Hornster

Thanks very much for the information. I was just curious because when I was out in Niseko last season for a week I didn't see, hear or know of any avalanches. I did think that the very top of the mountain at Higashiyama and Annapuri looked like the ideal type of slope for avalanches if the conditions were right.

I read a few of your posts and none of them had a please in them. A little hypocritical don't you think? Are you also the guardian of this forum then? For the record to everyone else, please and thank you in advance.

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How often does it avalanche in Niseko and where are the most prone slopes?

I can only vouch for Niseko and judging from the many awesome days skiing that I have enjoyed in Niseko I can only say that if you choose Niseko then you can look forward to some really great off-piste powder and some equally good pisted terrain where high speed turns are the order of the day. Niseko all the way for me!!

A hotel where you can ski right into your hotel is always good! There are a few like that in Niseko.

You are not wrong there! Even a "bad" season in Japan is ALWAYS better than most other European resorts.

I agree. The 08/09 season is at the very least going to be better than the 07/08 season... here's to hoping!!!!

It doesn't matter how many times I seen snow, that first dusting of snow each year is always a very exciting time because it means that it won't be too long before the ski's come down from the loft and the wax scraped off them in preparation for the new ski season!!

You can be glad that at least you guys had a summer. here in the UK we had about one week and that was it!!

Motherhucker, As per my previous post I have met and spoken to Joe about his epic ordeal and also spoken to Simon whom I met whilst climbing with a guy who knew him. You are correct in that any climber with even basic ropework skills could have securely anchored Joe to the mountain while Simon abseiled down to check what was taking Joe so long to descend etc. However, the severe storm that they were trying desperately to descend in was horrific and they were both physically and mentally exhausted from both the climb and from exposure and they absolutely had to get off that mountain that n

What dates will you be in Japan and will you be in Niseko? I will be there for the first week of February 2009.

As a passionate and keen mountaineer myself I have seen the movie read the book along with countless other similar mountaineering epic stories of tragedy and survival. I was also fortunate enough to have met Joe Simpson in person at the premier of the movie, Touching The Void. Joe is well known and well respected within the UK mountaineering circles and a really great guy as well.

I will be in Niseko for the first week of February but thanks for the offer anyway.

Sounds like a plan Mamabear. Thanks.

My wife and I ski at different levels and she tends to spend her week skiing in a ski school whereas i'm more advanced (not an expert though!) and like to do my own thing. This usually means that I end up spending the week skiing by myself. Surely there must be other skiers in the same situation as me? I don't suppose that there are any forums looking for skiing buddies whilst in Niseko is there?

Spent an awesome week in Niseko in the first week of February this year for the first time and thought that the place had it all. The powder was plenty and the queues were minimal which is always a good combination. I am looking at spending another week in Niseko in the second half of February next year but wanted to check with any locals who check these forums if I can expect similar snow conditions at that time of the year? Please and thank you.

We are also arriving next week Thursday. How many in your group and where are you staying? I take it that you are also travelling with Inghams? Here's to awesome powder sliding!

Thanks to both of you for the usefull information. Just over a week left before I to will be experiencing the joys of Niseko Powder! PS: by inbounds I mean ski patrolled and within the ropes. It sounds strange for me to say that as we don't get that here in Europe. It is either on-piste (groomed and patrolled) or off-piste (ungroomed and not patrolled). Thanks again.

I touched on this topic a bit in a previous post, "Niseko Avalanches", but what I would like to know is where is the best inbounds powder to be found in Niseko? Are they spread all over Hirafu, Higashiyama and Annupuri or more concentrated - are the Miharashi and Rinkan Forests inbounds and are there any bowls inbounds?? Or, is it best to go out of bounds for the best powder? This will be my first trip to Niseko after having heard and read so much about the awesome powder conditions.

Cheers for the feedback everyone. As it happens I really like japanese food so i think that I should be sampling the best that Niseko has to offer during my stay. Thanks for the heads-up regarding the best times to avoid the queues.

With this being my first trip to Niseko I would appreciate any advice about where the restaurants are on the mountain and what is the best time to avoid the crowds trying to get a table all at the same time. Please and thank you.

I appreciate your clarification of inbounds and off-piste.

Yes, that is correct. This will be my first trip to Niseko but that doesn't mean that I can't like the fact that you can ski powder in an inbounds/on-piste environment.

I buckle up every time I get in the car and I ALWAYS carry my avie gear with me if I know that I am going off-piste. What I like about Niseko (apart from fantastic powder) is that there is plenty powder runs to be found inbounds without having to worry about the hazards involved with off-piste skiing.