SnowConnection
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I believe this web news site form SBC Shinetsu Housou is good one for learning Japanese language. Note that Japanese language PC is required for reading articles.
http://sbc21.co.jp/my-cgi/sbc_news.cgi?page=top
The TV announcers speak 98-100% the same texts which are written in the article. The announcers do not speak titles. Sometimes, the starting few words are different. Requring reading Japanese Kanji characters may be harder for beginners.
SBC reports local news in Nagano and Niigata prefectures which all country news stations do not cover. It is fun to see/listen local news.
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Three bodies were found near to the top of Korenge-yama apx. 3Km NE from Shirouma-dake on April 7 around noon by a climber. There were a tent and skis. They seems to be the missing three.
http://sbc21.co.jp/my-cgi/sbc_news.cgi?page=seventop&date=20060407&id=0106394&action=details
Map:
http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=36.44.47.08....x=277&CE.y=145
Edit: The victims were the missing three men. Hypothermia. Two fell in snow.
http://sbc21.co.jp/my-cgi/sbc_news.cgi?page=seventop&date=20060408&id=0106408&action=details
Comment:
Korenge-yama is a small peak in the middle of a moderate slope ridge between Shirouma-dake and Hakuba-Norikura-dake. They might want to reach to a hut near to Hakuba-Norikura-dake. If they had decided to be back to a hut(closed, but may help wind shield) just above Hakuba Dai-Sekkei when at the top of Shirouma-dake, they could save their lives....
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Three men (ages of 32, 47 and 56 from Tokyo & Chiba) have been missing in mountain of Shirouma-dake, Nagano.
http://sbc21.co.jp/my-cgi/sbc_news.cgi?page=seventop&date=20060406&id=0106352&action=details
They entered with skis in the mountain on April 1st with plan of returning on April 2nd. They did not return by April 3rd. The club they belonged asked research to the local police on April 4th. Rescue started from 8:00am on April 5th, then the rescue team did not find them. They saw one kilo meters avalance debris with 10 meters wide at Hakuba Dai-Sekkei where they were supposed to have tented on April 1st night. The search was on April 6th with 15 rescue members, a heli, and an avalanche dog, which did not get any fruit. The search activity was withdrawn on the evening of April 6th.
Comment:
Hakuba Dai-Sekkei is a popular trecking course in summer season.
http://www.vill.hakuba.nagano.jp/green/walk/daisekkei.html
People enjoy spring skiing/snowboarding on around Golden Week (April end thru May end) when getting the snow condition be stable. The narrow valley has big avalanche risks untill mid-April. It's so dangerous to have camping in the valley even in April end. Yahoo! Map:
http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=36.44.47.08...7%f2%c7%cf&sc=5
Edit: Shirouma-dake(official) is also called Hakuba-dake.
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I, as a native Japanese, have the same idea of number9.
Some tell what American fishing boats did in mid 19th century.
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/inlet/jomonjin/whaling.html
Now, most Japanese have concern on the big "eaters" who may give damage on other fish resorces...
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Hey, I saw a news this morning.
> Hakuba 47 may change its resort name to Hakuba 57.
> Daro Johdan, the sales mgr said "We will make a big prom this June 'RAINY' season so that
> we may call us Hakuba 57 which provide enjoyable services thuru 5 seasons every 7 day."
> (April 1st, 2006 - USO shinbun)
Hakuba 57 might be correct.....
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The web magazine is really cool. Features intersted me though I don't want to break my body. I love the last session of Helly Hansor rail jam video. Thanks,
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Miroku-Yama-no-Kai posted the 1st report on their home page.
http://homepage2.nifty.com/mirokuyamanokai/06-3sounanziko-2.htm
My comment had a guess wrongly, sorry.
The report says;
Their planned route was from Tsuchitaru to Sennokura-yama to Mantaro-yama retuning to Tsuchitaru.
On Mar 18, they started Tsuchitaru at 10:30 and tented on a north ridge of Sennokura-yama at 14:00. A little snow and weak wind at that night.
On Mar 19, it was cloudy and weak wind when leaving the tent at 06:45. The destination was a north ridge of Mantaro-yama thru Sennokura-yama. It got strong wind and thick fog from 11:50 on the way to Sennokura-yama. They used a GPS sometimes. Then they realized two women were missing on 1,750m point before reaching the top of Sennokura-yama (2,026m). The time was 12:30. They began seaching, but did not find them, and decided to camp there at that night. The wind was so strong to break tent poles.
On Mar 20, they found a body at 7:30 around 100m above their camping site after one hour and half search works.
My comment:
This route is a "harder" one for mountainers. (This is not for BC skiers.) I guess it would be very tough of March 19 plan. They had to make the plan cos the route has less(no?) trees covered by icy snow. So far, I am very surprised these two experienced mountaineers lost their lives at the situation reported.
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There are much debate about the why. I would say snowboarders have disadvantage in climbing phase, at this point. Snowshoes are no good sometimes at traversing on steeper icy terrains. Crampons has been still limited for snowboad boots. When I stayed at a Canadian mountain hut, the guide told he accepted split snowboards, but did not welcome cos the climbing speed is slower. I know snowboarding may compete to AT/tele skiing in mountain climbing when snowboard gears are improved.
Snowboading might be better in descending phase. It is no problem to enjoy backcountry snowboarding when getting snowcat or heli lifting services.
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Most people say snowboarding is easier.
If you are interested in backcountry snowing, I would advise to pick up skiing.
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The same in Japanese written "スキーバム". But, it has been a jargon among Japan ski industry and enthuasists. I would explain to people that skibums are "SKI-Kyou" or "SKI-Kichigai" (mean ski crazy) though the Japanese words give somewhat another feelings. Whum... Ski-Kyo/Kichigai do not always gain living money from ski industry, while skibums mostly gain it from ski industry. Skibum is skibum.
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Temporary doc for you.
http://www.geocities.jp/snownihon/Temp/TempHakubaResort.htm
A problem is local tranportation. The shuttle busses are free, but each bus services only each accomodation area. So far, three of Goryu, 47 and Happo are close in distance. Iwatake is some close to Happo. You may see access problem for Tsugaike when staying at Happo/Goryu/47/Misorano region. There are JR trains which run few times a day. Taxi is expensive. You are happy if you have a car or rent-a-car when visting Tsugaike, Sun-Alpina and Cortina.
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One who does not have "Japan Nationality" can not apply to the test for Japan goverment police officer.
http://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.jp/saiyou/keisatsu/keisatu.htm
※ 次のいずれかに該当する人は、受験できません（ 505;用試験申込書裏面に記載してあります。）
○ 日本の国籍を有しない人
○ 地方公務員法第16条に規定する欠格条項に該当 2377;る人
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This was tradegy of mountaineers (not BC skiers).
I post the record cos the location is near to Naeba/Kagura, Niigata.
http://www.mainichi-msn.co.jp/shakai/jiken/news/20060322k0000m040066000c.html
Two women(54 and 62) were killed by hypothemia at Sennokura-yama(2,026m),
Niigata on 2006 Mar 20. The party had another four men(60, 63, 63, and 58)
and two women(56 and 60), who were rescured without injuries.
They started climing on Mar 18, and approached to top of Sennokura-yama at
around noon on Mar 19. (I guess they stayed at tents on Mar 18 night.)
It was windy and snowy. Then, the party realized two women were missing,
started to search them, but did not. They spent for the night at tents there,
and found the bodies apart from 50 meters on March 20 morning. One was
in her sleeping bug. Heli resucued them on Mar 21 morning.
Map:(The center is Sen-no-kura-yama.)
http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=36.48.51.52...1%d2%bb%b3&sc=5
Comment:
In Tanigawa range, Sennokura-yama is not a difficult one in summer. Many people enjoy round treckigns from Motohashi to Tairapyo-san to Sennokura-yama in summer. Also, a round trip from Motohashi to Tairapyo-san is a popular BC ski route. There is no trees around the top of Tairapyo-san, and the ridge to Sennokura-yama. I've enjoyed comfortable BC skiing among tree lines of Tairapyo-san in March, but never been to Sennokura-yama which has all icy & frozen.
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This was tradegy of a mountaineer (not a BC skier).
I post the record cos the location is near to Happo, Hakuba.
http://www.mainichi-msn.co.jp/today/news/20060315k0000e040029000c.html
An experienced mountaineer (53) was killed by hypothemia
at 2,500m height of Karamatsu-dake, Nagano on 2006 Mar 14.
He guided two men(69 and 67) and woman(58) who injured
frostbites. They started climbing on Mar 11. They had to
strand in a snow cave by bad weather after standing on top (2,690m)
of the mountain on Mar 12. They called resucue on Mar 13
morning by cellphone. Heli can not operate on Mar 13 and 14
by bad weather. Heli carried out them at 8:00 am on Mar 15.
Map: The center is Karamatsu-dake
http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=36.41.03.106&el=137.45.28.202&la=1&fi=1&skey=%c5%e2%be%be%b3%d9&sc=6
Comment:
I stayed at Otari Onsen (near to Hakuba) on Mar 11-12. Mar 11 was a really fine day when I enjoyed BC skiing at Ohnagi-yama. The weather was getting worse after Mar 11 night. It was heavy rain around 3:00 am Mar 12, and rainy/snowy in the morning. When I drove my car in front of Hakuba station at 15:00 Mar 12, it was strong wind with snow frake.
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Thanks RockyV, This is good! I realized that "志賀高原" hit this web site, but "志賀高原スキー場" hit another J-only poor web site.
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Don't forget Shigakogen ski resort in Nagano. It is the biggest one in Japan. I can not find a good "consolidated" guide in web site even for Japanese. Probably, it consists of many smaller ski resorts. You can see it has 21 ski resorts in this Japanese version map.
http://www.e-kassets.com/gelandeguide/map_big/01shigakougen-big.jpg
- Oku-Shiga-Kogen is for skiers only.
- Kita-Shiga / Ryuo is another ski resort.
- Gorin-Kogen is an isolated ski resort.
- Giant connects to Hasuike with a ski trail.
It is a big big ski resort. I used to stay at Sun-Valley or Marunuma/Hasuike (a bottom location). Early morning, I went up to each top location by gondoras/lifts, and ski down to the lodge spending a whole day. It was a long time run each.
This a Yahoo! map of Sun-Valley. You see Marunuma/Hasuike moving to the right side.
http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=36.42.47.99....x=246&CE.y=242
The 21 ski resorts are SunValley, MaruNuma, HasuIke, Giant, Hoppo-BunaDaira, HigashiTateyama, NishiTateyama, Terakoya, Takamagahara-Manmmoth, TanNeNoMori-Okojo, IchiNose-Family, IchiNose-Diamond, IchiNose-YamaNoKami, YakeBitaiYama, OkuShigaKogen, KidoIke, KasaTake, KumaNoYu, MaeYama, YokoteYama, and ShibuToge.
All are connected with snow trails.
In this Yahoo! map, you see many ski resort marks, from Sunvalley(Center) to OkuShigaKogen(Top-Rightmost) and ShibuToge(Bottom-Rightmost). This is the whole ShigaKogen resort.
http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=36.42.48.55...9%e2%b8%b6&sc=5
Transportaion:
I think it would be hard to reach a ShigaKogen lodge from Narita airport within a day. If you want to save money, you stay at a so-called business hotel of Tokyo for a night, and take Shinkan-sen for Nagano & bus for ShigaKogen tomorrow. If you have enough days and money, I "strongly" recommend to go to JR Yudanaka station from Narita airport and stay at a Yudanaka Onsen Inn on the 1st day, and enjoy Onsen (untill 3:00pm around) at Yudanaka and go to a ShigaKogen ski lodge by a later bus from Yudanaka on the 2nd day.
Yudanaka Onsen
http://www.avis.ne.jp/~yudanaka/
Shibu Onsen
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> Why would they only allow sightseeing during April 10-17?
I guess;
Cos skiers/snowboarders may hit people walking with sneakers on snow and break good cameramen's tripods.
Cos camping would makes city visitors imagine homeless people. (laugh)
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Some ski areas in Tohoku are going to close;
http://www.kahoku.co.jp/news/2006/03/20060316t13041.htm
Photo: Izumigatake ski jyo on Mar 7.
Izumigatake ski jyo is a smaller one, 45 min car ride from Sendai city, was closed on Mar 7, though it had a good start on Dec 7 with much snow. It had snow but less pile by strong wind in Jan & Feb. It has had around 10C degree days entering in March.
Miyagi Zao Eboshi ski jyo opened "all" tracks in Dec with cheers, but did not have big snow thereafter, then stopped the night skiing service after Mar 6 against expected Mar 19.
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Ausies come to Furano and Asahikawa ?
http://www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/Php/kiji.php3?&d=20060316&j=0043&k=200603162063
A council of promoting Ausie toursits for Furano/Asahikawa invited two Ausie journalists. The council plans to promote sightseeing tours combined with snow packages. Kate Gibbs(29) and David Horbenden(35) visited Asahikawa zoo and Sake makers on March 14, and Kamui Link ski resort on March 15. They said the lift was not crowded than Aus. They will go to Furano ski resort and Tokachi Onsen, and will be back on March 20. They will make their trip reports on two Ausie magazines. Viva! Ausies.
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Refer to; http://www.alpen-route.com/topics.html#20060308
April 10 opens btwn Dentetsu-Toyama and Midagahara.
April 10 opens btwn Shinano-Ohmachi and Murodo.
April 17 opens btwn Dentetsu-Toyama and Shinano-Ohmachi (all Tateyama Kurobe Alpine route).
During April 10 thru 16, only walkings and sightseeings are allowed. (No skiing, no snowboarding or no camping.)
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Please consult Okushiga Kogen Hotel: 81-269-34-2034, at first.
The last bus for Okushiga Kogen leaves at 18:10 from Nagano sta, but it leaves at 20:00 on the days of March 3/10/17/24/31. See;
http://www.nagadenbus.co.jp/kosoku/kyu_tei/kyuko2005-2006.htm
When you want to pick up a taxi, you change trains at Nagano sta to Nagano Dentestu line for Yudanaka sta. (e.g. Nagano Lv.18:46 to Yudanaka Ar.19:38 with 1,130 yen) You can pick up a taxi at Yudanaka sta. The fare is apx.10,000 yen from Yudanaka to Okushiga Kogen Hotel. It requires add'l taxi fare after 22:00.
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I suppose Shiga-Kogen ski resorts is the biggest in terms of numbers/long of groomed tracks in Honshu area. I do not know about parks.
Hakuba has good access and many English speaking accomodations. Goryu and Hakuba47 are connected with a lift station. Happo-O'ne is next to Goryu & Hakuba47(not connecting with any lift), and a somewhat bigger than Goryu. Tsugaike-Kogen is some far (15Km?) from Hakuba JR station, which has another lift ticket account to Goryu, Hakuba47 & Happo-O'ne. It is around the same size of Happo-O'ne, though Happo-O'ne is the biggest. Either Iwatake or Sun-Alpina is smaller.
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2006 Mt.Sumon("守門岳") BC tour was released.
You may see big cornices when it is fine weather.
http://homepage2.nifty.com/tochio-ski/tour/tour.htm
Day Excursion (Start: 6:00am)
#1 Mar.19(Sun) Skiing/Snowboading
#2 Mar.26(Sun) Skiing/Snowboading
#3 Apr.02(Sun) Trecking (Snowshoes)
#4 Apr.09(Sun) Trecking (Snowshoes)
Cost: 3,000 yen (Guide only), 11,000 yen (Guide with one night bed & 3 meals)
Reservation is required.
For the details: http://homepage2.nifty.com/tochio-ski/tour/image/sumon_tour.pdf
Map: http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=37.23.40.79...c%e7%b3%d9&sc=8
I've not been. I believe no English speaking support.
Three missing in Shirouma-dake
in Snow talk, trip reports, Japan avalanche & backcountry
Posted
I imagine they persisted in pitching their tent at Korenge-yama (as planned?) on Aprl 1st PM. If they had expected the cold/strong wind of the night, they would go forward to Hakuba-O-Ike within the day. They must exhaused their all energy for fighting the strong wind and the low temprature at April 1st night. They had had no energy to get up on the 2nd day, I magine. They might ask any help with a local person on April 2 morning if they had any wireless radio. (I do not know if any cellphone can communicate at Korenge-yama, or if they had any wireless radio.)