CnnmnSchnpps

I've only been doing the weekend pilgrimage to Niigata for three years now, but on the Joshinetsu/Kanetsu it seems they always check tires if the chain kisei sign is out. Typically the actual restriction starts a couple dozen k's before the real snow.. But I guess especially up there you can be driving on a bone dry road then go through a single tunnel and end up in a whiteout -edit- And yes, closing down the expressways is just silly, you force people onto smaller and possibly less passable local roads instead. Just clean em as best you can and hope for the best...

I have no personal experience with the smaller pack, but the 36L version is not at all bulky assuming I don't stuff a ton of gear in there. With just skins, couteaux, random bits and bobs and a water bottle the weight is hardly noticeable on my back as long as I cinch down the hip belt, shoulder straps, and risers properly (think, hiking pack). The shape of the pack is tall and thin, meaning it's not too bad sitting on a lift and the weight stays close to your body to avoid adding too much rotational inertia. There is a bit of wasted space in the "engine compartment" around the canister an

There's actually no link to the map from the nadare.info page.. However it is on the main resort page - for reference: http://www.niseko.ne.jp/rules/11-12Niseko_Rule_JPEN.pdf Also posted in the bathrooms of Annapuri Gondola, lol.. Cheers -D

Just in case anyone else is interested in getting one of these, I ended up going with the BCA FLoat 36 bag. The fact that they are sold locally in Japan and already have a small network of refill stations was probably the biggest factor in going with this bag, but it's a great bag in its own right. Plenty of space and quite light as long as I don't stuff it full of gear. http://www.wildsnow....oat36-18-revie/ No issues flying with it (empty) on JAL from Haneda to Chitose and back. Once at Niseko I sent the tank via Takkyubin to get it filled at the refill shop in Sapporo. You should be abl

A couple of short vids so far this season... Leaving for Niseko tomorrow, should have alot more stuff to post. Cheers! -D

Pretty much everything except Niseko VIllage has great terrain and BC access gates. Strawberry Fields is nice and mild, L gate is great. The peak gates are sick just don't drop off the wrong side of the mountain, me and my friends spend 3 hours walking back the long way round last year. Not to hijack the thread, but another Niseko question - the avvy reports have coordinates mentioned, is this from any official map? Tried searching online to no avail.. Cheers -D

Totally! It's not going to be the silver bullet like in Europe where most people ride the alpine - US and JPN alot of the riding is in the trees - but it's still going to help a ton. If I did it over again, with limited resources, I would buy the airbag first. Just wish it wasn't such a ripoff. 115,000 JPY for a bag that retails for 785 USD in the states. Oh and in the states the tank comes full, but not here so you have to pay another 4000 JPY for a charge.

Agreed, you have to have all the other basic gear as well. Although there's a good argument that the airbag should be your first gear purchase, not the last, since statistically you have much better chances of surviving if you don't get buried vs having to wait to be dug up. Of course if you want to rescue anyone else, you still nead the other gear. The rental question was for taking someone who doesn't have their own gear yet. The BCA bag is actually quite nice, I think.. The Snowpulse is a little lighter thought, and the airbag portion is detachable to move it around between packs.

Thanks, very good info! I don't think the tanks have the KHK stamp at all since it would be a US model. May end up going with a BCA bag instead cos they are distributed locally and are supposed to have their shit figured out. Cheers -D

Hey all, Anyone know of a place around Niseko that can fill a Snowpulse airbag? Have all the adapters so a scuba shop should be able to do it, but the closest I've been able to find online is all the way in Sapporo Also, any recommendations for a place to rent beacon/shovel/probe in Niseko? Cheers! -Dmitri