 Poster: A snowHead
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I am putting together a DIY Japan trip and wondered if anyone has used (or had any experience of ) this guiding company?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Myfanwy wrote: |
| I am putting together a DIY Japan trip and wondered if anyone has used (or had any experience of ) this guiding company? |
Yep
They're legit
Ask for Pete (Pistol)
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Am also doing similar for a trip in February and was considering a day or two of guiding (depending on cost) for lift accessed stuff, probably Kiroro or Rusutsu. Had spotted the HME website but not done the next level of research yet.
Would only be 2 fat lads not interested in the walking uphill bit, do they generally make up the groups or charge a flat rate and expect you to find the others?
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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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| SnoodyMcFlude wrote: |
Am also doing similar for a trip in February and was considering a day or two of guiding (depending on cost) for lift accessed stuff, probably Kiroro or Rusutsu. Had spotted the HME website but not done the next level of research yet.
Would only be 2 fat lads not interested in the walking uphill bit, do they generally make up the groups or charge a flat rate and expect you to find the others? |
Both
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| SnoodyMcFlude wrote: |
Am also doing similar for a trip in February and was considering a day or two of guiding (depending on cost) for lift accessed stuff, probably Kiroro or Rusutsu. Had spotted the HME website but not done the next level of research yet.
Would only be 2 fat lads not interested in the walking uphill bit, do they generally make up the groups or charge a flat rate and expect you to find the others? |
If you’re not interested in skinning not sure how a guide would be much use in Kiroro? The off the sides stuff is pretty obvious. It’s when you go off the back or skin up the ridge lookers right that things get interesting but both those options require some effort
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@BobinCH, last time we went the obvious stuff wasn't quite so obvious, spent a fair amount of time wishing I'd taken the secateurs  I'd assumed there would be some slightly more open areas where local knowledge would be helpful...although we were there in conditions where it wasn't always easy to see if you still had hands or were the right way up.
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| SnoodyMcFlude wrote: |
| @BobinCH, last time we went the obvious stuff wasn't quite so obvious, spent a fair amount of time wishing I'd taken the secateurs I'd assumed there would be some slightly more open areas where local knowledge would be helpful...although we were there in conditions where it wasn't always easy to see if you still had hands or were the right way up. |
Good point. We did have good weather! Mike is the expert on Kiroro so I guess he will know best.
In Furano for example we were able to ski off the side to a road / Onsen where a guide with transport made a lot of sense. In Kiroro everything seemed to lead back into the valley
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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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| BobinCH wrote: |
| SnoodyMcFlude wrote: |
| @BobinCH, last time we went the obvious stuff wasn't quite so obvious, spent a fair amount of time wishing I'd taken the secateurs I'd assumed there would be some slightly more open areas where local knowledge would be helpful...although we were there in conditions where it wasn't always easy to see if you still had hands or were the right way up. |
Good point. We did have good weather! Mike is the expert on Kiroro so I guess he will know best.
In Furano for example we were able to ski off the side to a road / Onsen where a guide with transport made a lot of sense. In Kiroro everything seemed to lead back into the valley |
There are obvious lines at Kiroro which don't require hiking or skinning which drop you straight on to the out-track (or the TOD as some know it, Trail of Death)
But you only have to veer 10-20 m the wrong side of a ridge and you can end up in dead end gullies and river courses with drop offs and huge holes
You need your wits about you that's for sure
I've pulled dozens of people out of holes over the years
The secret to Kiroro is being happy repeating short lines of 5-10 turns in perfect, untracked, up to chest deep powder and lapping it before moving on to the next patch
It's a mountain of quality over quantity
But you get the quantity on a cumulative basis
If you've never been to Kiroro and/or there's limited visibility then you'll have a far better day with an instructor/guide
Where a guide is essential is on excursions to Yoichi-dake, 'AK', and the return trip to Sapporo Kokusai
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