Whitebear
SnowJapan Member-
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1 Got that first like!About Whitebear
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10+ posts
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Nationality
Australian
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Living in
Australia
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Niseko Avalanche, 3 missing?
Whitebear replied to norcal's topic in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
Saw that on the news but could not work where it was. They were lucky if that is the case, there were times when the peak was clear this morning but at that time it was windy and dirty weather. -
Christmas Shred
Whitebear replied to Tubby Beaver's topic in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
Jealous!! Sitting in sub tropical heat right now but arriving in Rusutsu in 11days -
SR : HokkaidOH! 2013/14
Whitebear replied to Mike Pow's topic in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
What! No more Elvis opposite the bus stop? There goes pre onsen entree. -
SR : HokkaidOH! 2013/14
Whitebear replied to Mike Pow's topic in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
Great vid. I love the music too. I'm reading your posts with anticipation Mike...arrive Rusutsu 6 jan, than Hirafu. -
niseko Niseko 2013
Whitebear replied to kokodoko's topic in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
I had two weeks in Hokkaido in January, but followed your posts ever since. Many thanks for sharing your runs. -
Hokkaido, Jan , 2013
Whitebear replied to sand's topic in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
Great vid. I remember that day. I did a back country snowcat tour part way between Kutchan and Rusutsu. It was a deep, deep day. -
The gozaimaas experience
Whitebear replied to gozaimaas's topic in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
It's so easy to get disoriented in those conditions. Two mates and I did similar a few years ago off the peak of Isola. Ended up sliding/hiking 18 kms, found a pig farmer who gave us a lift back to the resort. Scared us shitless. Glad your mate is ok. -
Can I ask some advice? I've been ro Niseko, Rusutsu, and Moiwa a lot, but never considered Kiroro. Sounds like it is worth the trip. Do you need a guide or someone who knows the place? Can you just duck into trees and be confident of coming out on a run? Any side country? Is it worth , say, a three or four day stay?
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Agreed, it's an important point. The local patrol puts so much effort into warning and educating the hordes that arrive in Niseko, and we get significant concessions eg the opening of Mizuno no sawa. Note the increasingly strident warnings against rope crossing in the last few weeks in the Nadare notes. I never got a clear view as to whether these two tragic deaths were after riders ducked ropes or went through open gates. Nonetheless, at Niseko I have had side country runs I could not imagine getting elsewhere due to the patrollers' care, and we should respect their advice.