mitchpee
-
Content Count
1341 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by mitchpee
-
-
It's an easy and straightforward traverse and boot pack from the two man chair.
Head over towards Elite, then cut into the trees until you hit the ridgeline.
Then it's up and around the first ridge.
There's a good line off the first ridge that drops you back to the car park by the hotel.
Once you've bootpacked around the ridge you drop down (still on the ridge) to the saddle and then you bootpack up the main ridge.
The main gully drops to the road that links the Rusutsu hotel with the Hotel Romulus.
All backcountry advice applies.
All of this with emphasis on the backcountry rules applies. The cornice has been growing just be a little more careful on it than normal! Would hate to see someone hurt and Rusutsu tighten up on it.
Don't think they could do anything about it as it's outside of the resort boundary. There was an avi death there a season or two ago and nothing happened afterwards.
Sorry I didn't mean rules of the resort. I meant unspoken backcountry rules like bring a buddy, wear a beacon, have gear, etc
If anyone is going to that ridge as you can see in the picture the big open bowl on the back of shirabetsu dake is a big open bowl without trees for a reason...aka it slides. So make sure it's a good day or dig a pit or both! Because that can go and if it does all the factors for death are there. Steep, terrain trap, lots of snow. Be safe out there guys!
-
nice one
how was the trip down?
The trip down was amazing! Unfortunately no footage but the snow in the gully was amazing!
-
It's an easy and straightforward traverse and boot pack from the two man chair.
Head over towards Elite, then cut into the trees until you hit the ridgeline.
Then it's up and around the first ridge.
There's a good line off the first ridge that drops you back to the car park by the hotel.
Once you've bootpacked around the ridge you drop down (still on the ridge) to the saddle and then you bootpack up the main ridge.
The main gully drops to the road that links the Rusutsu hotel with the Hotel Romulus.
All backcountry advice applies.
All of this with emphasis on the backcountry rules applies. The cornice has been growing just be a little more careful on it than normal! Would hate to see someone hurt and Rusutsu tighten up on it.
-
Hiked Yotei with a group today. Super windy at the top (130+ km/hr ) but got away with this snapshot..
-
I'm not going to deny where the money is is catering to Hong Kong, Singapore, and Chinese families. Those are the people willing to spend the money and come to Japan.
What I want to talk about is exactly what you brought up GN. This is about it costing "too much" to manage the terrain. I argue the opposite that it won't cost that much and the return will be much greater. So many people go to Rusutsu, Kokusai, Kiroro, etc because of the terrain at Niseko being flat and tracked out quickly. I argue drawing those people and more would be far more of a benefit than the costs to maintain.
These are the points and logistics I want to be talked about. It doesn't matter if I am a foreigner or here for 3 months. The issues should be addressed and it is a very easy thing to do. It just takes someone stepping forward which is difficult to get to happen in Japan.
-
Head north to Kurodake or south to Nagano and Niigata if you're looking for steeps MitchPee.
Kurodake is awesome, but unfortunately in the middle of nowhere far away.
It's tough when these areas are a 5 minute walk and stare me in the face every day.
-
I don't think there is much doubt from most people in what you are saying. Its just that its kind of like (in a much less dramatic fashion lol) flying into hawaii, paddling out pipeline the next day and telling the locals how its gonna be. It aint gonna happen.
I think a better analogy would be like being from Hawaii and knowing pipeline then going somewhere that has safer waves, maybe Lombok? and offering advice. I don't expect to be the one to change everything but I sure as hell want to promote some talking about this issue. Not bad mouthing, not drama, not condemning...simply questioning why such a region is permanently closed.
-
I have nothing but praise for the current management of the gates system. There's not been an avi death in Niseko since the inception of the 'local rules'. They've been in place now for what about a decade? For an area that recieves as much snow as Niseko does I think that's an incredible testament to those that manage the system. Getting everyone to respect the local rules though is not something you can force people to do, you can only enforce the rules which I wholeheartedly support. Any sort of management of access to off-piste is rare in Japan. Most resorts just ban it altogether or like Rusutsu and Kiroro just turn a blind eye to those going off-piste whilst having no management of the slopes in place whatsoever. Slope management within a resort though of the likes you find in the US, Canada and Europe is practically non-existent in Japan and there are very few with the skills to do it properly. There's some limited slope management in Mizuno no Sawa but elsewhere on the mountain there's none and the only management option is to limit access through the gates (which works). Personally I doubt Haru no Taki would ever be approved. There have been avi deaths there in the past which led to it being made totally off limits. Can't imagine them ever opening that area.
This is what I am trying to get at. A discussion about why they are closed and if it still serves as a purpose of saving lives to be closed or just being stubborn.
The o-sawa areas (especially mizu no sawa) are just simply not going to cause deaths. If they are managed decent at best, they will be fine. On the extreme days when the chance of sliding even becomes fathomable, it can be trigged intentionally or allowed to settle. This is not difficult at all.
I agree Haru no taki is more difficult of an area with massive trigger points and steeper, more sustained, wider bowl areas, and general rocky terrain. This is something that has caused deaths in the past (1999) and I can understand being a hazardous area with more difficulty to manage. However, this is also controllable and is similar to a lot of the terrain in North America but with safer snow pack conditions because of more consistent weather.
-
I really appreciate all the feedback. I fully realize my limitations as a gaijin living in Japan. However, I am not alone and yes there are nationals who feel the same. Working on the Nihongo part of this all and this is just the very beginning. I'm not expecting Haru no take to open tomorrow. I do, however, expect my points to be heard and considered by someone who will listen.
To those that have asked I and many people who feel the same way as me have spoken to various patrollers and Akio has been talked to as well.
My main issue is there is absolutely no discussion about these areas. It's off limits simply because "that's the way it is" and nobody wants to lose their job (understandable). This terrain could open up Niseko a lot more and as I am willing to show be managed safely. The terrain is not very dangerous and I am willing to show that.
Again this is not any sort of critique of Japanese life, condemnation or anything of the sort. I wouldn't be in this country advocating for Japan if I didn't love the people, culture, and language. I just want to promote discussion about these areas because in the rest of the world there are managed areas that are infinitely more dangerous than a 20 degree gulley run riddled with trees.
-
Ah yeah localism is completely worthy of respect. I'm not asking for unconditional opening of these areas. Just simply a logical discussion of the benefits vs ACTUAL dangers (not perceived, created, imagined).
-
Hey Guys,
So there's a lot of people that feel Niseko is not living up to its full potential. Every day we stare at the fresh, untracked lines in the o-sawa/Haru no take areas and ones that are permanently closed. Upon living in Utah, I have seen many extremely more dangerous areas managed with almost no incidents. We can provide scientific data recorded every day from our own weather station to help describe the safer days on when these could potentially be opened. I personally have never seen anything slide in these areas even with daily bombing occurrences.
I would like to invite the Niseko Avalanche Management team from Niseko United to discuss these areas and have an honest discussion about why these can't be managed. We can provide evidence from our side and comparison of similar terrain in the region. However, we have never been able to have a discussion about this and everytime I have tried to contact someone I was ignored or referred to someone else.
*this is not an attack on the current management, merely a promotion for discussion on the matter at hand upon which both parties would greatly benefit from*
Please sign the petition if you agree with me and want to see Niseko adopt a more sensible policy on avalanche terrain management.
-
Photos courtesy of a very generous Mark Whalley.
-
Yesterday was sick! No need for many words, just photos
D-E-E-P
Can you see Mark? Because I can't
They say Scottish people can't fly...mark proved them wrong.
-
Yeah Stu, good stuff.
-
After about 200 days or so I get new boots. I usually beat the living hell out of mine!
-
Nice. For those of us ignorant in the ways of Niseko, what is the name of that scraggly-treed bit you drop into repeatedly there? Looks very inviting.
That's Goshiki Onsen right behind Niseko
-
Thanks guys,
Anyone in Niseko (or surrounding area) stop by and say hi!
-
Hey Guys!
Figured I'd post some stuff on what's going on here in Hokkaido. It's been a super busy month so far and the snow has been amazing. Here is some evidence words cannot do justice. Amazing photos thanks to Mark Whalley!
Will try to update with some more specific info
-
Damn you guys have been busy on this post
I don't mind paying for one reason and one reason only; I have a limited amount of time and I don't want to squander it by getting lost. Not that there is anything wrong getting lost. if you ask me that's half of the fun of the back country (where if you are prepared _and_ have the physical condition to make it all the way back to the top if need be, it is nothing but an inconvenience). Still, I have hakkoda to wade around in the snow twice a week; I don't need to squander my time at Niseko doing that.
However, if some gentle soul would be so kind as to give me some pointers on a topo map, I would not mind exploring on my own. Shit, if a Niseko local wanna show me the ropes, I'll be happy to provide all the food and beer the person could stomach. I'll have my own car with me, we could certainly park it on the back where the onsen is.
As far as following somebody else, that's pretty common at Hakkoda. If I'm going up the gondola and happen to come across fellow gaijins, I'm happy to let them tag along. Nobody who knows better goes down the two marked courses and it is in fact a crying shame when people do.
Looking at the topo map for niseko, it looks like you can just climb 300m (100m elevation gain) and drop it to the south-west. Is it me or is that all there is to it?
Do they look at you funny if you go up all suit up with your avy gear?
The thing is Niseko is super easy to get around when the visibility is good. It's a small and isolated mountain. Pretty much anyone can look from the peak and find their way back to Annurpuri. However, most of January and Feb (when the snow is best) has terrible visibility. Wind, snow, etc make it very hard to see which backbowl you are dropping into. There are places that if you drop in the wrong place you will not be able to get back to the resort without a hard climb out.
That said, I'd be happy to point you in any right directions and if I am out shredding for fun show you the areas I know. Look for me in a black jacket yellow boots and blue pants and say hello!
-
BIlly I'd love to give you some ideas where to go. If you do a black diamond tour stop by the lodge and ask for me. I'll give you where I would go and see if any of the other guys have ideas.
To help us help you...
Do you have any touring equipment? Willing to hike a ways? Want big cliffs? Jumps? Steeps and pow? What are you looking for mostly? There's lots of terrain and lots to do! Do you have any backcountry experience?
-
Seems a lot less sunny than last January, but I honestly couldn't tell. It's snowy, windy and dark! Sounds like Japanese winter to me!
-
The point of paying for ski guiding is to help employ a person
No it's not. It's to familiarize yourself with the territory. And once you've paid for the tour, you're free to do as you wish with that knowledge.
You wouldn't expect to go to a University, sit down, and start getting your degree for free would you?what is a university?
Personally if anyone asked me to "tag along" next to people paying for the experience I would probably be a bit insulted. I wouldn't mind sharing information on where may be good but to assume someone under my wing that I know nothing about for free...that's just crazy.Why did you assume it was a guide and a paid group? All the times I've seen it, they were a bunch of Aussie mates going down the nth time with beer in their backpacks.
I guess I read that wrong. I thought you meant you tagged along with tour groups that were paying hence why I would be insulted if someone was to follow a group closely. Absolutely nothing wrong with tagging along with other people who are just out there for the ride.
Yeah you are free to do as you wish. Paying for the tour is my point. People who simply watch tour groups and then follow them is where my rant was directed.
-
Nice man!
Enjoyable editing
-
Ok, I'm looking at Black Diamond tours and they have a Niseko off piste and a Niseko back bowl tours. If anybody here has done them, could you chime in with your opinion?
I have seen this done.
A group ready to leave through a gate, someone comes up and says can I join you. The times I've witnessed, the answer has always been yes.
You could do the same and not pay the 16K for guiding through the gates.
The point of paying for ski guiding is to help employ a person who has knowledge and safe awareness of an area. You wouldn't expect to go to a University, sit down, and start getting your degree for free would you?
Personally if anyone asked me to "tag along" next to people paying for the experience I would probably be a bit insulted. I wouldn't mind sharing information on where may be good but to assume someone under my wing that I know nothing about for free...that's just crazy.
Rusutsu Slack Country
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
Posted
Hell yeah Stu looks awesome man!
Seemore best of luck looks like the snow was a bit hit by the sun, but it is usually good. Hopefully I'll run into ya one day there.