Myoko Now: Tuesday 14th February 2017
- Feb 14, 2017
- 3 min read
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Myoko region of Niigata
New snowfall at base 7cm
Snowfall at base this season 1219cm
Posted on Tuesday 14th February 2017 This is an archived report. The latest Myoko Now report can be found here.
It's a beautiful day out there in Myoko today. Opposite to the usual, it's sunny in the Myoko area, with clouds and what appears to be snowfall to the east and north of here. The kind of day that makes lots of people want to get out and enjoy the powder....
Which brings me to what might be a long posting. The Myoko search and rescue team had to go out again very late in the afternoon - into night, actually. A snowboarder going off the back of the area ended up in the wrong place. Very wrong, like near a river, and unable to climb back up. No gear. Alone. Clothing for a resort, not survival overnight. Luckily, she was found, brought out, uninjured, with all her fingers intact. It so easily could not have been the case.
We have been so concerned in seeing average people - instructors with students, all kinds of people - out in places where, let me put this bluntly, THEY SHOULD NOT BE. When you ski off a groomed run, you are in the backcountry. The same dangers people face high up in the hills are right there just off the runs. The problem is, the typical side/slackcountry skier doesn't have beacon, probe and shovel; doesn't have a map; doesn't have spare gear and clothing good enough to keep them warm overnight; doesn't have water; doesn't have any particular plan. And that puts rescuers into danger as well.
Again, I'll be blunt; our friends from Australia don't think about avalanches or sluffs or cracks or snow you can drown in because these things don't exist down under. These are everyday things here. They're not alone in being out there unprepared, but they are the majority. If I hear one more person say, "I know this slope. It's safe," in almost the same area where a guy was killed by a soft snow avalanche two years ago, I might have to give up my Zen-like, hermit existence as the old man on the hill and engage in some creative head bashing.
Ski people tend to be affluent, educated, not stupid. Powder too often brings out their ignorance, though. I'm sure the person yesterday is a very nice person, just out for fun, and I don't blame her for that. You read SnowJapan; you care about the quality of the snow and the places to ski. You think about your sliding. Help get out the word that it's great to go out there, and that while there are still risks, you must have the basic preparations in place first: gear, knowledge, experience, partners and a plan.
I think that's a big enough rant for this season.... Be safe, please!
Akakura Kanko:
370cm, -7°
Akakura Onsen:
360cm, -5°
Ikenotaira Onsen:
290cm, -5°
Myoko Suginohara:
280cm, -10°
Seki Onsen:
500cm, -7°
Myoko Ski Park:
340cm, -3°
Kyukamura RunRun:
320cm, -5°
Tangram Ski Circus:
270cm, -5° (no new report today)
Madarao Kogen:
320cm, -5°
Myoko Now 2016-2017 season |
Data as of Tuesday 14th February 2017 Total snowfall at base so far 1219cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 48 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 91cm (15th January) November 2016 snowfall 12cm reported on 4 days December 2016 snowfall 345cm reported on 13 days January 2017 snowfall 629cm reported on 21 days February 2017 snowfall 233cm reported on 10 days |
All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Myoko. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report.