25 replies to this topic

[Mantas]

I'm spending some time boarding around the Furano area next season and would like to know if anyone has been to Kurodake or Asihdake and let me know which place they think is better. Also would it be better to stay in Furano and do day trips or stay at Sounkyo. How far is it from Furano to Sounkyo anyway ??

[Creek Boy]

why you so pissed off bout boarding around Furano mate?

Asahidake has much better BC but thats just from what Ive read and seen in mags. Never been.

[Fattwins]

buy avie gear for those places as they really are not patrolled

[rezinate]

hmmm, from memory arent they the same mountain?

I did the one with the (brand new) big ropeway during goldenweek a few years back, when all the other resorts were shut due to lack of snow. It was quite surreal, as it felt like summer, and all the koosa (yellow sand) made the snow look like sanddunes (which they practically were!).

A mate went once though during winter and almost died in an avalanche, so be very careful as fattwins said.

[Fattwins]

2 different resorts with the same type of system

[nikei]

Did 2 weeks at Asahidake last season. Great powder but you will need all the gear as stated by Fattwins.
Quite cold as most days were between -25 to -20 during the day.
Kurodake is hard to navigate if you don't know where to go, there is a great run though. Furano is too far from sounkyo I based myself at Asahikawa for one month or so and sounkyo is an hour and a half from there if you are going to kurodake or sounkyo it is better to stay there.
Kamui is nice and you can get a bus/ski pass from Asahikawa fro 3000 yen. Furano is way to far for day trips. the Den in Asahikawa can help you with a local guide if you don't know the danger zones too well. Kurodake is especially dangerous if you don't know where you are going.

[Mantas]

Thank for all the info guys. Not sure what to do now. Not really set up for B.C. better invest in a guide me thinks.

[Fattwins]

If you have that kind of money then its a good idea. Those places arent really ski resorts they are trams for hiking that stay open in the winter.

[BagOfCrisps]

Do places like that have patrol and courses? (And curry rice?)

[Fattwins]

one or 2 courses then you are on your own

[db le p]

whats the terrain like? (serious question, not a niseko pancake piss take)

[dizzy]

haven't been in 6 years, but check the Reviews Section

spud, the "courses" are curving groomers but most people just charge straight down through the curves where the waist-high powder gives everyone snow-drooling face shots.
some great natural terrain--at least two half pipes i knew off, a huge natural kicker the locals hit, and plenty of ridgeline after a 5-minute hike from atop the tram/ropeway.

definitely reccomend having beacons if U go, mantas, or stay on the crusty groomers (boring)

[Mantas]

Centainly getting some feed back on the dangers. I haven't done much backcountry without a guide before , have to look into getting set up. Surely you can go a little off the courses without worrying about becons and avalungs ect. How easy would it be to find a guide for the day once you get there.

[Fattwins]

There is a big difference between off the course and out of bounds. I personally would never ski with a person with kit. Wouldnt do it at any place. id rather have it than not and its not that much money for a beacon probe and shovel. There will be safe places but can you even understand what is and isnt safe?

[Mantas]

i recon i know whats safe and what's not. I've been snowboarding since 1991 without incident. I'm no hero and I don't take unnesserary risks. In april I went B.C. in B.C.(brittish columbia) with a guide. Theres no way I'd think of going there without a guide. Sometimes on a lifted hill I do go "off the course" usually following someone elses tracks.

[Fattwins]

Ive seen people do the following someone elses tracks and ive seen them also get lost. I real mountains give me 3 signs of what to look for Out of bounds ie its safe? Im not trying to be critical but I have known a ton of people that dont realize what is going on. There is no avie control work done none, almost none done though-out Japan including Niseko and the peak run. You have only yourself and friends to trust. That is why I choose to ride with a certain group of people that i hammer this point home to.

[Kumapix]

even if you're going with a guide you should have a beacon (if it's not provided). After all, how can the guide find you when you're buried?

btw it doesn't matter how long you've boarding.

[Mantas]

yes kumapix, i was wearing a beacon, something i leart during my 15 years of boarding, maybe it does matter how long!

[db le p]

mantas, I am not picking on you, just highlighting some interesting comments:

>> I haven't done much backcountry without a guide before ,
>> have to look into getting set up [avy gear]
>> Surely you can go a little off the courses without worrying about becons and avalungs ect.

then

>> i recon i know whats safe and what's not. I've been snowboarding since 1991 without incident
>> Sometimes on a lifted hill I do go "off the course" usually following someone elses tracks.

then later on you said

>> i was wearing a beacon, something i leart during my 15 years of boarding

hmmmm.

I have only been boarding for 4 seasons yet there is no way I would make half the statements you made.

Considering the amount of snow, avalanche deaths in Japan are abnormally low compared to Europe and America. 2005-2006 has seen a big jump in Australian visitors to Japan, all powder hungry. My prediction: from 2007-2009 the avalanche death rate in Japan will increase quite a bit. They will mainly be Australians (just like English backpackers drowning at Bondi Beach).

Dizzy - thanks for the terrain info. (but next time, leave out the info about the park )

[Mantas]

Ok Ok Let me clear this up.

I apprieciate your concerns ,and they are well founded. We have plenty of people die here in Aust. too from avalanches.

I have been boarding for 15 years. in Autralia, New Zealand, USA Canada, (east and west) Scotland and Japan.

Almost all of it on groomed runs and some off piste.

The little bit of " Back country ' I have done has been with professional guides , group avalanche training and becons attached.

As I said. I'm no hero and never take risks. I would not dream of going anywhere that I didn't know the way out or what was down there.

Not every Australian that goes to Japan is going to hurl himself off a cliff or disppear into oblivion. Hence my inquiries on this forum about Asahidake.( the start of the topic )

Would i be asking you guys these questions if I already knew it all already ?????

I apprieciate the feedback and advice.