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6th March 2002
At last it has happened. Niseko-Hirafu Resort has bestowed on powder
seekers the right to ride out of bounds without fear of pass-loss.
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Take your pick: Strawberries, Tetsu's, Roy's trees, the Peak run... they are
now all open and waiting to be enjoyed without guilt or fear. Gone are the days
of powdery espionage. No more games of cat and mouse, playing hide and seek
with ski patrol.
Under pressure from the growing number of powder converts, Niseko-Hirafu
management has introduced a "Niseko Local Rules" system to open up
the resort's wonderful off-piste area. Until now, straying under ropes and away
from marked trails has been forbidden. We have been lucky that, in practice,
Hirafu patrollers have tended to turn a blind eye to rope ducking. But
frustratingly, depending on timing or perhaps on the mood of the patroller that
day, powder seekers have been denied access - made to return to groomed runs,
or worse, had their lift passes confiscated.
Until this season Niseko resort management has been stuck in a state of
off-piste denial. The official policy has been that no one will sky anywhere
except within resort limits. Much of the blame for this unrealistic approach
lies in Japanese Forestry Department legislation. Because the mountain is
classified as natural forest, the companies running resorts need special
permission to operate. They are under strict instructions to keep customers
inside allocated run areas.
Not withstanding National park legislation, the person who could have
explained the tracks coming down from the peak on a sunny day deserves a free
season pass and a career in politics. Looking the other way may have worked in
the days when people preferred groomed runs, but more Japanese skiers and
boarders prefer to slash it up in powder, than practice their carving on the
hard stuff.
In any Japanese snow-related magazine, feature after feature will focus on
skiing powder, backcountry adventure or avalanche awareness. In Niseko the
number of people carrying backpacks and snowshoes has increased remarkably.
Some of this gear may be simply a fashion statement, but the majority of these
people represent a new generation of backcountry troopers. Rain or shine they
are out there searching for powder.
In addition, Niseko-Hirafu has seen a huge increase in powder hungry Western
skiers and boarders. At times it seems that half the shrieks of joy come with
English accents.
To ignore the demands of today's powder-crazed public is impossible. It is
also a recipe for disaster. Imagine one hundred people happily traversing under
the East Face cornice when it slides... The resort is faced with a difficult
task - trying to give holidaymakers their powder fix, yet maintaining standards
of safety.
Various governmental bodies have complicated the job by banning the use of
avalanche-control bombing. Furthermore, it appears that the resort does not
have adequate manpower to carry out out of bounds safety control. Niseko's
backcountry is just too vast to ensure customer safety.
In an initial endeavour to keep everyone happy and safe, certain "Local
Rules" have been put in place. The resort's policy is basically that now
if you ski off-piste, they won't be responsible for your safety. To get this
message across signs have been set up in front of most prominent lifts, and at
the entrance to popular areas like Strawberry Fields.
Although not sounding like a radical policy shift, the introduction of
"Niseko Local Rules" is a brave move for resort management. For a
conservatively run mountain, to stand up and challenge Department of Forestry
legislation deserves applaud. Warning signs are in both Japanese and English.
Although some of the English versions are fairly creative, their messages are
strong and to the point. Compared to the worn "Avalanche Danger - Keep
Out" sign that has been ignored for a long time, these signs are
effective. Here is a copy of one:
Local Rules for the Niseko Annupuri District
Areas off skiing ground courses are "areas outside skiing
ground control." Skiing ground administrators assume no responsibility for
accidents that may occur in these areas. Entering areas beyond Keep Out ropes,
nets and bamboo poles is strictly prohibited as there is danger of avalanches
in areas off skiing ground courses. In particular, avalanches take place
frequently in the red areas indicated in the following figure.
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As
mountains are particularly dangerous in winter, you will be held
entirely responsible for your own actions. |
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If
accidents or search-and-rescue activities take place, the skiing ground
area will hold the person(s) concerned responsible for expenses.
(In the past \1 million was charged to the person concerned for
search-and rescue expenses.) |
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Avalanche
beacons among other devices help expedite search activities when
accidents occur. Please be aware that even in these instances, most
skiers and snowboarders are found dead. |
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Those who
enter the red areas in the figure below, where avalanche-related
accidents frequently occur, will have their lift coupons confiscated and
their use of lift during the season will be denied. |
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Skiing
grounds at all Niseko mountains have numerous courses where you can
enjoy non-packed off-piste snow, as described in the figure below. |
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Confirm
avalanche information at each skiing ground. |
These local rules were determined by the Niseko Free Passport Council and
the Niseko Annupuri District Avalanche Prevention Countermeasure Council.
With the freeing-up of off-piste areas in Niseko there have also been some
sacrifices. One of the conditions of "Local Rules" is that no one is
to ride in "Haru-no Taki" (the cliffs next to Alpen), Mizuno-no Sawa
(the valley in Higashiyama), and in Mikaeri Sawa (the valley on the Annupuri
side of Niseko).
All these areas offer great terrain, but they are high risk avalanche zones
where people have lost their lives. This is especially so with Haru-no Taki,
which for years has been a popular area with locals. Thirty metre plus cliffs
and regular slides have prompted management to close the area to everyone this
season. However, there is mention of opening Haru-no Taki in the future,
possibly with a 'beacon check-point station' in place.
Niseko Local Rules demand common sense from all. Read the daily avalanche
reports and consider what is happening in the terrain above as well as below
you. Remember that these areas have not been bombed, and that there are other
people enjoying the powder who have little backcountry experience.
The new local rules system provides gates of entry into off-piste areas. It
does not give anyone the authority to duck ropes within resort limits.
Consideration should go to the ski patrollers - they are the ones who are
called in rescue situations.
At this point there have been no backcountry fatalities for season 2002.
With this perfect record, the local rules system will probably continue and
expand. Even more powder territory should then become accessible.
Pictures thanks to Fatty
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