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black diamond

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Posts posted by black diamond

    Niseko avalanches

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    "She was completely buried at times during the slide but ended up only partially buried at the bottom". your quote on this thread.

     

    You can do what you want to and be as irresponsible as you want but my only request is please don't lead other less "experienced" people down this path by claiming it's safe.

     

    And yeah, seeing people flying down the backbowls in nothing but a pokemon or pooh bear suit not realizing the situation they are putting themselves in does bug me, but that's just me.

    The "big boyz" come to Niseko

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    I think ALL of Japan is worth a visit. Hakuba, Minakami and all of honshu have great resorts and some steep BC access. Hokkaido's (and yes this includes Niseko) selling point is that it has consistently good snow for typically 4-5 months of the year and Niseko is a "resort" and that's good for families. Consistently good snow is a definite selling feature when you spend a lot of bucks to get over with crew.

     

    And I'm not sure who you were refering too BW, but if it's myself I only post when I have time, apologies. And I LOVE Hokkaido so why can't I talk it up? If you

     

    I agree with MikePow, When media come to film they want something different, features that say "Japan" and not anywhere else. The media have pegged Japan as the deep "Pow" segment for the video and pillow lines, drops and natural booters are what they are looking for. A good part of the terrain they hit here is not in the actaul resort, there are simply too many people tracking up the mountain after a dump to set up a shot. They have to hike for the virgin snow and crazy features so it won't be the same stuff that the normal skier will ski.

    That said, ALL the "pro" skiers and boarders I have been lucky enough to meet and show off the Niseko United resort to have had nothing but good things to say about the terrain. You get amazing runs for very little effort.

    And yes the marketting team in Niseko IS on to it. They offer assistance to media types because they uderstand the value in it. Is that bad?

    Totally agree CB that the terrain, runs and snow can be better up north but once these filmers knew the zones and the snow was as good as it was, it was hard to convince them otherwise. That and they usually film with a heli for the biglines so hiking two hours with a 60 pound backpack full of film gear didn't sequite fly with them. Maybe next year.

     

    black%20diamond_22.jpg

     

    Niseko avalanches

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    GN, you never cease to amaze me with your blatent ignorance.

     

    If this person is asking about renting gear, it means he/she doesn't have their own gear, which tells me they are probably not that experienced in the backcountry.

     

    If you've been here for 7 years then you obviously know how quickly the weather can change here. If you don't know the area, you're inexperienced in the backcountry and you get yourself into a scary situation, what the hell are you going to do?

     

    Not everybody needs a guide, you're absolutely right. People who are experienced, up for the challenge and are confident about the abilities of everyone in thier group should go for it. I'm the first person point out where the best runs are, I want everyone of every ability to have a great day.

     

    What a guide does or should do is make you feel safe because he/she knows the area well, is educated in avalanche awareness, has first aid and self-rescue certifications, and most importantly has experience guiding and therefore can hopefully foresee problems before they happen. Plus they should also stoke you out by finding you the best snow for the day.

     

    You mentioned somewhere that companies try to "scare" people into "believing" that they need a guide when really there is no real danger, yet you mention the serious avalanche that occured just past the gates at the same time. I have seen several natural and human triggered slides set off in the niseko backbowls so I have no idea of what you are talking about claiming it's safe.

     

    Here's another story for you to think about GN.

    Guided trip out the gates into the BACKCOUNTRY. Group approaches the next pitch they are about to ski. Guide points out the large glide crack about 50m below them and they discuss the route they will ski to avoid the 3m crack.

    Skiers start going down one by one, guide in safe zone watching from above. Last skier about to start her first run, catches an edge and falls forward, skis behind her. Starts sliding slowly, everyone (including herself) thinking she has plenty of time get her skis in front of her on this low angle slope in time to stop and avoid falling in the crack...doesn't happen. She goes head first into the crack, guide races down to help. Gets to the top of the crack only to find all but one leg sticking out of the snow. The sluff that she brought down with her fell in the crack after she did. The snow had compacted around her and hardened up.

    Guide does his job by taking charge, getting out his and other clients shovels, and five minutes later he's pulling out a skier gasping for breath. The guide saved that skiers life, and she definitely let him know that and thanked him profusely.

     

    Point is that if they did not all have gear with them, it would have been almost impossible to have saved her.

     

    Accidents happen but preventable accidents are usually due to ignorance.

     

    And you always mention this "risk" as a form of freedom and maybe even what we all search for. Agreed, but can you show me one mountain guide or pro skier (who take risks all the time) that ski open bowls and backcountry without gear?

     

    Why, being an educated and seasoned skier wouldn't you carry gear, I just don't get it?

    The "big boyz" come to Niseko

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    The MSP and Poorboyz (Salomon freeski TV) crews along with the Canadian Sandbox snowboard crew flew home last week with some of the best footage a foreign film crew has captured yet. I guess it helps when you have some of the world's best freeskiers along for the ride. No question many great shots and segments will be churned out from these top snowboard and ski porn producers.

    Tried to get them to go up north to the bigger mountains but they enjoyed the killer terrain in and around Niseko so much that they refused to leave! Just shows how much potential Hokkaido and the rest of Japan have to offer.

    Tomamu - anyone been? what do you think?

    in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry

    Posted

    that's not funny Thursday...Tomamu does not get alot of snow at the best of years. The first season we went about 6 different weekends and always found powder, but I've experienced it once and have been told it can get ugly. Oh well more family time right? lol

     

    But it stays cold there so if it's nasty at the resort, hire a guide to take you to the powder. You may have to hike, but there will be some powder somewhere even if it hasnn't snowed for weeks thanks to the frigid temps.

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