HammerBucket 0 Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 Heading to Niseko in early January for a couple of weeks with a few mates. Just wondering if someone could give us some guidance on where to find the best powder using the lifts and doing a bit of hiking? Would you recommend hiring a guide for a couple of days to show us the general routes? Cheers Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 Keep hanging around one of your fellow countrymen Mike Pow would fit the bill he does that kind of thing Link to post Share on other sites
MagSeven 40 Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 Strawberries mate! Link to post Share on other sites
teikiatsulover 6 Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 Blueberries! Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 I like raspberries Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 Not sure, but I don't think there's a Raspberries at Niseko. Link to post Share on other sites
NECK 14 Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 Dungberries. The south facing poop-chutes are golden ;-) 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 Not sure, but I don't think there's a Dungberries at Niseko. Link to post Share on other sites
lastrocker 5 Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 In Hanazono strawberries is über fun, blueberries is same fun but smaller area, anyway both get tracked down after a few laps, so catch the first chair. They're not backcountry btw, i didn't even call em slackcountry, they're pretty much just inbound tree runs. Who cares, they're pure fun rides. For a taste of slack country just go off the gates, you don't need a guide, even if you get the first chair and rush you won't be alone. Gate 4, the peak gate, has some of the best open descent of the resort, same goes for gate 2 in Annupuri. Gate 2 is 5 min walks and you end in a gully which is basically a natural half pipe that reach the lifts base, while gate 4 needs a 15 min walk, then you reach some ridge / gully, at the end there's a groomed road, another 10 minutes hike and you are back on piste, on the way back to the lift base you find blueberries. From gate 2 you can venture in the real Niseko backcountry, the north face has freshies pretty much guaranteed cause not that many people go there, still you probably won't be alone. that run is one of my favourite, the exit is long and almost flat tho, sometimes is a pain in the ass if you are a boarder and it's fresh and/or you didn't wax properly. If it's your first time in that area don't venture alone. Or you can ride the other side and hike back, but you need snowshoes and a car/taxi parked in the right area. Definitely do it with a guide Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 Just look for the insanely long lines of people heading 'off the beaten track'. Link to post Share on other sites
gozaimaas 61 Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 lol^^ Link to post Share on other sites
NECK 14 Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 Just look for the insanely long lines of people heading 'off the beaten track'. Haha. That would be the one. Link to post Share on other sites
gvm3373 4 Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 Lemmings. Link to post Share on other sites
sanjo 2 Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 Back on track... is there a particular reason for the name Strawberries? Link to post Share on other sites
Slippery Jim 65 Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 Lennon worship -- it's ackshully Strawberry Fields Link to post Share on other sites
Method 0 Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 The best backcountry, by definition, is not accessible by lifts! Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 And.... you need to be naked. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
sevenbeers 1 Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 A tip is to read the daily avalanche reports (they are posted all over the resorts) as they tell you when specific gates are going to open. For example (from 26 February 2013): Gate 2 & 3 are scheduled to open at 10:30am. Beware!! Avalanche hazard remains high in open steep slopes with large vertical drop; namely the Backbowl sidewalls and other similar condition slopes. These slopes should remain untouched today. DO NOT traverse across or wait at the bottom of those slopes. Avalanche strikes you from behind.The snow in the tree is stable and in very good condition. Better not overestimate your gears and skills. Think safety first. Rider/skier’s wisdom is always being tested in the out of bounds area. There will be a queue at 10.30am but it is worth it. As for a guide, if is your or your group's first time, it is worth every penny even though it can be quite expensive. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 And for your info you can find those reports on the Niseko Now pages on this site. Link to post Share on other sites
kokodoko 67 Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 And.... you need to be naked. the only way to get the gondola to yourself! Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 And.... you need to be naked. the only way to get the gondola to yourself! that or take slagfart Link to post Share on other sites
kokodoko 67 Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 whatever happened to slagfart. ??? Link to post Share on other sites
teikiatsulover 6 Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Who farted? Link to post Share on other sites
kokodoko 67 Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 fat slags Link to post Share on other sites
seemore 66 Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 whatever happened to slagfart. ??? Some one shot him for posting so much crap video on youtube Link to post Share on other sites
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