Method

"Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain" by Bruce Tremper is what most people consider the "bible". http://www.amazon.co...r/dp/1594850844 It's worth having a look on the web too as there's some fantastic online avalanche resources e.g. http://www.avalanche...g/online-course http://www.avalanche.net.nz/education/Online-Avalanche-Course/Intro.asp http://utahavalanchecenter.org/tutorials

2m is a massive crown, hence why the avalanche was a size 3, that's massive. In most cases, not survivable even if someone was able to dig you out swiftly. A tragic situation and my heart goes out to the families of those involved. Fantastic that the JAN gave us an english translation (thank you JAN ), it's my one wish that we could get a region-by-region daily summary (using the North American avalanche public danger scale i.e. low, moderate, considerable, high, extreme) with a short précis of current conditions (primary and secondary problems e.g. Loose Dry, Wind Slabs, Persistent Slabs

Yes we hiked up. You are all over that, like a fat kid on a cupcake! Nice one magseven

I don't know where that even is, so no! Sorry.

It might be a bit obscure, but here goes...

Looks like the crazy single chair at seki Onsen

Just based on that short video I would say the following... I treat a snowpack like I'd treat a random nutcase that approaches me with a knife in the street I.e. until i know I can trust you, I'm going to treat you like you could kill me. - an early season snowpack is a thin snowpack - a thin snowpack is a dangerous snowpack, possibly some dangerous facets lurking (with fresh snow on top) - there'd clearly been fresh snow with wind-loading. - that aspect had obviously had some solar warming. - looked like some nasty terrain traps. It's certainly got a lot of red flags about it.

No, it's just a small wind lip.

Yeah works for me, shut 'em all down I say. The walk will set you free.

Seki Onsen

Predominantly locals, you won't be the only gaijin though, I'd try and go mid-week (like anywhere really). There's a nice side country gate skiers left of the top chair.

Leave it closed (chise) I say, makes a nice gladed powder stash for those who don't mind earning their turns, a little flat though particularly for us snowboarders.

Clutching at straws, but maybe that joint with the buddha on the drive between furano and asahikawa?

Minami Furano?

The best backcountry, by definition, is not accessible by lifts!

+1

Not if you are searching and then get buried yourself! That's why they're designed like that. Of course, you can disable this feature if you like. I can tell you that I won't be!

Not "dissing" the summer hikers, but I was hoping for more "winter" oriented i.e. ski/splitboard touring info.

I'd be interested in hearing anyone's take on the pros and cons of different routes up (and down) Yotei San. I've never made the peak, but I've gone as far as the alpine (bluebird when we started, puking when we got to tree-line ) starting from the the makkari side. The other approaches I've heard of are from Hangetsu-ko on the Hirafu side. I'm guessing you could also start from somewhere just north of Kimobetsu too. I guess it's all a matter of knowing which plowed roads give the closest approach. I've also heard of people doing the "double car" where you position one car at a differe

No problem with snowfall and also no grooming at a place across the valley from furano starting with "furano" and ending in "dake"

Panhead Pete, Fair enough, it starts g etting $$$ when you buy beacons etc, you can always hire them from rhythm or somewhere similar . Gozaimaas, I guess we will have to agree to disagree! I did shiribetsudake 2 days last week on my split and I did it last year on snowshoes, I know which one I prefer!

Nonononono, don't do it!!!! When you do buy a splitboard, your snowshoes will gather dust at the back of cupboard. Skinning is so much more efficient than "slo-shoeing", I've been out heaps of times with snowshoers and they are always huffing and puffing at the back of the pack whilst the skiers/splitboarders are setting the pace out front. As a former snowshoer, I have seen the light and will NEVER go back. I respectfully disagree with gozaimaas, splitboards have great float when skinning in pow and you don't have the weight on your back and the board whacking trees or getting you

Ah yeah somewhere like Japan, where the snow gets into every single crack and pocket, yes. I replace the strips every now and then as they get "caked" on to your pole after a while and are useless.

Duct tape has a million uses in the backcountry... Basically temporary repair on any gear e.g. Torn seam on a jacket or glove Rather than carry around a whole roll, I just roll a few 30-40 cm lengths around my ski pole and shovel handle.

On a backcountry day, Splitboard, skins, poles obviously! If it's possibly going to be icy (e.g. Yotei) then ski crampons. Avy gear i.e. brain, beacon, probe and shovel. Emergency bivvy, basically a small silver foil type sheet bag (folds up to the size of an iPad mini) Small first aid kit, incl thumb/finger splints. Numerous length voile ski straps Lightweight down jacket Balaclava Headlamp Board / ski tool + leatherman/ Swiss army knife Water / food At the beginning of the season I put 3 short sections of gaffer/duct tape on each ski pole and sh