Personally, 100% certain we will be in japan for the 21/22 season. And quite hopeful that there will be a few less people floating around.
Day 21 season 20/21. Great day north of Asahikawa in some terrain I wasn't familiar with, Horokanai. Went out with a local crew. Snow depth up there is far greater than around Furano and was really good touring terrain. Easy climb in and then some blower pow plus pillows into the south gorge. Hard climb out though, as very deep, steep and required many many kick turns, always fun.
Sweet mother of Ullr!! Wash your mouth out with soap young sir!! I am hoping that Japan will be happy to receive Aussies due to our relative position with Covid cases. That vaccines will be out - the plan is that all people in Aus who want a vaccine will have it before the end of 2021. I also fully expect there to be a hotel or home quarantine still in place for international returns., which will count out a lot of travellers. But I plan on getting me some of this:
I’m sure Japan will have us but will we be allowed out? I’m very much hoping so but the vibe our premiers are giving us has me very doubtful. I’m doing a season somewhere so some quarantine on return will be worth it.
Same. If we have a chance it’ll be through Sydney and Gladys - WA is going to slam shut so quick they’d take your fingers off if you didn’t hurry through the door.
I am very easily bored . I dont think even 4 weeks skiing would compensate for 2 weeks in Hotel quarantine ?
Day 22 on skis for season 20/21. Enjoyable solo tootle in the Tomamu backcountry this morning. Tomamu doesn't get the same snow depth as places closer to central and western Hokkaido as it is on the very edge of the orographic influence of the northwesterlies, but still, cold and dry snow is the norm. I headed Into the forest in the hills below Mt. Ishi to see how the snow pack is doing. Took the tele boards out for something different. The base, for late December, is really good, no breaking through onto bushes anywhere so its on for the season. The resort itself also looking mid winterish and surprisingly crowded, with all car parks full! Covid? what covid?
I'm of the same view, aiming for a big season in 2021/22 with international travel back with certain restrictions. Based on the trajectory of progress in testing, vaccines, treatments and knowledge. If I look back at what we knew 9 months ago compared to now we have made huge progress in all the above fields. Give us another 12 months and we should have a rapid test that is done at home, accurate and cheap. Throw in a good proportion of the population vaccinated and better tretments, we should have an open border again by then. Not back to normal, but getting there. Please let the snow gods smile upon us next year!!
Day 28 season 20/21. There is so much terrain in central Hokkaido that is never, if rarely skied. The range behind the Yubari range, which is where the Furano resort is, is rarely skied. It has some great terrain, is difficult to get to but well worth the effort. Very low altitude, starting around 200m ASL, means it is bushy in the lower terrain. Once you get through those lower elevations though, some great terrain opens up. I followed a forest road for the first 30 minutes then jagged right and headed up into some new terrain today. I didn't get to the top as ran out of time but found some beautiful steep gullies and standard deep Furano powder, so another trip is on the cards. As for the general snow situation, very good with great cover all through central Hokkaido. Asahi Dake and Kitanomine gondola both opened a few days ago and everything else fully open. We had a warm spell last week but it cooled down again and has been snowing daily. More to come in the forecast so now pining for some blue sky!
Happy new year all or "akemashite omeditou" as they say here in Japan. Day 30 for season 20/21 yesterday. The world can only get better and all this powder, skiing, and the joy of travel awaits that happening. See you in Hokkaido when travel resumes. A couple of pics from yesterday with some dark room treatment to bring in the new year.
Tele, I've always wandered what's behind the top of mountain ridge at furano spanning from the top of romance 3 the kita gondy. From Google maps it looks like you could ski down the whole backside of he mountain there and then skin out some sort of service road north to get to the road.
Yes it is doable but you need to pick the right route. It its pretty incredible skiing but if you go too far to the west, that is, come off the back of the Kitanomine side, you get into some real steep bush country. You can get through it and to the road but it can be an epic. Best done a little further east from the Furano gondola side. The last bit comes out down a steep creek with some fun crossings. There is a forest road out on the other side as you said and it is about 2 km's, of pole pushing if there is no track. If a track has been cut you can sort of slide most of it. .
Have had some mild epics merrily trundling off the back of both Furano & Tomamu, then finding way out. Remember sharing no love for the vine diversity of Tomamu, nor the river crossings. I swore & sweated much less climbing back up to the ski area ridges, than following gravity in unfamiliar terrain.
Day 34. Season 20/21. Aah Tokachi. If you know it you'll know what I mean. Summited a small peak called Sandan Yama yesterday. It was one of those days where you don't expect to get to the summit due to the wind and cloud, not to mention the extreme cold, -20 in the car park! But, as we climbed visibility lifted, and..it cleared (mostly). That is the perfect scenario for some great and scenic powder skiing.
Aah Tokachi yes, know exactly what you mean. Had some awesome days there with you. Although I do also remember a day back in 2006 with you when we headed to the car park at Ryonkaku ready to head off in similar conditions ie howling wind and -20. But then after a few minutes looked at each other wondering what we were doing and decided it wasn't a great idea. So went back in and ended up watching the Blues Brothers on laserdisc instead.
Memory, not quite 100%. Went back and checked my notes. That day wasn't on my 2006 trip but the previous one in Feb 2003. Also the temp I noted (from the thermometer outside the hotel) was only -16C, but wind was certainly howling. Recall though as we were about to put skins on, you asked if we really wanted to continue. The rest of us quickly decided no.
Thanks for clarification @Heinz . Also we were most likely staying at "Oguri San's Pleasure Palace" Baden Kami Furano Lodge (Now no more). Oguri san had the laser discs with the surround sound chairs and a well viewed copy of The Blues Brothers. I catch up with him occasionally as he and his wife run a ramen noodle shop in Kami Furano. The lodge has been bought by new owners and the name changed but still a great location.
Yes, testing the memory from all the various trips, but one thing I am clear on was that we were at the Ryonkaku that trip. I think the laser discs may have been moved up there for a period at least? Some pics from back then. Couple of you on the run down to Baden. and the owners daughter Saki with a couple of the boys from one of our group in the lounge area.
Yes thats right, I forgot, Oguri san gave the equipment to Ryounkaku when he left Baden so that would be right. It was always hard going out the door at Ryounkaku as it faced the norwester and was very cold and often clouded in.
Baden Kami Furano Lodge. Was the Tokachi accommodation at the top of the hill ?. 2 storey wooden place ?
No, Ryonkaku was the one at the top of road with the onsen at the back overlooking a gorge. This was it in 2006.
OK went there in 2007 i think and we got holed up for 24 hrs in a low pressure 980 mbar wind storm 120 km winds and the walls inside were moving. Awesome onsen with a view outside, we saw foxes . After that the powder was all blown into a few gullies.
