling white jacket your powder camouflage?
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
emohawk66 wrote:
Kokusai really looks quite good Mike. Let not make it sound too good! Great footage over the last week, especially from Hangman. Keep the good times coming. Should look at getting back for a March assault....
Don't think we'll have to worry about it being mobbed
You know 'Jarch' makes sense
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
BobinCH wrote:
Mike Pow, loving the face shots!
Ta. Me too
Quote:
Is the bling white jacket your powder camouflage?
Actually shows up quite well I think. It's a waterproof Scott motorbike jacket
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
UPDATE : THURSDAY 23 JANUARY 2014
After playing on the fringes it was time to hit some steeper lines.
I didn't check the alignment of the Contour camera so this vid will give you a neckache unless you flip your computer 90 degrees or set your phone / tablet to screen lock and flip 90 degrees.
Spent the morning at Niseko Annupuri with John Pidgeon and Chris Morton.
First time skiing with John this winter and it's always a pleasure.
Chris, John's son-in-law, and I skied together two winters ago and it was great to see that what I'd passed on had stuck.
Great buffet lunch and then we met up with John's daughter Di, her & Chris' son Fraser, John's grandson Jack and family friends for a fabulous dinner at Ezo Seafoods.
John's favourite.
DAY 59 : SATURDAY 25 JANUARY 2014
0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Back to Niseko Annupuri with John Pidgeon and Di & Chris Morton.
Ski Heroes
As a young boy growing up in the valleys of South Wales I had three ski heroes.
The 1976 Olympics Men's Downhill champion Franz Klammer, Kirk Douglas in the film 'The Heroes of Telemark', and Action Man.
I've been lucky enough to meet and chat with Franz Klammer in a Ski Club of Great Britain bash, and he's a true gent.
After my first winter season working in the Austrian Alps and watching the Greg Stump movie 'The Blizzard of Ahhs', Scott Schmidt, Glen Plake & Mike Hattrup were added to the list.
I've been fortunate to meet all three and all three are great guys - Scott Schmidt and Glen Plake at Big Mountain, Montana, USA in 2001, & Mike Hattrup at Niseko Moiwa last season.
I even got to ski powder with Glen Plake at the end of season employee ski day at Big Mountain where he performed one of his party tricks by opening a bottle of champagne with the edge of one ski.
At the top of the mountain.
In the same year I skied and partied at Big Mountain with Bill Johnson - the 1984 Olympics Men's Downhill Gold medallist from Sarajevo - when he was attempting his comeback prior to the 2002 Winter Olympics.
And in 2005 I spent a fantastic day at Vail, Colorado with the 1984 Men's Olympic Slalom Silver medallist from the same games, Steve Mahre.
I Was taught to instruct by two wonderful people. The late Colin Young at Kicking Horse, BC, Canada and Annie Black at Keystone, Colorado.
They all make my list.
To that list of heroes I add John Pidgeon.
John had his first taste of skiing at Mt Kosciusko, NSW, Australia in 1947, staying at the original chalet.
The ski day would entail hiking up the slope in leather boots with skis strapped to his backpack, one run down, lunch, and one more ascent & descent in the afternoon if you were feeling energetic!
At 87 years young he's still learning, laughing and floating down the mountain.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Mike...great story, and I can add a bit to that:
The very first ski club chalet on My Kozy was built by a group of enthusiasts that included my Grandmother, various Great Uncles and Aunts and Great Grandparents....in the years just before , and during WW1. Various members of my family were certainly skiing there in leather and laces in 1947.
Ask John if he knows any Simpsons from Adelaide (say it is the washing machine family....he'll know what that means)
Glad to see the legacy of that is still skiing....nice one John.
After all it is free
After all it is free
Thanks AndAnother Thing
rungsp wrote:
Mike...great story, and I can add a bit to that:
The very first ski club chalet on My Kozy was built by a group of enthusiasts that included my Grandmother, various Great Uncles and Aunts and Great Grandparents....in the years just before , and during WW1. Various members of my family were certainly skiing there in leather and laces in 1947.
Ask John if he knows any Simpsons from Adelaide (say it is the washing machine family....he'll know what that means)
Glad to see the legacy of that is still skiing....nice one John.
Thanks for sharing that rungsp. Will ask him.
"...leather and laces...", love it
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
DAY 60 : SUNDAY 26 JANUARY 2014
2 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Wild winds kicked in around 11 am closing most of the lifts in the Niseko Resort Area.
Glad I sat this one out.
DAY 61 : MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2014
8 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Another day off snow, but a far more hospitable day.
Lighter winds and light snow falling throughout the day.
DAY 62 : TUESDAY 28 JANUARY 2014
15 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
As of today 914 cm (360") has fallen at MQ in Higashiyama
I spent the day skiing Niseko Hirafu and Hanazono with Whistler, BC, Canada locals Frank Salter & Melanie Jones.
Whistler's hurting for snow at the moment so Frank combined a work trip to Honshu with some turns on Hokkaido.
The single chair and the higher backcountry gates were closed all day which kept the majority inbounds in Hirafu and Hanazono.
We warmed up in Miharashi which was well tracked and choppy, and then moved on to Tetse's, 10 Turns and The Cuts in Hanazono.
Untracked, knee deep creamy powder was the order of the day and we took it gladly.
After a couple of laps in Legend of Shinya and Blueberries we headed back over to Hirafu and found the day's best snow in the Waterfall area.
So we lapped it for the remainder of the day, finding some deeper and lighter stashes.
Melanie
Frank
For dinner we went to Little Red Momiji's Sake and Gyoza bar on Momiji-Zaka St.
A very laid back dining experience with couches and low tables replacing the usual dining table and chairs.
We had the best edamame I've eaten, fabulous gyoza, and a belly pork and rice to die for.
Solo to Niseko Moiwa today and it was a waiting game for the wind to die down and the lifts to start spinning.
But patience was rewarded handsomely.
The double chair B opened at 9.35 am and there was creamy boot top powder to be had on the front side and knee deep with the occassional face shot in the trees.
The Japanese Army Mountain Division were out in force practicing their alpine skiing and synchro skiing skills on narrow touring skis with light telemark bindings and army-issue leather boots.
The quad opened at 12.35 pm and for those who stuck around the upper mountain offered a spongy base with chunky and light powder on top. Untracked lines and face shots galore.
Unfortunately I filmed the inside of my pocket all the way through lunch and had no space left on the memory card.
Doh!
But there's plenty left for Thursday.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Outrageous skiing at Kokusai Mike. You may need to create a market for self contained skiing apparatus, or perhaps even a periscope fitting for the helmet.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Ha ha. Yeah All Time conditions for me.
Fingers crossed for more of the same.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
DAY 64 : THURSDAY 30 JANUARY 2014
17 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
With high winds still affecting the Niseko Resort Area closing the top lifts and forcing everyone down the mountain, I headed to Kiroro with Frank, Melanie and Ian.
It was Ian's first day back on snow since he injured his knee and it held up well on the groomed runs on the lower mountain.
The upper lifts were closed in Kiroro too, but with great terrain on the lower mountain and nobody skiing it Frank, Melanie and I skied untracked powder all day.
The powder was a little heavier than normal, but there were plenty of light turns to be had.
Frank
Melanie
Frank
Melanie
Frank
Melanie
Frank
Incoming
Great to meet and ski with you guys, safe travel back to Whistler, and hope you get some snow soon.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
DAY 65 : FRIDAY 31 JANUARY 2014
12 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
January saw 498 cm (196") of snowfall, the 4th highest total in the eight winters I've been collecting data.
The highest total was in January 2011 when 600 cm (236") fell.
After an hour or so of sunshine first thing this morning the heavens opened and snow and cold temperatures returned to the Niseko Resort Area.
17 cm has fallen at MQ today and it's still snowing heavily at the moment.
High winds once again closed the upper lifts but the wind speeds are forecast to lighten tomorrow.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
DAY 66 : SATURDAY 01 FEBRUARY 2014
33 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Unfortunately the high winds that have beset the Niseko Resort Area for the past four days persisted, closing the top lifts until late in the afternoon.
So Tracy and I headed to Rusutsu to escape the wind.
We managed that and more. Much more.
Rusutsu was excellent with deep powder all over the resort and snowfall throughout the day.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Now you're just being mean
I wondered a few times why you always carry the GoPro on the pole attachment and it suddenly dawned on me that if you had it helmet mounted it would get clogged up in the first decent deep turn.....
I have to make it out there next year somehow!
Thanks for the updates - great to watch and drool over.
I wondered a few times why you always carry the GoPro on the pole attachment and it suddenly dawned on me that if you had it helmet mounted it would get clogged up in the first decent deep turn.....
Absolutely.
Quote:
I have to make it out there next year somehow!
Thanks for the updates - great to watch and drool over.
You won't regret it
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
DAY 67 : SUNDAY 02 FEBRUARY 2014
3 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
The quad at Niseko Moiwa had been on wind hold the previous three days and with 62 cm of snow in that time Tracy, Jack, Menno, Davey, Elko and I headed there bright and early with high hopes.
We weren't the only ones with the same plan, and I've not seen queues that big there before.
The quad was running slow, the line up took about 15 minutes, and when we got to the top we found that the wind had smoothed the powder to a consistent, creamy texture with about boot top penetration.
It was fast though and there were untracked lines to be had for most of the day.
Not as deep as we had hoped but we all had a ball.
DAY 68 : MONDAY 03 FEBRUARY 2014
8 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
As of today 1006 cm (396") has fallen at MQ in Higashiyama
Today was Day 1 with the Banks family - Tim, Jackie, Dougy and Claud.
Expecting large Chinese New Year crowds in Niseko Hirafu we drove over to Niseko Hanazono to start our day.
It was a good call with quiet slopes all morning and untracked turns in the trees after lunch.
Mixed snow conditions in the trees with spongy powder sandwiched between soft light powder on top and a crusty base below.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
DAY 70 : WEDNESDAY 05 FEBRUARY 2014
4 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Day 3 with the Banks family, and today it was just Tim and me at Kiroro.
Boot top powder on the fringes of the groomed runs to start our day, and then it started snowing.
By day's end it was knee deep on the groomed runs, and considerably deeper in the trees.
Fastest accumulating snow I've experienced.
Tim made big changes today transitioning from killing the momentum and acceleration at the start of the turn with an exaggerated pole plant and an heavy edge set to standing taller & light accelerating through the start of the turn square to the skis.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
