Mike Pow, fantastic photos! However, I was trying to work out which bit of your anatomy the camera was attached to for the last video and was coming up with increasingly improbable answers!
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Thanks.
Ha ha. Olympus XZ-1 digital camera on HD video mode and hand held as far as my arm would stretch.
The wind events, sunshine, and warming trend over the past couple of days had turned the recent snowfall from dust to spongy goodness.
Spent the morning at Moiwa skiing with Julie Martin.
We warmed up on the perfectly groomed and empty slopes of 'Forest Run', 'Sky Slope', and 'Main Burn' working on patience at the start of the turn and pressure control at the end of the turn before heading to the far more difficult and inconsistent conditions on the ungroomed slopes.
We had a decent amount of snow overnight but unfortunately it didn't arrive alone. The wind was gusting all morning and the top lifts throughout the Niseko Resort Area were closed.
Knowing how good the conditions were at Moiwa yesterday compared with Grand Hirafu and Hanazono I joined Preeya, Ashish, Helen, John and Sam at Moiwa for the day.
We skied hero snow on the groomed runs and toe top to boot top powder in the trees all morning off the double chair
After two days at Moiwa it was back to Grand Hirafu.
In the morning I skied with Nithan from Sydney, NSW whose previous time on snow was six winters ago in Australia and who had received just two hours of instruction his first time on snow.
He worked hard all morning and combined with some fast feet and athleticism was sliding and gliding comfortably and safely around the lower mountain by lunch time.
After lunch I met up with Ian M and we headed through Gate 4 to find what powder was out there.
Before heading out through Gate 4 we read the Niseko Avalanche Information report located at the top of the King Lift # 4
We were both intrigued by the highlighted paragraph of the report:
Quote:
Niseko base 6am: -8 C, no new snowfall and calm wind. Coastal data: SSE4m/s at Benkei cape, 0.7m waves and 1018hPa at Kamui cape. 800m Moiwa: -10 C, snowdrifts developed on the 24th is packed and stable.
The strong NE wind of the 24th has made snowdrifts to develop in SW facing slopes, especially around 1000m altitude. The avalanche risk has risen accordingly, however the risk is diminishing as the weather calmed down. No notable snowfall and snowdrifts development can be observed this morning.
The general avalanche risk is lowering, however hazards of hard slabs slides from Feb 23rd layer is still to be highly considered in wind-affected slopes. Caution is required in Higashi-One’s steep slopes (coordinate G8-H9). The snow in the trees is in good condition, however snow/ice blocks are lurking just below the surface.
Many people from around the world are gathering in Niseko, however many trouble are continuously happening due to insufficient explanation of the Niseko Rules to the visitors. There are no exceptions to the Niseko Rules. Tour agents, accommodation facilities and guiding services should be aware that disregarding or pejorating the Rules would eventually turn the image of Niseko down. People ducking ropes might not be the only responsible people if they haven’t been properly informed about the Rules.
Peak gates are scheduled to open at 9:30. Refrain from traversing valleys, knolls and cornice slopes. Out of bounds areas are never 100% safe. Once you step out of the gates, you are in the wilderness and whatever happens there, you should be able to handle it on your own. Have a safe and enjoyable day.
We digested the information and headed beyond the ropes.
Ian M finding untracked out of Gate 4, Grand Hirafu
Over apres coffee & drinks at the Vale Bar & Grill Ian M and I discovered that two people had been caught in an avalanche beyond the ropes on Thursday 23 February. This explained the cryptic paragraph of the avalanche report.
Both lost their skis in the tumult and were swept down through a stand of trees. They were skiing with four other people who didn't get caught in the surface slide.
To my knowledge (and it's far from complete) neither of the two caught were wearing avalanche beacons nor carrying shovels or probes.
The gentleman, who is a local businessman, suffered a non-serious facial injury.
The woman, who was on holiday, didn't get away so lightly. She broke her fibula and suffered an agonising hobble back to the resort.
There have been serious and fatal avalanche incidents in Europe and N America this winter, all of which have been reported in detail locally and across the interweb.
The reason - EDUCATION.
The fact that this incident and others from previous seasons have not been widely reported is very disappointing IMHO.
I certainly don't want to be the prophet of doom but I honestly feel that it's just a matter of time before another person is fatally injured in an incident beyond the Niseko Resort Area ropes.
There is a very cavalier attitude towards skiing and riding the non-patrolled areas.
Niseko Village is making great strides to manage and open avalanche prone areas - Mizuno sawa - and provide avalanche awareness and education to visitors in spite of the efforts of amateurs and professionals to totally disregard the Niseko Rules.
And for that they should be applauded.
The other lift operators should fall in step, and quickly.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Mike, I love your this thread and look forward to the regular updates eagerly. I'm definitely going to try to make coming to Japan next year a top priority. Keep up the good work!
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.
Mike, I love your this thread and look forward to the regular updates eagerly. I'm definitely going to try to make coming to Japan next year a top priority. Keep up the good work!
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
Mike Pow, I do wonder if they should have some kind of gate that opens with a peep or something like they have in the USA? I guess your average uninformed punter sees lots of folks heading through the gates and could easily follow without much thought?
Jackson Hole gates certainly leave you in no doubt!
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Thanks Rishie. There's more than enough to go round.
Exactly kitenski. Sunshine, Alberta has a similar system.
DAY 61 : SUNDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2012
360Niseko reported 12 cm of new snow in Hirafu village
With Sunday the busiest day of the week in the Niseko Resort Area, Ian M and I headed to Rusutsu.
Rusutsu was far from deserted but there's a far better flow and very quickly the crowds had dispersed all over the mountain.
Ian M and I skied the groomed runs in the morning with Ian's focus being cuff neutral as much as possible - the shin neither sitting on the tongue nor the calf pressed against the cuff. Being too far forward or too far back in the boot puts the skier at a mechanical disadvantage and limits the ability to manoeuvre the feet and skis.
Ian M found cuff neutral but also found that the aggressive forward lean of his Tecnica boots was a barrier to feeling light and manoeuvrable.
I'm currently skiing in the Dynafit TLT 5 Performance boot with a 15 degree forward lean. Although this is a lightweight ski touring boot with a very soft tongue and minimal support fore and aft compared with an alpine ski boot it has a carbon fibre cuff which provides more than enough support laterally. Even for my 100 kg (220 lbs) load. That's with clothes and backpack by the way
Ian M is already looking at replacing his Tecnicas with a boot with a more upright cuff. Watch this space.
After lunch we headed in to the trees and the powder and put the morning's focus in to practice
You can't see it, but Ian M was relaxed downstairs and cuff neutral more than he wasn't. Hence the snow going up, and over, and behind and not out to the side.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Mike Pow wrote:
There is a very cavalier attitude towards skiing and riding the non-patrolled areas.
Last year we were amazed by the number of clueless people stood at the top of the the Annapuri summit. One guy skiing on his own wandered over to us and asked if it was possible to ski back to the lifts if you dropped off the back of the mountain. He actually got a bit cross when I asked why he'd climbed up there without having found out the answer to that question first...pretty sure he wouldn't have even heard of avalanche beacons.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
The norm rather than the exception unfortunately ChrisWo
DAY 62 : MONDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2012
360Niseko reported 11 cm of new snow in Hirafu village
I met Nithan at the Family Chair in Grand Hirafu and we skied around to the base of Hanazono to meet up with Preeya, Helen and Sam.
After a couple of laps on the groomed runs and a run through Blueberry Fields we headed into the terrain skier's right of Silver Dream.
Off the groomed runs there was a mixture of layers and snow textures lurking beneath the beautifully smooth and consistent overnight snow at the surface.
The focus for today was being patient, light and relaxed in the fall line to allow the snow beneath the skis to consolidate to make a platform on which we could manoeuvre.
Preeya letting the platform develop in 'The Cuts' in Hanazono
Preeya manoeuvring off the newly established platform
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
DAY 63 : TUESDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2012
360Niseko reported 7 cm of new snow in Hirafu village
John's an inspiration and it's been a highlight of my time on snow to ski with someone who still gets jazzed about making turns 65 years after he first put on skis.
He started in 1947 at Mt Kosciuszko, NSW, Australia on a holiday at the original lodge (before it burned down).
The ski day consisted of one hike up and ski down in leather boots and skis with cable bindings before lunch, and one in the afternoon.
On the recommendation of a business associate he bought a place in Breckenridge, Colorado in 1963 - two years after it first opened - and he and his family skied there for many years.
He's a gentleman and all around good guy with plenty of stories and experiences to share. Bit of a pool shark too by all accounts.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Mike Pow, brilliant! Or, as you might say, beautiful!
After all it is free
After all it is free
86 - legend right there!
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.
Pedantica wrote:
Mike Pow, brilliant! Or, as you might say, beautiful!
Definitely.
beautiful is this winter's word. Was ribbed for using fabulous too much
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
DAY 66 : FRIDAY 02 MARCH 2012
360Niseko reported 0 cm of new snow in Hirafu village
After last Sunday's ski day at Rusutsu working on being cuff neutral and as upright in the lower leg as possible, Ian M was ready to look at new boots.
After watching me ski Dynafit TLT5 Performance boots on last spring's trip to Hokkaido and all this season and him receiving a pair of Dynafit bindings from Porter Fox we went to BC Map to see if his foot fit the Dynafit last.
It did and with no TLT5 Performance boots in his size available in Japan he chose a pair of the TLT5 Mountain.
A return to the quiet slopes of Rusutsu with Pam Laidlaw, but this time on a different set of skis.
Pam has been skiing on the K2 MissBehaved (130-98-118) for some time but with packed powder conditions and our focus on groomed terrain for the moment she went with my recommendation of trying an all-mountain oriented ski.
Today's choice the 161cm Volkl Tierra (129-78-99).
It took a run or two to get used to the added versatility, performance and edge hold but then Pam flew on and off groomed.
The off-groomed snow was more difficult to manage with a much smaller waist width but once Pam found her balance and patience she was cruising in the 5-15cm deep layer of untracked snow above a very tricky sun crust.
Today was the first time for me to see Ian M ski in his new boots.
We skied at Kiroro because we knew it would be quieter and the grooming much better than the Niseko Resort Area, which is exactly what Ian M needed as he was getting to grips with the new boots.
We focussed on being cuff neutral and maintaining a longer leg throughout the pivotted manoeuvre.
Ian M skiing the Yoichi #1-A Course (red course) at Kiroro
Started the day solo in Grand Hirafu but ran into Greg Heptonstall (not literally) at the top of the Hanazono 3 Lift.
Greg had already been out through Gate 5, so I joined him for a couple of laps before we skied more of the inbounds snow and terrain. Up high the snow was dry and light on a solid sun crust. Down low the snow was becoming custard like and well tracked.
Greg Heptonstall skiing out of Gate 5 at Grand Hirafu
Back to Kiroro with Ian M on a beautifully sunny Spring day.
We came across this magnificent snow sculpture on the road to the resort which was the equal of any I'd seen at the Sapporo Snow Festival last month.
Winter is long on the road between Akaigawa and Kiroro
A sense of scale
On mountain we continued working on being cuff neutral and maintaining a longer leg throughout the pivotted manoeuvre, and then the patience and balance to engage the edges in a carved turn.
Ian M skiing the Yoichi #1-A Course (red course) at Kiroro
After a morning on the groomed runs we headed to the ungroomed runs for the first time in his new boots to work on pressure control in unconsolidated snow. This is especially important in the Dynafit TLT5 boots as the flex rating fore and aft is around 100. Jamming the shin on the tongue of the boot at the start of the turn is a one-way ticket to over the handlebars.
Yoichi-dake backcountry and a 'smoking' Mt Yotei from Kiroro
Ian M skiing 'Still Waters' at Kiroro
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
DAY 74 : SATURDAY 10 MARCH 2012
360Niseko reported 0 cm of new snow in Hirafu village
Kiroro with Ian M. Grey skies again, and the snow off the groomed runs was spongy and heavy. So we stuck to the wonderfully groomed packed powder runs instead.
DAY 76 : MONDAY 12 MARCH 2012
360Niseko reported 1 cm of new snow in Hirafu village
With no new snow and the freeze thaw cycle in full effect in the Niseko Resort Area Ian M and I headed to our second home, Kiroro
There was at least 15cm of new snow in the car park when we arrived and it was dumping when we started skiing.
First stop the Nagamine area and the Nagamine #2-C course (red run). Visibility was low and the wind was blowing, and there was a fair amount of snow about. Even on the groomed runs.
Ian M warming up on the Nagamine #2-C course (red run) at Kiroro
Spent it at Kiroro with Ian M where it was snowing all day and getting deeper by the run.
Ian M skiing 'Hangman' at Kiroro
It was coming down heavily as we headed home and we passed this road crew clearing the heavily laden and somewhat ineffectual avalanche barriers on Rt 393 between Kiroro and Kutchan. These barriers have been featured in many an Hokkaido ski & snowboard segment.
The top lifts in the Niseko Resort Area were on wind hold and the gates closed, so Ian M & I had another day at Kiroro.
The Kiroro Gondola and Nagamine #2 Express Lift were on wind hold too but we were able to find plenty of deep turns off the Yoichi #1 Express and Center Express lifts.
Our tracks were filled in from yesterday and we even found two new areas. Fabulous.
Ian MacKenzie skiing 'Walk in the Woods' at Kiroro
After the wild weather of the past two days we returned to Kiroro under clear and calm skies.
Joining Ian M & I today was James Marshall, originally from just outside London, England but currently residing in Singapore with his family.
James started skiing in Europe and during his time living in Tokyo he skied many of the resorts on Honshu.
He's been coming to the Niseko Resort Area for 10 years. This however was his first visit to Kiroro.
He'd brought two sets of skis with him to Kiroro - the K2 Obsethed and Salomon X-Scream.
He chose the X-Screams and it was a good choice.
James had been skiing on the Obsetheds this holiday (138-105-125 in a 189 cm length) and it took a couple of laps on and off the groomed runs for him to get used to what today is regarded as a very narrow platform but which at the time of the X-Scream's release was cutting edge technology (108-70-97 in a 186 cm length).
After presenting a couple of different ideas to James -
in powder being patient at the start of the turn and then manouevring once a platform has developed, and
keeping the body facing the direction of travel and not facing the fall line
he started to get more and more comfortable in the unfamiliar terrain and unconsolidated snow.
When Hell Freezes Over...it may look a little like this
Light snowfall overnight and flurries early on as I drove over to the small ski area of Chisenupuri on the Niseko Panorama Line road.
There were about 20 cars in the car park and 10-15cm of snow on the ground as I paid for my 4-hr ticket (JPY 2,200) and rode the covered 2-person chairlift to the top of the ski area.
The new snow was light and dry on a solid sun and wind crust.
I did a couple of laps skiers left of the chair down to Yukichichibu Onsen before heading off the back of the ski area and the skin up to Chisenupuri peak.
The thermal pools flowing in to Yukichichibu Onsen
Visibility was poor but the skin up was quick and easy.
I dropped one of the gullies that takes you down to the Niseko Panorama Line road (Rt 66) and the top section was like skiing inside a golf ball. Once I got below the cloudline the skiing was smooth and fast.
But not this fast
The sulphur pools of Yukichichibu Onsen
Skiers making their way back to Chisenupuri via Yukichichibu Onsen
The tree runs at Chisenupuri are some of the best in the area for skiers and snowboarders starting to venture into that type of terrain.
The pitch is consistent, never getting steper than a red run pitch, and the tree spacing is very accommodating allowing wider turn shapes as you get used to unconsolidated snow with features.
Yours truly skiing one of the off groomed areas at Chisenupuri
12 cm in the past five days at village level, but at this time of the year village level measurements don't tell the whole story of conditions up on the mountain.
And snowfall in the Niseko Resort Area can be markedly different from other resorts in the area.
It was dry and clear when Ian M & I left Hirafu and snowing heavily as we pulled into the Kiroro car park.
We warmed up on the Yoichi # 1-A Course and then on to the Nagamine area for powder on and off the groomed runs.
After we'd found our feet we headed to 'Hangman'.
Five days since we were last here and all the tracks from our previous visit had filled in. And the sun came out as we dropped in.
Yes that's right, over 15 m, or 49 feet in old money of snowfall at village level so far this season.
Although there was a good fall of dry, light Hokkaido snow at village level in Hirafu this morning and the skiing in the Niseko Resort Area would be good, Ian M & I headed back over to Kiroro to continue from where we left off yesterday.
Glorious sunshine and a deep blue sky lightly scattered with clouds greeted us on our arrival, and as we rode the gondola to the top of the resort we could see that yesterday's tracks had been filled in from the overnight snow.
The place was deserted and we did lap after lap in 'Hangman' skiing powder and taking photos.
Ian M skiing 'Hangman' at Kiroro
On the drive back to Hirafu the road crew was still hard at work clearing the avalanche barriers on Rt 393
This was one of the best days of the season, and I've got a feeling we can eke out a little more powder tomorrow.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
