Until a mistake crossing this river ended my ski day with some waterlogged boots!
Desperately trying to dry them for a proposed 4hr hike to the peak of Mt Karamatsu tomorrow. Won’t be fun in wet boots...
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
My lack of updates is due to being floored by a bad cold. It looks like I picked it up on my return flight from Geneva on the 2nd, and then was successfully fighting it for the first few days of the tour. The very cold day on Furano dake allowed the cold to take over, and I've been in no state to ski let alone tour
I tried a quick tour on our transfer day yesterday at Minami Furano, but only made it up 300m as it was clear it wasn't doing me any good and I was slowing down the group. The big disappointment is that tomorrow looks like being the attempt on Mt Yotei, which was my main objective for going on this tour. It would have been at the upper limit of my endurance when fit, but I wouldn't even attempt it as I feel at the moment
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?
@PowderAdict, Fingers crossed for a recovery over night ! Having done a short tour on the hill and then seen it from afar it's now on my list.
We toured up to the 'scoop' you can see in the first image as a warm up. The temperature had gone up so higher wasn't compelling. For a full ascent, axe and boot crampons required.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Wed 12-02-20 10:47; edited 1 time in total
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@AndAnotherThing.., looks awesome!
@PowderAdict, Hope you shake it off soon.
We climbed Mt Karamatsu, above Happo One today. Lots of Japanese climbing it but none with skis . Wind was brutal at the top with a warm, Southerly front on its way. Didn’t fancy the big cornices off the summit so down climbed to the ridge
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Wed 12-02-20 12:30; edited 1 time in total
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
@BobinCH, Nice line
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Well tried ski touring today, we did 400m and as snow was transforming to porridge retired for an onsen and ramen.
Tomorrow the plan is Yotei and I'm bailing what with knee which is not good after today, crappy snow lower down and probably shite above treeline.
So @KenX, will be representing Serre Che Collective.
Oh well would have been interesting
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.
Really glad you are getting such good stuff mate....its not often I see you get well and truly outpaced on a run down like that though
Stefan is particularly jealous...it was all a bit pedestrian for him over the weekend with you in Japan!
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
@PowderAdict, hope you manage to get up Yotei, if not tomorrow, then some time soon!
I’m going to do my best tomorrow and see if I can make it to the top, keep you posted
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Weathercam wrote:
Well tried ski touring today, we did 400m and as snow was transforming to porridge retired for an onsen and ramen.
Tomorrow the plan is Yotei and I'm bailing what with knee which is not good after today, crappy snow lower down and probably shite above treeline.
So @KenX, will be representing Serre Che Collective.
Oh well would have been interesting
Oh bug. Hope the knee settles down and you get another shot at the weekend with cooler temps!
Ps there’s someone calling Serre Che, Serre Chavlier on another thread in case you need a distraction...
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Wed 12-02-20 14:59; edited 1 time in total
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
rungsp wrote:
Really glad you are getting such good stuff mate....its not often I see you get well and truly outpaced on a run down like that though
Is that the Japanese guide out in front? Maybe it's me, but if you're going to spend half the day walking up a mountain, then I really don't see the sense in straight-lining it down a powder field. Might as well stay on piste.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
rungsp wrote:
Really glad you are getting such good stuff mate....its not often I see you get well and truly outpaced on a run down like that though
Stefan is particularly jealous...it was all a bit pedestrian for him over the weekend with you in Japan!
Haha yes Millsy was ribbing me about that. What you can’t see is that he’s on a 120mm rockered pow ski and I’m on some 1300g touring skis. Would have had him on the 124 A’s
Will keep quiet about the fact that they were quicker than me on the up
Sorry to miss Stefan - always enjoy skiing with him. Have been following his travel adventures with interest.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
jellylegs wrote:
rungsp wrote:
Really glad you are getting such good stuff mate....its not often I see you get well and truly outpaced on a run down like that though
Is that the Japanese guide out in front? Maybe it's me, but if you're going to spend half the day walking up a mountain, then I really don't see the sense in straight-lining it down a powder field. Might as well stay on piste.
That’s Riley, 23yo Aussie ripper. He wasn’t straight lining - this is how modern freeriders ski. I wouldn’t knock it until you’ve tried it
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?
Though the good news is that @KenX, is not back yet, which hopefully means that he's summited Yotei, though I did give him my Garmin InReach to message me when he was transitioning, so without sounding like a worried Mother just hope he couldn't work out how to use it rather than somethings happened, as well as the fact as he's not back he's having a well-earned beer somewhere?
Well my tour group made it to the summit and crater, but were pretty wiped out by the effort. I wouldn't have stood a chance.
Crater shot below, I don't know if your group are in the background.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
@PowderAdict, wasn’t us, it was untracked when we arrived!
Long day though as I’m sure your guys told you!
We started at 07:00 and topped out just before midday, pretty technical around 300m from the top which was hard work.....
Absolutely chuffed to have had the chance to do it on a nice day, not many do....
Also amazed at the quality of the snow, it was hard-packed powder but skied like spring snow pretty much all the way down.
Climbing out of the crater:
After all it is free
After all it is free
Superb pic!
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.
Slightly off topic but if anyone was gonna go to Hokkaido for 10 days would you prefer to base in Niseko and do a few day trips, or, stay Niseko for say 6 nights and say 4 nights in Rutsutsu, Furano etc.
I am looking at a group trip there for next year and doing a road trip wouldn't work out but I am slightly concerned 10 nights in one place may be too long but the aggro of upping sticks and moving to a commutable resort may not be worth the hassle.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Definitely do two-centre
Niseko Resort Area and Otaru
Niseko Resort Area and Furano
Otaru and Furano
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
@skimottaret, Depending on the group, Mikes suggestion of the Niseko Resort Area and Furano rings true with me.
Pretty much what we did on this last trip. I personally think the Furano side of the island has a different vibe to Niseko area.
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.
A few Pics and itinerary from our recent trip here:
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
I did 8 nights Furano, 8 nights Niseko. You can do easy day trips from Niseko to Rusutsu and Kirorro on a bus for around the same cost as a day lift ticket in Niseko (cost is for bus and lift ticket) if you don't have a car.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Been rubbish the past three days.
Freeze thaw, Spring without the sun.
Dumping since 6pm.
Tomorrow should be top notch
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Hi mike Pow I'm in furano now we skied mt Tokachidake today just 40 min west of furano was nice in places but needs a good dump of snow ,it's snowing now but with 50 - 70 km winds the lifts will be closed tomorrow Monday I think@Mike Pow,
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
In Sapporo now and the bloody snowplough’s woken me up at 05:30, how inconsiderate
Oh well, as I’m awake, may as well go and shred as it’s our last day
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Yeah it's windy down here too
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Mon 17-02-20 6:10; edited 1 time in total
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?
We’ll be packing skins, the plan was to shred the sidecountry at Kokusai, but there’s every chance the lifts won’t be running in 50kmh winds.......
Saw some folks taking a taxi to Kamui Links. It is 50 km away from Furano but you never know, winds might not be as strong over there
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Kokusai did not open and announced that they would be closed all day.
Many Free Ride groups (non Japanese) disappointed.
We opted to take a skin track in the forest and climbed circa 300m and were rewarded with some nice turns.
Snow tad slabby higher up with strong winds.
I'm sitting the next climb out as @KenX opts for one more as knee not too good, but that was more as a result of yesterday.
Our guid was like many out here, knows the area but not a guide as in the UIAGM sense, so there are a few shortfalls especially as ours was on a snowboard
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Mon 17-02-20 7:37; edited 1 time in total
After all it is free
After all it is free
Chose Rusutsu.
Lots of lifts closed and big queues for the gondola but only waited a couple of minutes for the chairs.
Skied a morning of untracked, creamy powder in the trees and a few open shots.
It's warm and windy.
Not a good mix in these parts.
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.
@Mike Pow, @Mike Pow, I was told Rusutsu was closed today so skinned up furano instead nice powder in the premium zone but it was howling up top,blue bird this afternoon. I'm going for an onsen.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Yet another who was at Kokusai before first lift and also left before first lift, as it became clear the majority of the resorts in that range would be closed/restricted.
We decamped down to Asari lower down the valley which was fully open with its 4 lifts. We had fun in the untracked tree skiing on both sides of the top lift on a 3 hour ticket before having lunch and going to an Onsen.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
. Wind was brutal at the top with a warm, Southerly front on its way. Didn’t fancy the big cornices off the summit so down climbed to the ridge
