unclewilli 0 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Me and some friends are planning a trip to Hokkaido in January 2011. Kurodake looks pretty sweet, but I noticed that it is often closed for part January. Does anyone know when and if this will this season? Also if anyone wants to pass on some other must shred spots on Hokkaido. So far we are looking at Niseko, Asahidake, and maybe Furano. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted October 11, 2010 Share Posted October 11, 2010 Last year the winter operating dates were Opening/Closing dates:09/10 DATES. Nov. 6 (snow permitting) to Jan. 6 Closed from Jan. 6 - 21 Ropeway from Jan. 22 - end Double chair from Mar. 1 - end Probably something similar this season. Kurodake is a great ski area but I would really advise having a guide. The ski down to the village from the top of the ropeway area can lead you into some pretty dangerous terrain if you're not careful. Climbing to the peak at Kurodake would give you over 1,300m vertical back down to Sounkyo. You would definitely be advised to have a guide and full avi equipment though. Asahidake is open right through Jan. Link to post Share on other sites
big flowery blouse 0 Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 Why does it close mid-season? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 Probably they just don't get enough people up there to justify keeping it running at that time. January is incredibly cold up that way. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 Can't remember where I read it, but I was lead to believe it was due to too much snow. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted October 13, 2010 Share Posted October 13, 2010 You can never really have too much snow! Just too costly probably to keep things running with too few people venturing up there in the depths of Jan. Link to post Share on other sites
unclewilli 0 Posted October 13, 2010 Author Share Posted October 13, 2010 Thanks Native, we do plan on bringing all our avi gear, and will consider doing a guided tour. I guess if we want to hit it up we'll have to go there first. Is Kurodake worth the trouble or should we make our priorities to go elsewhere? Such as Asahidake. We are all experienced snowboarders and want to experience the best Hokkaido has to offer. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted October 13, 2010 Share Posted October 13, 2010 Kurodake does have some amazing terrain but you really need to be with someone who knows the safe ways down. Some friends of mine last season got a little lost and ended up spending the whole night out in nothing but the gear they had on. Wasn't overly comfortable for them. A good place maybe for a day with a guide. Asahidake can be negotiated a lot easier and safer. Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted October 13, 2010 Share Posted October 13, 2010 Never been up there. Really want to. You get round those parts much Go Native? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted October 13, 2010 Share Posted October 13, 2010 Only once or twice a winter. Some Niseko based guys bought a lodge in Sounkyo, right at the base of the ropeway, a couple or years ago. A pretty big group of us head up there each year now for the opening weekend. I'll be heading up again this year. Probably only a month to go! Link to post Share on other sites
cam99 0 Posted October 17, 2010 Share Posted October 17, 2010 Is it worth heading over to Kurodake if you arn't going to be full on with the avi gear and a guide? Can you just take the gondola down again instead of riding the bottom of the mountain, and use the chairlift at the top of the gondola? Or would Kamui Ski Links be better? Thanks Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted October 17, 2010 Share Posted October 17, 2010 The chairlift above the ropeway really doesn't allow access to anything all that fun, just a few pretty lame piste runs. If you're not going to be heading off-piste it's not worth it. Link to post Share on other sites
MagSeven 40 Posted November 8, 2010 Share Posted November 8, 2010 Bumping this thread, hope thats ok. Did Kurodake open this weekend? Or does anyone know when it will? Planning to head up there in a couple of weeks. Link to post Share on other sites
Nisoko 6 Posted November 8, 2010 Share Posted November 8, 2010 They were hoping for Friday ---- but not enough snow yet. Link to post Share on other sites
MagSeven 40 Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 Made it up to Kurodake for some skiing on Sunday, and it was suggested on another thread that I should post some pics - so here we go! The sun was out first thing in the morning, and there was a dusting of fresh snow ontop of a decent base. We were gonna take a few runs under the chairlift as it was our first day this winter, and then think about hiking up for an explore. The wind really started to pick up though, and clouds came in, so we ended up just jibbing around on the sides of the trails, until the chair closed early afternoon because the wind was too strong. Not the best day ever, but at least we got some skiing in. The Mrs, early in the day, in bright sunshine A dusting of fresh snow Me messing about Cloud coming in and wind picking up, eventually closing the lift Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 178 Posted December 8, 2010 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted December 8, 2010 MagSeven Here's a simple guide as to how to upload photos to the site and display correctly: http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/389415/GUIDE_Uploading_photos_to_Snow.html If you need any help just let us know. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites
MagSeven 40 Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 Fail. Sorry. Hopefully this'll work. Text is above, but pics should be below! Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 Snow! Thanks for the pics MagSeven, good to see new places. Keep them coming! Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted December 8, 2010 Share Posted December 8, 2010 Nice! Blue skies and fresh snow. Link to post Share on other sites
yamabushi 3 Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 I'm researching a trip to Asahidake and Kurodake for early March. I'm thinking something like this: day 1 - Asahidake day 2 - hike over to kurodake (about 7 miles, 750m elevation gain) day 3 - Kurodake I would like to find a guide for Asahidake and for Kurodake (don't care to squander half a day digging myself out of a valley because I didn't know better). I'm sure I can handle the hiking trip between asahi and kuro on my own. Any info on travel, accommodations, and guides would be welcome. I would be coming from Misawa, Aomori. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted December 10, 2010 Share Posted December 10, 2010 There's a couple of good guiding services up that way. Don't underestimate the trip between the two peaks though. It's not a long way but it is all well above treeline with lots of little ravines and a whole lot of volcanic features that can turn you round a bit if it's whiteout conditions. You'd want to be very confident with following a bearing or have a GPS. It's very exposed up top there. I wouldn't attempt it unless visibility is reasonably good. Link to post Share on other sites
yamabushi 3 Posted December 11, 2010 Share Posted December 11, 2010 For the crossing I don't plan on stepping out of my comfort zone. I have been studying the topo maps and the trip, from the top of the gondola on the asahidake side to the top of kurodake is about 6.5 miles, 750m total elevation. This is a nice half a day of work. I already have the summit of Asahidake as my bail-out mark. If the weather has that 'I want to kill you' look to it, I'll turn around and enjoy another snowboarding day at asahidake before grabbing a bus to the other resort. I have experienced being on my hands and knees crawling against gale force winds on mountains. I try to avoid that if I can help it If you know of guides or tour companies that could put this package together, could you please send me their info? Link to post Share on other sites
SnowJapan Admin SnowJapan 178 Posted December 11, 2010 SnowJapan Admin Share Posted December 11, 2010 If you don't have PMs working feel free to email me and I will send on. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts