2016-2017 Southern/Northern Hemi Snow Season

Heavy indeed. Do you know what that noise is you can hear whilst he is getting pumped in that avalanche? Is that avalanche airbags inflating? He seems to stay above the snow pretty well and pops out on top at the bottom...

Wow, that was pretty full-on.

All's well that ends well.

Finally got some good falls this week after another dismal start here in Japan. 2m forecast in some places.

Craig, when you going to Alaska? I'm off to Canada again mid-March.

PS- Yeah, what is that mechanical noise from the vid? Thoughts?

Some sort of avalanche safety devise. Looks like he pulls it just as he starts going down, prob fills up the red balloon with air.

Those avy bags are interesting. I went to a lecture on snow safety a month or so ago.
The guy there investigates avalanches and their causes (human or otherwise) all around Norway so it was quite interesting hearing him speak.
Someone asked about those bags and his opinions were very mixed... On the one hand it does help surviving if caught. But its not fail safe, he showed statistics and lots of people have still died with bags inflated. His main gripe was that most such accidents occur when people put themselves in situations they shouldnt be and that these bags contribute to more people putting themselves in these situations.

mammoth looks good

Just booked for Japan early March. Snow forecast ridiculous there next week or so, friends of mine are in Nozawa Onsen at the moment get puked on.
Nomad1 that point you make about the lecturer's opinion/mixed thoughts on avalanche airbags is the same one used in provision of defensive driving training for teenagers - after the training they think they are better drivers and therefore safer so take more risks. This is why research (up until a few years ago anyway) did not support the notion that defensive driving training for learner drivers was effective in reducing MVAs and MVA injuries in that age group.
I don't think I'd change my behaviour too much with avy airbags, it'd just be another safety device. Looks like it worked well for old mate in that video.

2 snowboarders been missing for a couple of days near Kagura. After last nights falls the chances of finding them are diminishing.

Stay safe peoples.

I want one of those airbag back-packs and I hope I never need it.

G'day all, happy new years and all that.

I heard about those fellas on the radio earlier today, Zen. Heavy stuff.

One of my good mates who got me amped on the back country, made sure I watched this (among other things) before he'd even hike to inbounds side-country terrain with me at resorts we used to ski. Pretty full on clip, mainly for the audio.

I watched that vid and then a few months later was skiing at Stevens Pass in Washington in thigh deep powder. Having a great day and hopped on a short steep lift up to the top of the resort when the lifty said they'd just lost a few people who'd hiked out from the top of the chair. Heavy vibe over the whole place for the rest of the day. I've only been into the bc a few times but gees I'm cautious.

This is a really long multimedia piece about the day at Stevens (for anyone with some time on their hands!)
http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2012/snow-fall/#/?part=tunnel-creek

I've seen that before Benski, chilling stuff- no pun intended.

God, imagine if that guy was alone. What a horrible way to go.

Even inbounds, I never ever do tree runs alone. Shit happens so quickly.

Have to add that a guy from Adelaide, dropping a slope in Whistler back country!
No I have not and am not going to watch the vid as I have not enough time the screen shot is enough to take a big picture of whats happened yeah?? Correct me if Im wrong anyone, no problems;)
Anyways, too me it looks, around the 30-35 degree mark, dead fucking smack bang in the middle of a big bowl??? Well serious stuff isn't it, this person has done his theory. No1 avalanche scenario, bowl, 30-35 degrees????

He a fucking mupet, probably an intermediate rider with all the gear and no idea.
Stay on the groomers mate and stop trying to be a hero as you yourself champ, jeopardise others trying to rescue yourself.

Now fuck off and get a brain.
Back to do some turns mate, do more turns and then some more for the next few years.
Maybe clock up 200-300 days on ya board/skis, in a ski resort, then take a backcountry avo awareness course.
Then go with experienced backcountry riders and be safe..
Always go the spines and steeps and have gut feeling eh.

ITS AN un exact science???????

Cheers

Welly

^ This. Had written something similar, but pulled it. Just lucky he was by himself and his poor skills didn't kill anyone else. Aussie froth getting ahead of itself.

That's fucking horrifying Benski - what a nightmare.

Some amazing figures from the last few days in the Tohoku region here in Japan. Yuzawa onsen got 125 cm in 24 hours and lots of other places reporting 80+. Pretty big numbers and it's still puking down, so we'll be looking at 2+ metres of snow in the last couple of days and into the next two. To put it in prespective, that's more than Perisher gets in a whole season on average (with the exception of the last one which was the best season in 10 years).

In contrast, Niseko recording pretty low numbers atm, but that will change.

If you're around the Hakuba, Nozawa, Yuzawa areas right now you'd be pretty much up to your nipples in the lightest, fluffiest, blower powder you'll probably ever encounter.

Happy days!

That is phenomenal! Wow, 5 metres.

Watching the news today and a place I couldn't catch in Niigata got 175 cm in 24 hrs, but 5 metres is 6 days is nuts.

PS Also, in contrast to last year, we've had such a good run of stellar surf with more on the way. Water has been as warm as i can ever remember. Only just got into gloves in the last couple of weeks.

Bring it on- great snow and great waves, 2017 has really kicked off.

All reports I've heard from Japan the last month have been next level pow days. Zenagain you got any inside info? I'm off to Honshu in less than two weeks...

I was thinking of you Mundies, wondering if you'd make the trek over this year?

We've had a great season on Honshu, apart from that one storm in January that dumped 3m + in a few days in most areas, it's been the usual cycle of 5-10-15 cm top ups, couple of clear days and then back again to snow. Nagano and Niigata are in great shape and all is good in Gunma, Fukushima and Yamagata. Having said that, we have had a couple of warm days and even rain which signals the season has turned but there's still quite a ways to go. I can't predict but hopefully your visit will coincide with a good dump and overnight top ups and you can milk that.

I went up to Fukushima last week for four days, showed some Aussie friends 4 resorts in four days and they were stoked. We got really good powder for 3 of the four and a lovely bluebird day the last to finish. They were stoked at how empty the Fukushima resorts are mid-week. When the liftys are falling asleep, you know it's quiet.

If you can get to Fukushima, the 22 Fukushima ski areas are running a campaign where if you show your Aussie passport to the ticket office, you can get a lift ticket for 2000yen. So my friends and i were stoked- we got four full days and one nighta for 8000 yen.

I'm off to a little high elevation place next week with a mate in Yamagata and then going to Canada mid-March. Admittedly I haven't boarded as much this season as I usually do but what I've locked away has been quality.

Have fun man.

And Craig, stay safe in Alaska.

Kiwi snowboarder dead in avalanche out of bounds/off limits area Niseko area today.

Just caught it on the late news.

RIP.

Zenagain - firstly, fuck that is brutal re the Kiwi fatality. I watched a vid recently of a guy accidentally dropping into a powder filled tree bole (cant remember where I sourced it - could have been here?!?). He had 4-5 mates with him, they took 5 minutes to even get his face clear. His arms and legs were pinned, might as well have been in concrete. Scary stuff, literally buried alive. If you are riding alone, or with crew with no avy gear, or they don't find you in time.... you are fucked.
Zen and Craig - re Honshu. Yes I have heard that, cracking season compared with the last two (last year there were saplings pushing through the base, very un-Japanese). I've had quite a few mates who did late January and Feb this year. Early-mid Feb looked MENTAL. Actually, the last mate of mine who went over got back yesterday and I saw him in the surf today, he was tired and sore and could barely surf but still had dribble trickling down his chin he was that fucking snow stoked. He hadn't been to Japan before and went to Hakuba, I advised him to go to Cortina on the good pow days and he scored.
So I'm off to Nozawa in a week, fingers crossed. I know the base is good, close to 4m. I don't mind if there are some warmer sunny days as long as the cold dumps come to the party too. Its only my wife and me going this year so I'm a bit limited in the out of bounds stuff cos she is not as keen as me even though she is a good rider. But there's a few spots I know I can do with lesser risk that are good when the snow is good, I'll work em and do some out of bounds stuff if/when I link up with some keen crew.
Craig, you in Alaska? Where about? Sorry if you've mentioned it before in this thread but I don't have the time or energy to trawl the whole thread... I have mates who froth on Anchorage, go out in choppers, the whole bit.

Pictures please Craig.

Mundies, reports I've had on the ground are there is still some good stuff around that region but a few episodes of rain and warmth have left a lot of buried death cookies about the place and the runouts are a little spongy. I dare say theres a fair few sketchy layers in the snowpack especially from the rain/freeze episode around the 17th.... base is great though well enough that everything is 'in' but very spring transition going on atm. got back mid feb myself from 7weeks

Thanks Gibbsy. Well it is spring (as of tomorrow) I guess. If I get a handful of powder days I'll be stoked. Its been so lean here surf wise for a handful of months now I've been frothing like a grommet for the past few days just having some half decent surf.
Craig - taking it on, thats putting yourself out there. Excellent . Yes, pictures please.

Three out of three powder days so far, it's been epic. If I'm going to miss the best swell of the year so far at home then this is the way I like to do it.

Three out of three powder days so far, it's been epic. If I'm going to miss the best swell of the year so far at home then this is the way I like to do it.

Three out of three powder days so far, it's been epic. If I'm going to miss the best swell of the year so far at home then this is the way I like to do it.

I was wondering how you were going? Some good falls this past few days. Weekend looking mild so probably relegated to the groomers or trying to find those little untouched pockets off piste.

Forecast looking good again Tues evening onwards.

I'm off to Whistler on Wednesday, it's been snowmageddon there. Amped!

Zen again, yeh I heard Baker has had 10ft in the past week. We arrived here in Nozawa late Tuesday, woke up wednesday to 25cm and its been snowing on or off since then. Hardly anyone here, so many untracked lines yesterday it was ridiculous. Lots of the lower mountain steeps are well covered too so that opens up a lot more of the mountain. Unreal. Next Tuesday & Wednesday looks good too but we are outa here on Tuesday. Got a couple of young grommets waiting at home for us...
Good luck in Whistler zenagain, pack your snorkel.

Another 20cm last night, looks like it is on again today. Yahoo!

Scored

Good to hear Mundies, glad you got some love. Still going over here, been a great season in addition to the stellar surf we've had this winter. I'm gonna go to this high spot in Yamagata next weekend. Spring is really nice up there.

Got some nice stuff in Canada, just got back on Thursday. In particular a memorable hike with my mates son. 16 yo red-hot boarder (bastard), hard to keep up with him. He knows every square inch of Whistler/Blackcomb and he took me on a hike into the Blackcomb glacier where I did my first real cliff drop (only about 5 metres but I was trying not to shit myself) made it and then we were treated to some really steep, deep powder with a long fast run out. That one made my trip.

CAD$147 a day pass made my bum cheeks tighten a bit. I'm no scrooge but I reckon that's a bit steep (no pun intended).

Zenagain its hard to beat Japan for bang for buck. Then when you add in food, culture, onsens..... Having said that, aiming for the French/Swiss/Italian Alps in a couple of years for something different...
Glad to hear you scored at Whistler.

Wow! What an adventure.

Great words too. Looking forward to the next .

PS you got a splitboard now?

The froth levels are high reading through this thread (long time reader, first time poster). Moved from Cronulla to NYC about a year ago, focus shifted from surf to snow.

Experiences/thoughts on Rusutsu in Japow -- anyone been?

Once again, Craigs your man for that one.

Don't discount Honshu though. Plenty of good snow down this way and cheaper too.

Lotta skiing/boarding close to NY- Hunter Mtn, Camelback, Thunder Ridge etc and you can surf in New Jersey. Best of both worlds.

Amazing pics Craig!! How good are the northern lights!?

I was up in Lofoten last week and the snow conditions were still looking great for splitboarding! Unfortunately i didnt get the chance to get amongst it myself due to dislocating my hip a month ago, but am absolutely frothing on next year. Bought a rental up there last week so will be spending more time up there from now on :)

Shameless plug :P
https://www.airbnb.no/rooms/18221598?s=51

Yep, Alaskan women kick ars....

Cool flick.

But the big question remains Craig, did you have the chance to lay your Aussie charm on any of the local lasses?