Backcountry Skiing & Avalanche Course
December to March in Japan
Multi-day backcountry tours across Hokkaido, Japan
including:
the mountains of the Niseko area, yotei san, shiribetsu-dake, and yoichi-dake
Asahikawa area: daisetsuzan Range and others
Tokachi-dake area: Furano-dake, tokachi-dake, and others
Chasing the PoW across Hokkaido! From the mountains of the Niseko Range into Hokkaido’s storied Powder Belt, we will ski iconic locations such as Asahi-dake, Furano-dake, Yotei-san, and a few off the beaten track. Check out this video!
Backcountry skiing based out of Niseko, Japan
the mountains of the Niseko Range: Yotei-san to Iwanai-dake
Shiribetsu-dake and Yoichi-dake
Where we go will depend on what you would like to achieve, snow conditions and how much climbing up to ski down you want to do. For example, a Yotei day, when the weather conditions permit an ascent to the crater, requires about six hours of skinning to reach the crater rim. After a lap or two into the crater, it’s an hour back to the parking area for an eight hour day of vigorous climbing and skiing followed by a relaxing soak in the onsen to soothe body and soul.
If you are new to backcountry skiing we suggest Introduction to Backcountry Skiing where the basics of backcountry skiing are introduced including a tutorial in the field on how to use your beacon, probe, and shovel to perform a companion rescue.
Avalanche Search and Rescue Course
(minimum 2; maximum 6 guests)
First day indoor, second day in the field
basic avalanche Search and rescue
Introduction to avalanche safety, we discuss difference between group and team. Communication between team members. Situational awareness.
Introduction to avalanche terrain and traveling in avalanche terrain.
Introduction to types of avalanches.
Planning your day: the relevant information to have at hand. Defining your options, no go, and turn around criteria in the planning stage. Emergency equipment and how to contact emergency services.
Personal rescue equipment: shovel, probe, and beacon. Beacon carrying methods and battery check. Group check. Multiple burial marking function. Avoiding interference from electronic devices.
Emergency plan and search techniques. Airplane approach method: signal search, coarse search, fine search, pinpoint search. Elementary snow conveyor belt.
Our guided backcountry skiing experiences include pick-up and return to your accommodations and an in-person meeting the day before to confirm that expectations, skiing experience, and gear are in order.
