6 things BC skiing enthusiasts should do to get into the winter swing! [Tokyo Metropolitan Edition]

The first snow has fallen in the mountains of Hokkaido, putting autumn into full swing in October. Here are six preparations that backcountry skiers and snowboarders living in Tokyo should make at this time of year. To ensure a great season, it's time to turn on the "winter switch" that you've been turning off for a while and get ready for the season. I'm YOSHI (STEEP reader reporter), and I'm confident in my experience and passion for backcountry skiing, so I'll be sharing my thoughts

Introduction

Every year, as November arrives, ski resorts everywhere open, with snowmaking machines running at full capacity. Then, when the fields are completely covered in natural snow, the backcountry season finally begins. The season doesn't just start out of nowhere, so backcountry enthusiasts tend to take it easy.

That being said, for those of us living in the Tokyo metropolitan area, there are several important things that need to be done before the season starts. Preparing the gear is one thing, but planning strategies with winter friends and preparing for the trip are also essential. Hokkaido and Tohoku, destinations far from the Tokyo metropolitan area, are becoming increasingly popular with foreigners every year, and if you're not careful, accommodations will be booked up in no time. Anticipating this, I started booking accommodations for most of the long weekends during the season from around the end of August, but I felt an unprecedented level of excitement.

Regular lodgings are already filling up with reservations. Hokkaido in winter is no longer just for skiers and snowboarders, but has become a major tourist destination with hordes of tourists from all over the world flocking to enjoy winter tourism

So, as the situation changes every year, we've compiled six preparations that backcountry skiers and snowboarders living in Tokyo should make this fall. To ensure a great season, it's time to turn on that "winter switch" that you've been turning off for a while and get ready for the start of the season

① Gear up: Tune up your skis and check your gear, including beacons

In September, I saw a post on a friend's social media showing them taking their skis to a tune-up shop. It made me realize that it was that time of year again, so I checked my skis that were leaning against the wall in the storage room. The soles were dry and whitish, and there was a thin layer of red rust on the edges.

Even if the boots look the same, the buckles and sole rubber might be damaged, or the inner liners might have worn out and changed the fit. Last season, this caused me to get huge blisters on my left foot so many times... After consulting with my friends, I managed to get through the season by wrapping my feet in tape and taking other measures.

Not only skis and boots, but all the gear that had been shoved into the storage room for months was craving air or starting to hydrolyze. Electronic gear like beacons and radios are also a different story; you don't know what condition they're in until you switch them on. Gear that you thought was inanimate is actually living things.

②Getting excited: Check out the season kickoff event

When you meet up with fellow mountaineers you haven't seen in a while during the off-season, it naturally switches your mindset towards winter. In the fall, brands and pro shops that handle backcountry gear hold season-opening events, featuring slide talk shows by popular guides and more. When you meet up with friends after a long time and start talking about your plans for this season, the feeling of winter really hits you.

You can get information online, but there's nothing quite like visiting a shop, touching new gear, listening directly to guides, and laughing and chatting with friends. The realistic snow forecasts and the latest conditions at your destination that you get here are invaluable hints that you can't find through internet searches. The more seasons you go through, the more you realize how important these pre-season gatherings are for deepening the bonds with your fellow snow mountaineers.

I plan to participate in several events this year, but surprisingly, information often comes out at the last minute, so it's important to check the information daily. That's why I keep checking STEEP frequently (laughs)

③ Stand up: Build a body that can climb for an entire season

According to the GPS watch I use, a day trip involving an average elevation gain of 1,000m, with 3-4 ascents and descents during the journey, burns an average of 1,500-2,000 calories. For skiers living in Tokyo, it's common to ski every day for 2-3 days during a trip, but to make the most of the backcountry season, you need a lot of stamina.

I consider myself relatively active for someone living in the city, but even so, I don't often burn more than 1,500 calories a day. During the season, you have to maintain this level of exercise for several days, and if you go to the mountains every week or every other week, you're doing this continuously. Backcountry skiing and snowboarding are quite demanding sports. If

you head to the snowy mountains without enough exercise, your thighs will be screaming in pain on the first day's hike, and the next day you won't be able to climb comfortably due to muscle soreness. It's frustrating to run out of energy in front of the powder snow.

To make the most of this precious opportunity, start waking up your body little by little starting in autumn. Jogging, biking, or climbing stairs two to three times a week will improve your cardiovascular fitness, and squats and core training will build up the muscles that support your knees and hips. Stretching and yoga to maintain flexibility in your hips and ankles will also help prevent injury

In my case, I mainly build up my physique by gradually increasing the frequency and intensity of my gym visits, but once the season actually begins and I'm on the snow, I always find myself lamenting my lack of preparation every year, saying, "If only I'd built up a little more endurance, the start of the season would be so much more enjoyable..." (laughs)

④ Decide on a plan and base: Schedule your mountain trip and secure accommodation

Making plans in the fall is key for those living in the Tokyo metropolitan area to make the most of the season. Especially during the New Year holidays and the February long weekend, accommodations and guided tour slots in popular areas fill up very quickly.

Last season, I was looking at accommodations for skiing starting from Hokkaido cities like Asahikawa from the end of August, but famous and popular places were almost fully booked. Hokkaido, in particular, is a popular area for overseas tourists even outside of skiing. This season, it seems that many accommodations are being booked up quite early, so caution is advised if you are planning a long-term tour.

Although Hokkaido is crowded and highly competitive, it is not impossible to go there at a bargain price. Once every few months, ANA and JAL have bargain sales on airfare with accommodation. If you are considering a tour based in a city in Hokkaido or Tohoku, this can be a strong option.

For those living in the Tokyo metropolitan area who are planning a trip, securing accommodation is crucial. Contact your usual hotel owner early, and even if your plans are not yet finalized, check the cancellation policy and make a tentative reservation. If you are going with friends, it is best to coordinate the dates using an online calendar or chat. Once you've decided on a base camp, the mountains you can approach from that point become clearer, and the enjoyment of planning increases.

By the time the season starts, I would like to have the general schedule of the season already organized

⑤ Secure transportation: Book flights and transportation during limited time sales

If your destination is Hokkaido or Tohoku, booking airline tickets before the season starts is a fierce competition. It's essential to book as soon as JAL and ANA's "official time sales" begin, and you need to secure tickets for the New Year holidays and weekends in January by September. This year, ANA's time sales started early, and they've already held sales up to March.

Flights to New Chitose Airport are particularly competitive, and it's not uncommon for reservations to be sold out by the time the first snow falls. In addition to flights, it's also wise to book rental cars and shuttle buses from the airport to the mountain base area early.

If you live in the city center, you should consider traveling by Shinkansen. In particular, if you have an account with JRE Bank, which is run by JR, you can get significant discounts on Shinkansen tickets depending on your usage, so if you're traveling long distances to places like Hakodate or Aomori, you can travel at an exceptional price. If you're interested, be sure to check it out

⑥ Update safety and learning: Courses, rescue, insurance

If I were on a snowy mountain and an avalanche occurred, would I be able to use a beacon, shovel, and probe appropriately in an instant? I'm not confident, so I spend time at the beginning of each season training in beacons and rescue equipment. After a six-month break in the summer, my mind and body have forgotten how to use safety gear, and my ability to react and move quickly has definitely dulled

That's why it's a good idea to take avalanche seminars and rescue training every year before the season to update your knowledge, skills, and sensitivity

It's also important to check your mountain insurance as soon as possible. Regular insurance almost always excludes search costs and helicopter evacuation if you have an accident in the mountains. By purchasing mountain insurance, you can feel secure in the event of an emergency. Preparing for safety gives you peace of mind and is an important investment in fulfilling your responsibilities to your friends and family

lastly

If you prepare well, you won't have any worries as you make this winter a wonderful season. If you start thinking about your travels from autumn to winter, you will naturally feel more fulfilled every day. So, let's start now, little by little, to increase your motivation to ski!