Powder, trouble with the ski troll, sun (a rather rare guest in the permanent snowfall paradise) and even more powder. In the third part of Patrick Fux's Japan sequel report, Japan nevertheless shows its classic winter side: lots of fresh snow!
In the second part of Patrick Fux's photo reportage, we Alpine freeriders learn that periods of poor snow conditions are by no means a purely European problem. Quite the opposite. But seek and ye shall find is also true in Japan and so there are also some great shots to enjoy in this part. To be continued!
The ski safari reports from Japan and North America by Zurich freeskier Patrick Fux aka Paedde (powdermania.com) are hard to imagine life without, except perhaps if you were there yourself and plowed the Japanese powder masses together with Patrick. Thanks to Patrick, you can now find out again how Japan dumps and powders or even rains. The only change compared to previous years' ski safari reports is that this year we have decided to let the pictures speak for themselves. Because photos sometimes, but by no means always, say more than many words.
Nick Kowal is the owner of the Hakuba Powder Lodge. In a short interview I asked Nick a few questions about life in Japan, his dreams, a year after Fukushima and more.
The week started with a bit of fresh snow, but it wasn't quite able to make up for the thaw damage of the previous week. On Tuesday, all was right with the world again: lots of fresh snow and brilliantly cold late winter conditions. On Wednesday, the weather was glorious and it was backcountry time again, although the avalanche situation didn't allow any slopes steeper than 30 degrees. We had two great descents, but then the situation became too dicey:
The short version: It sucks, it sucks big time, it sucks a bit more every single day and it seems to suck a bit more hour by hour. No idea how to say that in proper German.
Last Monday, the chapter on how easy snow can be was rewritten, so to speak: Another day in Furano and knee-deep powder snow at its very best. The whole day alone in the ski resorts and no one to help track the fresh snow, that was quite a lot of work, but we enjoyed it immensely. The ski patrol didn't seem to take such a strict view of the whole thing and let us get on with it.
It was already announced last week, and so the start of spring actually drove us north to Furano and Kurodake. It was an arduous journey, but we didn't regret it.
The Barryvox Element is the new entry-level device in Mammut's Barryvox series and therefore the little brother of the Barryvox Pulse, so to speak. PowderGuide Japan correspondent Patrick Fux tested the avalanche transceiver in practice between North America, the Swiss Alps and deep Japanese powder.
As already mentioned, the cat and mouse game with the Ski-Patrol has become more difficult – and the cat has actually won again. The spoilsports from the Ski Patrol are now hiding and waiting for hours for mice if they have to. Very annoying as I can no longer ski in an entire ski area and I particularly like the forest runs there. According to unofficial sources, a previously liberal area even wants to ban and strictly control everything off-piste from next season. In many places in Japan, the people in charge simply don't understand what we freeriders want?
All was still right with the world on Monday. Perfect weather and great snow for two runs far away from the pistes. The weather forecast was very unfavorable, so we had to hurry. By midday, the powder fun was over and 35 mm (= 37 liters / sqm) of rain in 24 hours was the result of a warm front. Snow was already falling again on Wednesday, but unfortunately it got very cold first and so everything was frozen solid.
I thought I had perfected the cat-and-mouse game with the Skipatrol by now: but this year the cat is doing better. The same Skipatrol caught me twice in the same place within a week. Luckily I was wearing different clothes each time and so he didn't recognize me. Uffz, otherwise that would have meant the withdrawal of my season ticket. I can probably put this downhill route out of my mind for this winter and watch my colleagues from afar while they continue to make their turns there. Everything else seems to be a little more difficult this year with the boys in red.
Powder, trouble with the ski troll, sun (a rather rare guest in the permanent snowfall paradise) and even more powder. In the third part of Patrick Fux's Japan sequel report, Japan nevertheless shows its classic winter side: lots of fresh snow!
In the second part of Patrick Fux's photo reportage, we Alpine freeriders learn that periods of poor snow conditions are by no means a purely European problem. Quite the opposite. But seek and ye shall find is also true in Japan and so there are also some great shots to enjoy in this part. To be continued!
The ski safari reports from Japan and North America by Zurich freeskier Patrick Fux aka Paedde (powdermania.com) are hard to imagine life without, except perhaps if you were there yourself and plowed the Japanese powder masses together with Patrick. Thanks to Patrick, you can now find out again how Japan dumps and powders or even rains. The only change compared to previous years' ski safari reports is that this year we have decided to let the pictures speak for themselves. Because photos sometimes, but by no means always, say more than many words.
