Report of 2 fatalities in the Niseko Resort Area yesterday:
Quote:
There have been 2 fatal accidents yesterday. In both cases, the Niseko Rules has been ignored and disrespected. It is really sad to apprehend this reality. Both victims fell into a crack and lost their lives. Dangers about cracks have been repeatedly mentioned in this information, but ended up in vain. Disrespecting, ignoring or criticizing this Information or the Niseko Rules is not a problem as long as people take care of themselves and avoid thoughtless actions that could lead to serious accidents. It is a very sad morning. May their souls rest in peace.
Hard facts are very difficult to come by - a real problem in this area - but it appears that a Finnish skier lost his life in the backcountry accessed from Niseko Hanazono and a Japanese skier lost his life in out of bounds terrain next to Niseko Village.
It appears both fell into glide cracks caused by the weight of the snowpack sliding on the waxy sheath of the sasa (bamboo) buried beneath.
Whether it was death due to trauma, suffocation, exposure or all of these things is not known.
Condolences to the families.
DAY 76 : TUESDAY 29 JANUARY 2013
0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
No new snow and brilliant sunshine in the Niseko Resort Area so Ian & I headed to Kiroro.
Before we got to the resort entrance the sun had disappeared and the snow started falling.
There was a spongy wind crust buried about 20 cm below the snow surface but on the right aspect and slope angle the snow invited you in and face shots were the order of the day.
All day.
DAY 77 : WEDNESDAY 30 JANUARY 2013
6 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
With snow falling steadily as we left Kiroro yesterday, Ian and I headed straight back today this time with Jonny Richards (no relation) in tow.
Jonny is Editor-at-Large for UK skiing & snowboarding magazine Fall Line and is over writing a feature.
After a couple of laps we bumped into Hiroki from Otaru who skied with Ian and me a couple of times last season
Ian in
and coming out
Ian
Jonny
Ian aboard the Powder Express
Jonny in his happy place - the Kiroro 'gondora'
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Clearly "Hiroki from Otaru" wants his identity to remain unknown, given the fact that he lives very deep in the powder! If I ever need to go into the Witness protection program, it seems Kiroro would be a great place to hide...
And clearly Jonny needs to fork out and buy a second ski.
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?
DAY 78 : THURSDAY 31 JANUARY 2013
0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
January fizzled out with only 83 cm in the Niseko Resort Area in the final 11 days of the month including 6 days without snow.
But we still got a very healthy 473 cm (186") of snowfall and more powder in 20 days than most mountains get all winter.
When the Niseko Resort Area is "dry" there's always Rusutsu, Kiroro, Teine and Sapporo Kokusai to try.
And then there's the backcountry.
Here's Sam and the Niseko Xtreme Tours crew guiding a group up Shiribetsu-dake in the Rusutsu area yesterday.
This was the third consecutive day at Kiroro with Ian and we were joined today by Hamilton, barkeep at Maki Lounge and Nikki, long time pal and one of the NBS rental crew in Alpen Ridge.
We were hoping for more of yesterday's magic but found a very tricky rime crust on top of a 20-30 cm layer of warmed up powder instead.
If you let the skis go and were comfortable with speed in steep, treed terrain then it was very good. Flatter pitches were hard work on skis, especially our narrower platforms.
Nikki was loving it on his board.
Lots of skiers over from the Niseko Resort Area in search of powder with guided groups were looking tired and frustrated today.
Hamilton
Nikki
Ian
DAY 79 : FRIDAY 01 FEBRUARY 2013
0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
A warm, grey, miserable day at MQ with intermittent light show showers followed by a fine, misty rain.
The quiet before the storm which is supposed to rage through here tomorrow and Sunday.
DAY 80 : SATURDAY 02 FEBRUARY 2013
0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
The RAIN arrived at 4.30 this morning and it's bloody awful out there as I type (8 am).
It's calm at the moment, but the wind is supposed to ratchet up to 50 km/h up top by day's end.
The good news is this is just a blip with colder temperatures and snow forecast for the coming week and Friday looking like it could be special.
First day with Mike, Jill, Annabel, Emma, Will and Nathan for Ian and me.
The upper lifts in the Niseko United were on wind hold and Annupuri was closed completely so we skied Niseko Village today.
It was very good considering the wind and rain that had battered the area in the past 48 hrs.
Very cold in the biting wind, especially as none of the lower lifts at Niseko Village have covers.
DAY 82 : MONDAY 04 FEBRUARY 2013
5 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
As of today 1103 cm (434") has fallen at MQ
Day 2 with Mike, Jill, Annabel, Emma, Will and Nathan and today we were joined by Emma's friend Lauren.
The snow conditions got better as the day went on and we spent out time skiing Center, Shirakaba and Rinkan and the trees between these runs.
DAY 83 : TUESDAY 05 FEBRUARY 2013
21 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
The snow started falling in earnest around 8pm yesterday, but within a couple of hours the wind picked up and raged through the night.
And unfortunately continued through until after lunchtime today.
Day 3 with Mike, Annabel, Emma, Will, Nathan and Lauren.
Hanazono was completely closed today, and only the Alpen quad and the gondola were running at Niseko Hirafu.
The lift line for the gondola was between 45-60 minutes so we drove over to Niseko Annupuri and spent the morning lapping the quad and skiing boot top powder in the trees.
After lunch we dropped into Gate 7 and skied laps of boot top to knee deep powder in the trees and the gully.
The wind has died down and there's even sun forecast for tomorrow.
The Niseko Resort Area is slowly resetting itself.
Hanazono is the call for tomorrow's turns.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
DAY 84 : WEDNESDAY 06 FEBRUARY 2013
9 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
The Niseko Resort Area stopped doing it's impression of Patagonia and with no wind and sunny skies it was time to hit the top lifts and head over to Hanazono.
Mike, Annabel, Will, Nathan, Lauren, Ian and I warmed up on Center and Rinkan and then took Parallel across to Hanazono.
The groomed runs were smooth with wonderful corduroy and no crunch, and the off-groomed was boot to knee deep light, fast powder.
We got untracked in Ten Turns, untracked off Silver Dream and found plenty of light crud and untracked powder on and off Legend of Shinya.
After lunch at Hanazono 308 we traversed into The Cuts and had smooth powder back down to the lift.
Nathan in The Cuts
Lauren in The Cuts
Will in The Cuts
Annabel in The Cuts
Nathan, Annabel, Lauren & Will at the top of Hanazono 3 quad lift
"He said open your eyes on 3"
A great day with massive improvement in the powder for all.
DAY 85 : THURSDAY 07 FEBRUARY 2013
0 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
A cold, clear night but the wind rolled through very quickly this morning closing all lifts above the Center 4 quad lift and Hirafu gondola at Niseko Hirafu.
A very average ski experience so we called it quits at mid-day.
The heavens opened around 2pm and it's been snowing heavily since.
Hopefully the wind has died down up top and tomorrow will be a return to the deep powder that's the norm for early February.
In other news,
NON-FATAL AVALANCHE ON MT. YOTEI
Details are not complete but this is what I've been told.
Two seasonal workers from Australia were caught in an avalanche on Mt Yotei yesterday whilst descending from close to the summit ridge line.
A large gully slid and caught one skier whilst a second avalanche was triggered and caught the other skier.
The skier caught in the secondary avalanche suffered no injuries.
However the skier caught in the primary avalanche was carried approx 750 m and came to a stop buried up to the shoulder.
He was rescued by his party who were aided by a Japanese firefighter out on the volcano.
He was airlifted off Mt Yotei by helicopter and treated in hospital for two broken femurs and a compound fracture of the tibia.
The operation last night was a success and the skier is doing well.
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 Pow wrote:
DAY 85 : THURSDAY 07 FEBRUARY 2013
The operation last night was a success and the skier is doing well.
Really glad to hear that!
Aiming to do Yotei on my trip next year as I never got round to it this time.
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 86 : FRIDAY 08 FEBRUARY 2013
19 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Great morning at Niseko Hanazono with Mike, Jill, Annabel, Will, Emma, Nathan, Lauren, and Ian.
No wind, sunshine, boot top to knee deep light powder.
Then the wind and snow rolled in and we called it quits mid-afternoon in the anticipation of deeper turns tomorrow.
DAY 87 : SATURDAY 09 FEBRUARY 2013
35 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
And the deeper turns arrived.
A fabulous day at Niseko Hanazono with Mike, Jill, Annabel, Will, Emma, Nathan, Lauren, and Ian.
Nathan on Stairway to Heaven
Nathan, Annabel, Jill, Emma, Mike and Will at the top of the Hanazono 1 quad chair
Next stop Strawberry Fields
Mike
Annabel
Nathan
Emma
Jill on Stairway to Heaven
Then after lunch we headed for The Cuts
Emma
Will
Annabel
Mike
And to top off a wonderful day we all had a superb dining experience at Maccarina in Makkari.
DAY 88 : SUNDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2013
16 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
As of today 1203 cm (474") has fallen at MQ
Another great morning at Niseko Hanazono with Mike, Jill, Annabel, Will, Emma, Lauren, and Ian.
Then over to Niseko Annupuri for the buffet lunch, followed by Tetse's, Ten Turns, The Cuts, & Waterfall for the last 'run' of their holiday.
For dinner we went to Sato in Kutchan.
Delicious sashimi, sushi and tempura.
This was their first visit to Hokkaido. Hopefully the first of many.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
DAY 89 : MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013
6 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Day 1 with David, Emma and Carl.
A thoroughly professional and enjoyable experience at Rhythm & Beats getting rental equipment and then we were off to Niseko Hanazono to escape the Chinese New Year crowds in Niseko Hirafu.
The terrain off the Hanazono 1 quad chair was well tracked but we still found plenty of pockets of powder all morning.
We headed over to Boyoso for lunch and spent the afternoon lapping the Hirafu gondola skiing Konayuki and Miharashi.
Boot to knee deep powder all day.
DAY 90 : TUESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2013
19 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Day 2 with David, Emma and Carl.
With plenty of snow at MQ and more coming down Niseko Moiwa was the destination du jour.
There were a few moments of sunshine but it snowed most of the day.
With hardly anyone on the hill it was practically untracked all day with waist deep powder and face shots on the menu.
And we gorged.
In other news,
Update on the Mt Yotei avalanche incident on Wednesday 06 February 2013
It turns out that the young man caught in the slide is Kristian Ventura from Australia.
Also turns out that he didn't have adequate and appropriate insurance to cover the cost of an injury and rescue sustained in a non-patrolled environment.
So he's stuck in hospital recovering and trying to get the funds to get home.
This is the first time for 3 years I won't be going to Japan to ski...never missed it more than now - lovely photos!
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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Cheers BobinCH. Been getting some of your Verbier sunshine and light. Makes it so much better.
Quote:
I can't believe you are skiing Jams in those conditions!!!!!
Both Ian and I have downsized this winter.
Ian swapped his Dynastar Legend Sultan (126-80-108 in a 165cm) for the Rossignol Bandit B78 Respect (116-78-105 in a 166 cm).
And I've swapped my Movement Jam (136-85-117 in a 173cm) for the Coreupt The Caspers twin tips (112-79-105 in a 173 cm).
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
DAY 94 : SATURDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2013
10 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Back to Kiroro with Hamilton joining us today.
It was the deepest snow I've had the pleasure of skiing on Hokkaido, and also the deepest snow I've ever had to break trail in.
At least 50 cm must have fallen on the mountain in the past 24 hrs because it took us 25 mins to make the track out of 'Walk in the Woods' and 45 mins to put the track out of 'Hangman'.
The trench was hip deep at times.
It was snowing and greybird all day but I did manage to get the camera out for a couple of pitches.
We escaped the crowds and wind of the Niseko United and drove over the mountain to Kiroro.
After a couple of warm-up runs on the Yoichi #1-B Course we headed into 'Walk in the Woods'.
Hamilton
Ian
The snow was lighter than yesterday but we wanted more vertical. Thankfully the track out was much quicker today.
With a line-up for the gondola we headed to the Nagamine area.
Some excellent waist deep snow interspersed with light crud and pockets of windblown powder that stopped you dead in your tracks and sent you over the handlebars. Well it launched me.
Next stop the 'POWDER ZONE', venue for yesterday's straight line powder competition - the snow was too deep for the pitch.
Today it was great with face shots every turn.
And then we lapped the gondola and skied 'Hangman'.
Unfortunately we lost the light, but the depth and height was there.
Hamilton
Ian
Ian had the Contour recording most of the afternoon, look forward to seeing the snowcloud moving down the mountain.
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.
Is that Hamilton of Maki Lounge fame?
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
The very same.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Say g'day to him from me next time you see him, for he is a purveyor of fine booze, fine conversation, and an all round good operator...
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.
Will do.
And he most definitely is.
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 96 : MONDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2013
12 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
After three days of breaking trail and fifteen days straight on sticks it was time for a much needed day off snow.
In other news,
Update on the Mt Yotei avalanche incident on Wednesday 06 February 2013
We escaped the crowds and wind of the Niseko United and drove over the mountain to Kiroro.
After a couple of warm-up runs on the Yoichi #1-B Course we headed into 'Walk in the Woods'.
Hamilton
Wow.. great pics.. was this off-piste?
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Cheers clarky999.
Thanks New Daddy.
Within the resort area, accessed from the piste, a track through the woods to get back to the piste.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Quote:
Cheers clarky999.
Thanks New Daddy.
Within the resort area, accessed from the piste, a track through the woods to get back to the piste.
Amazing.. Do they exercise avy control? I've read somewhere that Japan is actually the snowiest area in the entire world. more snowy than even the Alps.
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?
Very limited avalanche control.
Ski cutting in some areas.
Bombing in the Mizuno Sawa area of Niseko Village.
This area of Hokkaido will see 12m of snowfall at village level - approx 300 m asl - most winters.
On the way back to Hirafu we stopped to watch this plucky Australian ski the avalanche barriers near the Drom campsite.
The avalanche barriers on Rt 393 have become so popular that the Highway Authority has roped off the access points and erected signs saying 'KEEP OUT' and 'No Snowboarding'.
Nothing about skiing though.
A bloody good effort from a 'Joe' not a pro.
DAY 98 : WEDNESDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2013
21 cm in the past 24hrs at MQ
Snowing and blowing out there today with the upper lifts on wind hold or closed in the Niseko United.
Ian skied a quiet Niseko Hirafu this morning and reported creamy powder conditions.
Big snowfall forecast for tonight and no wind tomorrow.
Under clear skies Ian, Andrew and I headed to Kiroro today to see what had fallen there.
Kiroro is quiet at the best of times, but today it was deserted.
Andrew and Ian on the Yoichi #1-A Course
After yesterday's excellent progress Andrew kicked it up several notches today, getting to grips with the powder.
In the AM we lapped the Yoichi #1-A and Yoichi #1-B courses with Andrew getting more comfortable in the fall line, standing taller each run, and becoming more patient at the start of the turn.
And in the PM we skied the Nagamine area and POWDER ZONE before finishing with two laps in 'Walk in the Woods'.
From tentative boot top powder to relaxed waist deep turns for Andrew today
Ian skiing 3pm untracked
Before I managed to film the inside of my backpack and fill up the SD card I got this footage of Andrew enjoying the early sunshine
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
