black diamond
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Posts posted by black diamond
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Actually Iiyamadude, I read all those articles when they came out (so I do know a little) but thanks for the link. I was referring to the differences (forward thinking) like the fact that they had a foriegner doing these write ups and promo way back in 2004 and the fact that they were trying to open and control the backcountry and explained things. There are a lot of resorts that are "way out there" that are still around. Tomamu is a perfect example. It has gone through a couple of ownership changes but the new marketting seems to be working. If Tomamu can somehow do it, why couldn't Arai be viable in the future?
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Good terrain, stoopid amounts of snow, forward thinking managament. Why was it so much more to operate than other resorts LM? A helipad (standard at most international resorts) and underground tunnels don't cost money once they are built. Heated plaza? do you mean the ground?
That place seemed to be thinking outside the Jbox but it was tough to get customers for them...I guess a few hundred more crap resorts need to shut down first so that the good ones will have a fighting chance.
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I had the pleasure of skiing with this guy last winter. There IS such a thing as natural talent (well, growing up on a ski resort probably helps too). All J stuff was shot in the Niseko area.
BTW he will be featured in the new MSP movie IN DEEP (same Japan footage)
Here's what he said about skiing in Japan.
"I had fun times last season, skied some deep powder and travel all over the world, Russia, Italy, USA, Switzerland, France, Alaska but my favourite trip was the one to your place in Japan. Epic snow, lot's of different runs, good food and such a nice hospitaIity.. I would love to come back next season."
Can I get a witness?
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An short "artsy" oldie that you've probably not seen.
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I usually try to avoid "getting into" these forums because they can consume you, but you guys have me all flustered and I must say I'm actually enjoying it.
GN, your previous example is perfect. 11 people dying in the summer due to poor choices being made by whoever was in charge. Are they going to shut down Mountain travel because of this accident? In most countries I would laugh at that the thought, but in Japan you need to actually consider it. You know as well as I do that Japan loves to "protect" the people. As ridiculous as it is, off piste skiing is actually against the rules at most resorts due to the potential of hitting a tree or someone else less experienced following you in. I know it's hard to stomach but that's their thinking.
The Niseko Rules do not demand that you carry avalanche gear, only strongly advise. As much as I don't agree with the way they were set up (where the resorts tried to pass the buck), I understand what they are trying to acheive. These rules are actually more restrictive than the resorts that turn a blind eye, but they also show positive signs of progress (as slow as they are).
So lets say there was an accident past the gates and lets say that person was not wearing gear. How do you think the gov't and locals would react to that? How do you think it would reflect on all the work that has been done up until this point? Or do you not care about that either?
I know there are alot of locals out there cringing thinking about the day someone does die and what the result will be.
So lets think about the bigger picture of places like Niseko and Hakuba setting a new standard for Japan and help them spread the message. You speak of this "elite" group only allowed into the backcountry...we are talking about "basic" awareness dude, like learning how to drive a car in a parking lot before you hit the road.
Once again it will never be mandatory to wear avie gear once you step out of bounds, and that's our god given american freedom! I just can't believe that with all your experience we are having this debate or the fact that you ski alone. For myself, the more I have been in the snow, the more careful I have become because I know it's a matter of time before something does go wrong and you can't control randomness. Even highly experienced professional skiers skiing insane lines do so as safely as possible, so why don't you?
I just realized this thread was about some place called Mizunosawa.
I also just realized the time I spent on this. Touchee, you got me.
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Because it's uncontrolled, you do have that choice GN, I just personally think it's a bad choice. Because it's uncontrolled I think you should be prepared. Being prepared means that you have knowledge and having konwledge means that you're wearing avie gear when you go out of bounds. If it's a controlled area, meaning checked and stabilized by patrol then yeah you "should" be fine.
If you've been here or at any mountain six years you will know about wind loading snow on slopes. Slopes over 30 degrees especially with rolling features are prone to avalanche, no matter how close or far they are away from the gate. I have personally seen skier triggered avalanches happen off the peak (not huge but the potential is there). The patrol make their best guess for that day but do not actually "control" the backcountry. Just because it's easy to access and is skied often doesn't mean it won't slide.
GN I have to ask, why don't you want people telling you that you should have avie gear on? As long as they're not rude about it, I think they just want you and others to play safe, no? 6 years tells me you love snow, the best way you can continue loving snow is to be safe.
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Sorry thursday I forgot, avalanches don't happen in Niseko.
"Avalanche strikes Niseko backcountry, man injured. Feb 20, 2009‎. He was trapped 70cm beneath the slide, and was found by the guides via beacon after about five minutes trapped under the snow."
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Boyz, c'mon now, let's play nice.
RD even if the stats are true, you should feel that it is your responsibility to gear up and set an example and perhaps have the chance to help someone else. What if a freak avalanche did happen like the one in Whistler a few years back that occured on an in bounds blue run mid mountain. What if you had a chance to save a person but you couldn't because you weren't prepared?
Wearing a pack and beacon when stepping out of bounds should not be a debatable question, it's like wearing a seatbelt. The more you wear it it, the less you notice it and honestly you will begin to feel naked without it. In addition to a shovel and probe a pack can have a radio, an extra layer, a spare pair of goggles and still feel light.
Why wouldn't you wear one?
But I also agree with GN, CB can be a bit obnoxious (no offense) almost to the point of embarassing less knowledgable skiers and that should never happen, not on a forum or on the hill.
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I have to give Niseko Village and even my ol' buddy Kamiharako-san credit where credit is due. They fought the long hard battle for this. I'm still skeptical however, this whole scenario was supposed to happen last season, and the season before that and the seasn before that. The gov't could and have in the past shut the plan down at the last minute, a pretty tactical (some would say cowardly) move to save yourself a lot of greif. I think they have been reluctant thus far due to them (gov't officials) not skiing, not caring about skiing, seeing no personal benefit in helping the cause and more importantly they're pissed because this extra work cuts directly into their smoking, coffee drinking and desk chair sleeping time.
Believe this announcement AFTER you've done a legal run in there.
But once again a massive shout out to everyone who has gotten it this far. This is good for ALL of Niseko United so I hope they are receiving support. New terrain makes great news and gives people a reason to come back.
I know there have been accidents there in the past but IT WASN'T CONTROLLED IN THE PAST. Please don't tell me this area is any more dangerous than what is already open (and uncontrolled).
Pray for change!
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Bottom line is that Hokkaido has a longer, colder and more reliable season, perhaps the most reliable in the world. Been here 11 years and have NEVER had a bad year. Powder can usually be ridden from top to bottom 3-4 months of the year. I don't think it's a marketting thing to tell it like it is. Not sure about the 15 meter/year fact that we like to spout freely however, but for myself. I have never seen better consistent conditions this crowd free and that's enough for me.
Hakuba is great too, definitely more "extreme" everything including the steep backcountry, the weather patterns and especially it's supporters. BTW, Hokkaido actually does have steeps. Maybe not in the same quantity as Hakuba, but there are some great lift accessed steeps to be found if you look.
In Canada every other resort compares themselves to Whistler, trying to explain why they are better in some way. At the end of the day I think this helps Whistler...hint hint.
You should visit Japan more than once and you should hit as many resorts as you can including Hakuba, Niseko and a pile of others. Isn't discvery part (or most) of the fun anyway?
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Not sure if people are keeping up with the snow reports from Kurodake (rinyu kanko) up in Taisetsu national park but they already have a 220cm base! That must be the most snow at any resort in the world right now. We dug a pit at the top of the mountain and it measured 350cms. There is good coverage to the bottom of the mountain and the cold temps are keeping it powdery. Are there any other places out there that have a big base already?
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Hello Dawn,
Don't buy a new board! Used boards in Japan are like new. Try a couple of different boards. Boots board and bindings will run you between 30,000yen-60,000yen for the whole set!
Or you can go down to Sapporo first before niseko, spend a day shopping and fit yourself out with last years model new stuff for around 80,000yen-100,000yen
If you are going to buy one thing new it should be boots. Don't worry about the price or color (what I'm saying is that you don't need the newest gimmick boots), worry about the fit and warmth factor cause you'll be wearing them all day.
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Sorry CB, have to disagree with you a bit. Some areas in Niseko are closed simply because they've never been opened or managed properly. Case in point, Mizu no sawa. The management have done testing and blasting for three years and it's the local gov't who are blocking this area and others from opening simply because they don't care and don't need the hassle. I'm not even sure that the local "avie group" is even trying to help speed up the process. Someone did die there many years ago but please don't tell me that these closed areas are any more dangerous than the areas that they do open (besides the guts of haru no taki). The Higashiyama resort even had an avalanche risk assesment expert from Canada visit, train staff and survey the mizu no sawa area. His verdict was that it would be most stable and safest if people simply skied it regularly. Of course there will be dangerous days for these areas too and they should be managed accordingly.
The "Niseko Local Rules" (and I cringe at that name, but that's a whole other topic) were created to relieve the pressure of people wanting to ski off piste and in my opinion is a bandage that will break as soon as there is another avie accident anywhere in the Niseko area. That said at least they are doing something and are informing people. Unfortunately they are not acting on behalf of the Japan avi association as a large Japan-wide body giving it more unity and strength.
Then you have most places in Hokkaido like Rusutsu who turn a blind eye to skiing off piste even though it is officially forbidden and finally places like Asahidake where you can ski anywhere you like and could easily die from an avalanche or getting lost. How the hell is the average punter going to know the diference!!??
An international resort (asahidake is not a resort mind you) should accomodate international tourists and operate at international standards. Not a new or novel idea.
Sorry to vent and I know a bit off topic, but still love Japan... minus the cross-armed oyagis.
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Not sure if anyone has seen the new Reasons video by Poorboyz Productions yet...probably not as they are very late in distribution. They won best video at the IF3 video awards in Montreal and the opening powder scene with JP Auclair and Chris Benchetler (all filmed in the Niseko area) is said to be one of the best ever filmed segments of Japan. A definite must for the ski freak this season.
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Just went up to Kurodake (Sounkyo) for the opening weekend. 100cms base and super soft powder! Amazing mid season conditions on top of the mountain. Not a bad way to start the season... but then again that's how we start most seasons in Hokkaido.
Even rode to the bottom of the ropeway! (but was super sketchy on the last 300 meters). If you've never been you have to give it a try, but if you like crowds, give it a miss because you may find yourself the only one there! Kurodake is still a realtively unknown resort located in Japan's largest national park.
If you go, you'll need full avi gear, the ability to rescue yourself if you get in trouble, and advanced ski/snowboard skills to really appreciate it. Even the "hardcore Hakuba boyz" would have difficulty dissing this place.
If you ice climb, this is the place in Hokkaido, check out Hokkaido ice clibming on youtube. BTW, the part where the two guys almost died wasn't in Sounkyo.
Sounkyo is also famous for ample amount of hotsprings and the beautiful gorge it is located in.
At the moment Kurodake is the only resort open in Hokkaido so get over there!
No Niseko!
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
Posted
Despite what you may have (or haven't) heard, there are many more great resorts here in Hokkaido. Niseko is just the starting point. This short vid of Hokkaido(containing no niseko or furano footage) will make your mouth water.