 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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?
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I've been in Hokkaido for 9 days. I've only bought 3 lift passes, but been ski touring on 4 additional days. I've also been using skins in the ski resorts.
In general it seems like the resort skiing is pretty limited if you're not willing to hike. Many of the previously skiable areas are just covered with massive bushes. The areas that are skiable get tracked out quickly.
I've only had 1 proper Japow experience, which was on the 21st at Kokusai.
Backcountry touring has been great though! You obviously have more freedom to ski areas that are not so bushy.
https://hokkaidowilds.org/
This website is extremely useful and a great project! Lots of good ski touring routes. I'd recommend not doing any that start below about 400-500m altitude (in the SW Hokkaido area)
I'm using a GPS / mapping app called Geographica. It's fantastic and includes the official Japanese Topo maps.
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Day of the Season yesterday at Rusutsu (Sunday 26 January)
Dry, light, deep, sunny.
Face shots for fun.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| musehead wrote: |
I've been in Hokkaido for 9 days. I've only bought 3 lift passes, but been ski touring on 4 additional days. I've also been using skins in the ski resorts.
In general it seems like the resort skiing is pretty limited if you're not willing to hike. Many of the previously skiable areas are just covered with massive bushes. The areas that are skiable get tracked out quickly.
I've only had 1 proper Japow experience, which was on the 21st at Kokusai.
Backcountry touring has been great though! You obviously have more freedom to ski areas that are not so bushy.
https://hokkaidowilds.org/
This website is extremely useful and a great project! Lots of good ski touring routes. I'd recommend not doing any that start below about 400-500m altitude (in the SW Hokkaido area)
I'm using a GPS / mapping app called Geographica. It's fantastic and includes the official Japanese Topo maps. |
I’ve only been in Hirafu and Rusustu the past three days. Pretty nice covering between the trees IMO, just a few bamboo sprouts that are easy to ski through. More snow due Wednesday evening...
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| Mike Pow wrote: |
Day of the Season yesterday at Rusutsu (Sunday 26 January)
Dry, light, deep, sunny.
Face shots for fun. |
Camera broken 
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Snow didn’t materialise overnight in Niseko as hoped. Windy and low visibility (higher up) at Hirafu, and I believe same at Rusutsu. Skied at Hirafu and had a piste day, on moguls (which the Japanese seem to love) and short turns; there are only two of us on this particular Whiteroom tour, and our guide is a qualified instructor so like a day’s private lesson. Not what I came here for, but still good fun and value for money. Fingers crossed for some snow overnight for my last day tomorrow (I think the plan is Kiroro).
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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.
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Kiroro was great fun today, we got a little lost amongst the trees and spent a bit of time rolling around in the snow. Visibility not particularly good but it kept snowing up to when we called it a day (very early for me) at half two.
Wish I knew the resort better to have a better idea of where to head (in bounds) and what lines to take without ending up too low and having to walk out. Thinking we might play the same game tomorrow as seems like it's had the pick of the conditions this side of Sapporo.
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@Themasterpiece, @SnoodlesMcFlude, Think Kiroro will be our plan for tomorrow.
Today was a short tour up Mt Yotei and a cuppa in the "Focca" Cafe 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Agreed.
Kiroro skiing the best at the moment.
Back there tomorrow.
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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.
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| extremerob wrote: |
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3048255/eight-foreign-nationals-caught-avalanche-japans-hokkaido-one
Avalanche in Tomamu, 8 caught, no fatalities reported, mid-afternoon and off-piste. |
Sadly I fear that one person will have passed away. Japanese police take a long time to declare a person deceased. (I think it needs to be declared by a doctor or some other official practice) The reports are saying one person is in 'cardio-pulmonary arrest' which unfortunately is the term normally used when a person is not responding, but hasn't been formally declared dead.
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@PowderAdict, Nah, we skinned upto about 800m, just below the "Terrace". A bit of a warm up really. Snow was humidified even at that level and there was no chance of a view, but in 2 weeks it will have reset.
Plenty of Europeans about lapping the section we were in and a well established skin track.
According to the route we looked at it's full ice axe and crampon stuff for the full ascent.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Resorts seemed slow to confirm lift openings so we opted for another tour, this time up the Waisuhorun. Amazing how localised the conditions are. On our side of Niseko there wasn't much doing plus high winds, but as we drove over the wind dropped and there was a nice layer of fresh.
We got moved on from the top of the trail head by a man in a yellow van for parking, but found another spot not too far away. Conditions were nice in the trees but wind affected and thin above the tree line.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We ended up going to Mt Teine today as it had been snowing, and still was when we arrived. However, the top lifts were closed due to high winds. They were on “standby” to open, but there is little to ski in the bottom section only so we skipped lunch and drove to Kokusai. Had a nice afternoon with some good snow in the trees.
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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?
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Japow on the way next week? My recollection was that SF underestimated JP precip? This was Niseko
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Arriving on Monday 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Next week looking 'normal'
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Question - what is the situation with rescue (from injury) outside the resort boundary? Probably something I should have looked up before my trip... Our guide said ski patrol won’t come and get you. Is there mountain rescue and phone numbers for different resorts? (Let’s set aside the cost/insurance aspect for now)
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| BobinCH wrote: |
Japow on the way next week? My recollection was that SF underestimated JP precip? This was Niseko
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In my (brief) experience they seemed quite accurate on when it snowed but as you say seemed to underestimate the amount. If I was going and there was that forecast I’d be like a dog with two dicks.
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Another avalanche incident. Up in the north of the island. An Englishman in his 30s has died.
Be careful all.
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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.
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@MagSeven, I said today that I wouldn't be surprised if there was another incident, sad that I was right 
Any more info?
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| SnoodlesMcFlude wrote: |
@MagSeven, I said today that I wouldn't be surprised if there was another incident, sad that I was right
Any more info? |
Just that it was at Nakatonbetsu, today and the victim was in his 30s. I’ve only seen a Japanese article with not much more info than that.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Japanese news site reporting the guy's name, but not much other info. No idea if his next of kin have been informed, so won't be posting name here.
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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.
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Avalanche deaths on Hokkaido have been a long time coming.
Lots of people taking unnecessary risks, often in large groups skiing the slope at the same time.
There's a problematic rain layer which hasn't bonded.
Next storm cycle could be carnage.
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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So who is in Niseko Hirafu Monday next week for beer o'clock ?
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Poster: A snowHead
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I'm in 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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?
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Me too
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Weathercam wrote: |
| @Mike Pow, need to take @KenX, to the Fridge Door bar, can't remember the actual name |
Bar Gyu. Love that place, great music for a chilled evening.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@Mac46, Are you based in Sendai? 
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any tips for weekend destination from Tokyo this weekend? Hope to get to Hokkaido next week work permitting...
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Yuzawa, easy on the Shinkansen (Tokyo to Echigo-Yuzawa train). Gala Yuzawa easily accessible from the main station in the valley, or you could head up to Kagura or Naeba nearby. The snow is looking a bit better in that area now.
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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.
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@MagSeven, thanks! I saw it takes 3 hours to get to Hakuba by train and lots of snow forecast there. Worth the effort?
And was also recommended Hakkoda but looks like a flight required.
Happy to put in the effort / $ to get the best snow / terrain.
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FAQ
