"Avalanche Eyes" 31st January 2003

Having survived a few days of warmth, gusty winds and mediocre snow, Niseko’s arctic temperatures and fluffy powder snow has returned. Niseko months December through February provide regular overnight snowfalls, often in access of 30cm. This snowing phenomenon has been well publicized over the last couple years, and a growing number of visitors from around the globe now grace Niseko’s powder fields. As the number of powder seekers grows, however, how many people are also considering snow safety? 
  

LH: This is my fifth season here. Consistent powder on an ageing body becomes much more attractive than radical terrain.
   

SJ: But if the terrain isn’t that steep, why should snow awareness and avalanches be a concern in Niseko?

LH: The average slope for an avalanche is 38 degrees. The slope under the Annupuri cornice is 35-40 degrees, and many other areas in Niseko also fall into this danger category. Avalanches in Niseko are a real concern.
  

SJ: There have been two small avalanches within resort boundaries over the last two weeks. Are these significant?

LH: Yes, they are typical Niseko localized slides. This kind of isolated avalanche poses the most danger here. In Niseko you are more likely to get into trouble with one of these small avalanches than a big full-face release.
  

SJ: Why is that?

LH: Well, for example, the slide that occurred above the Family Course only covered a 15m by 15m area, but managed to bury half the Family Course trail under 2m of snow. Especially off the peak, there are many such places that slide regularly, and most funnel into a terrain trap where it’s easy to get buried. Even if you don’t get buried, being thrown into a tree is a real worry.
  

SJ: Do you think the ‘Niseko Local Rules’ policy, where you can pretty much ride anywhere out of bounds, at your own risk, is a good thing?

LH: I think there are good and bad points to it. Riding or skiing powder is wonderful, so the more people that can experience and enjoy untracked powder has got to be a good thing. From a snow stability point of view, the mass numbers that ride down from the peak helps provide skier compression, which is a good way of compacting the slope. These tracks can also help serve as ‘anchors’ for fresh snow.

The worrying side to the own risk policy is multifold. For starters, it is easy to develop bad habits in Niseko - ducking under ropes almost becomes natural. Overseas, ducking under a rope can not only be a jail able offence, but can also be life threatening to the offender as well as others.

Powder becomes so normal here that on the occasions that it hasn’t snowed for a few days, people begin looking further and further for untracked terrain. This can take people a long way from resort limits. Although the slope may appear the same on the surface, chances are it hasn’t had repetitive skier compaction and could be fully loaded and unstable - hence the danger.
  

SJ: The peak, Strawberries and Hanazono 3 now all provide ‘exit gates’ which are closed on dangerous days. Is this system effective?

LH: In countries overseas, gates are monitored throughout the day, and are a good way of controlling the number of people who venture into the backcountry. In Niseko, however, there is no check of any kind so anyone can pass through. Here, the decision to open or close a gate for the day is made early in the morning. On some days we have 40cm of new snowfall between 9am and 4pm - this means there is a sudden change in snow stability, yet the gates may still be open. I have witnessed highly unstable days when the gates have remained open.
  

  
SJ: So you don’t suggest trusting an open gate?

LH: The patrol and those involved in gauging the danger do their best, but the resort openly admits that their patrollers do not necessarily have avalanche training, and are here to keep in-resort groomed runs safe. An open gate can appear as an invitation to go through. I suggest opening your “avalanche eyes” and being aware of the mountains around you.
  

SJ: What are avalanche eyes?

LH: The variable terrain in Niseko means that different areas can be safe and dangerous on any particular day. You need to be able to recognize potential dangers. At the moment we have many guests coming from Australia, and if you ride Niseko with “Thredbo eyes” expecting all to be safe, you may be in danger or a danger to others. Guests from the US and Canada have more developed ‘avalanche eyes’ and are often shocked by the naive and sometimes reckless backcountry riding around Niseko.

When I was in Alta in the States it was refreshing to see how switched on all the young guys were about snow awareness. Over there it was cool to be safe. Everyone followed the basic rules; only one person on a slope at a time, having spotters, traversing from safe place to safe place, not cutting the snow above each other... These are some of the habits you must develop to minimize risk in the backcountry.
  

SJ: Do you recommend doing an avalanche course?

LH: Definitely. The more you can learn, the better. The only trap is not to become equipment reliant - carrying the right gear is a must, but having the gear doesn’t make you safe. Gaining the knowledge is the first and most important step. Once you’ve started the learning process, you will never view mountains in the same way again. Your ‘avalanche eyes’ will help you tune in to the mountain environment, and may one day save your life…　

For those interested, Luke runs a Snow Sense awareness course in Niseko for an almost ‘volunteer’ price. His course leaflet contents are included below:

Do you seek fresh untracked snow?
Do you ride off-piste and backcountry terrain?
Do you follow people and assume you’re safe?

If yes, you should know that the Niseko area, unlike resort areas in North America, Europe and New Zealand, is NOT protected against avalanches and other hazards. Every year more people are competing for the same powder and exposing themselves to unnecessary risk.

Deep powder is bliss, ignorance is not. Most avalanche fatalities occur when a person’s skiing and snowboarding skills develop faster than their mountain safety skills. But just a small amount of knowledge will change the way you manage risk. Let’s raise the level of mountain awareness and make deep powder riding a safer experience.

During your stay in Niseko please find time to complete Niseko Snow Sense 2003: An introductory Course to Raise Awareness of Mountain Environments, Avalanche and Mountain Travel.

Niseko Snow Sense 2003 will help you understand:

--- how weather and terrain develop the snowpack
--- why avalanches occur in different conditions
--- which methods are best to assess avalanche hazard
--- how to travel in off-piste and backcountry terrain

The course has a 3 hour ‘theory’ session on Day 1, followed by a 6 hour ‘practical’ session on Day 2. Start times are flexible to make the most of the powder conditions. Don’t worry about sacrificing your mountain time because our motto is ‘you have to ride it to understand it’. There is only one course per week so bookings are essential. Cost is 5000 yen. All course material and equipment is supplied, but come prepared to dig and discover (mountain gear, lift pass and snorkel).

Luke Hanson is a scientist who researches mountain environmental processes (mainly snow, dirt, water and weather). He was a ski patroller in Australia during the early 1990’s, completed formal avalanche training with the New Zealand Snow Safety Institute and has led backcountry tours in Canada, USA, New Zealand and Japan. Luke has explored the Niseko area since 1998 and is very happy with his head in a snow pit.