This is the Hakuba edition of backcountry fields accessible from ski resorts. The selection was based on locations that have gates at the entrance to the backcountry (BC) and are officially approved by the ski resort. The book is based on comments from professional guides who provide BC guide services in those fields
[Points to Note]
As introduced here, there are many backcountry fields accessible from ski resorts, but starting from an altitude point reached by ski lifts means you'll be entering deep into the mountains right away. You need to be fully aware of this and make thorough preparations and take maximum precautions. Approach with a high level of awareness, including proper backcountry equipment, knowledge of mountain etiquette and risks, and managing your own health.
To pursue the allure of backcountry skiing more safely, the best way is to participate in a backcountry guided tour. Before entering the backcountry, you can receive lectures on how to use your gear and how to ski off-piste. Having said that entrusting the management of the various risks present in the backcountry to professionals is a smart choice, let's look at backcountry fields accessible by lifts.
Hakuba Area | HAKUBA VALLEY
The Hakuba area, located at the foot of the Northern Alps, one of Japan's most famous mountain ranges, is home to a variety of natural backcountry ski fields. HAKUBA VALLEY, which consists of 10 ski resorts, offers "HAKUBA VALLEY Safety Tips" to help you enjoy backcountry skiing safelyBased on these regulations, access to backcountry ski areas from ski resorts is approved, and backcountry ski gates have been installed at each of the five ski resorts: Able Shirouma Goryo, Hachikataone, Tsugaike Mountain Resort, Shirouma Norikura, and Shirouma Cortina
HAKUBA VALLEY Safety Tips
Tsugaike Mountain Resort | Nagano Prefecture
An ideal environment for BC entry-level users, offering a selection of fields where safety is guaranteed.
Tsugaike is the most popular place for beginner skiers to be guided. This is because the conditions and the environment are best suited to the skiers. The main reason is that the geography and topography have few steep slopes and many gentle and medium slopes, so there are many slopes that beginner skiers can relax and enjoy
Next, it's important to be able to respond flexibly to weather conditions. If the weather is good, choose a relatively open run, but if the weather or visibility is poor, choose a slope that is mainly in a forest. On an open run, it's difficult to see the undulations of the slope in bad weather, so a forest is best to avoid as much risk as possible
Tsugaike's advantages and features include the ability to avoid risk and reduce physical strain from adverse conditions, and the ability to select a field that guarantees safety. Furthermore, due to its high altitude, the area is blessed with a high amount of snowfall and good snow quality
Beginners can start with a tour that takes about an hour to an hour and a half to walk, starting from the ski resort and returning to the ski resort. There are also routes that take an additional hour, allowing you to go deeper into the mountains and have fun before returning. Furthermore, once you have become accustomed to the mountain's overall physical strength, changes in snow quality, and skiing techniques, you can push on for another hour and stand on the ridges of the Northern Alps and the Ushiro-Tateyama mountain range
Tsugaike also has an environment where you can go further into the mountains behind the ski resort and descend to another area, so it is an environment that can be enjoyed not only by beginners but also by core users.Tsugaike has a lot of depth, so it is also attractive that there are various ways to enjoy it
Compared to Happo and Goryu, the terrain is gentler, so safety is guaranteed in many places. There are many places along the way where you can avoid danger and take a leisurely rest, so you can enjoy yourself in a relaxed manner. In other fields in the Hakuba area, there are many places where you can inevitably feel tense, but at Tsugaike, everyone can relax and enjoy themselves at their own pace. Another nice thing about it is that you can enjoy the whole day with a smile on your face
A representative spot in Tsugaike is Tenguhara. You can enjoy open runs with gentle slopes that are easy to slip on, as well as long runs through tree and stream terrain. You can also expect powder snow on the north-facing slopes
You must submit a mountain climbing notification when purchasing your ticket at the gondola or ropeway station. There is no need to contact the office when you descend
[Comment]
Tomohiro Tonegawa,
Color Sports Club Official Website: http://www.colorsportclub.com/
Introduction article on STEEP : https://steep.jp/spot/2732/
Happo-one Ski Resort | Nagano Prefecture
The vast open slopes above the treeline
offer a challenging experience due to the dramatic changes in snow quality.
This field is easily affected by the natural environment. The snow quality changes more drastically than at Tsugaike. The snow is eroded by the wind, creating ice, and in some places it accumulates. Because you have to deal with the subtle changes in snow quality, this field is slightly more suited to repeat skiers than entry-level skiers
One of Happo's special features is that the area is beyond the tree line from the top of the ski resort and has no forest belt, so it's difficult to plan and enter the mountain unless the weather is stable. This is another difficult aspect that differs from Tsugaike. At Tsugaike, you can choose between open skiing if it's sunny and forested skiing if visibility is poor, but in Happo, this is almost completely absent. On top of that, there are ice runs and the snow quality changes drastically. In other words, the weather conditions are so volatile that the amount of snow accumulation changes drastically, and the risk of avalanches is high
With no forest belt, the weather conditions are rough, and the snow changes dramatically, it can be a good kind of thrill for intermediate and advanced skiers, but it's also a stressful area to enter. If beginners head straight to Happo, they'll be overwhelmed by the changes in snow conditions, and many have a hard time. It's best to gain experience around Tsugaike and get used to backcountry skiing before heading to Happo
One of Happo's specialties is that it is home to many places where you can ski down an elevation difference of about 1,000 meters on the mountain behind it in just an hour's climb. While this is convenient, you can also enter one of Japan's top alpine areas in just three hours' climb. This is the kind of challenging side of Happo. For BC users, Happo offers endless depth and charm
The most famous route in Happo is Garagarazawa. If the conditions are right, it's a relatively relaxing and enjoyable one. It takes 30 to 45 minutes to climb, and you'll ski down a distance of nearly 1,000 meters. There's also a spot along the way where you can climb back up and play. This route descends into the mountain behind the resort, so you'll need to park your car in advance or take a taxi on the way back
Another popular ski field is Happoike. It is a little less steep than Garagarazawa, so while Garagarazawa is for intermediate and advanced skiers, Happoike is suitable for intermediate and advanced skiers. There is also an open run on the southern slope where you can relax and have fun. Happoike is also a route back to the ski resort
[Comment]
Tomohiro Tonegawa,
Color Sports Club Official Website:http://www.colorsportclub.com/
Introduction article on STEEP : https://steep.jp/spot/2732/
Able Goryu | Nagano Prefecture
The steep slopes within the broadleaf forest are unique to Goryu, but
the risks are high and the terrain is suitable for advanced skiers.
Goryu is below the tree line, so you'll be in forest wherever you go. One of Goryu's special features is the steep slopes of the broadleaf forest. The steep slopes aren't very wide, so each route is narrow. The terrain is best suited to advanced skiers. It's easy to get lost, and if you fall into a deep valley, there's a high risk of avalanches. Therefore, it's absolutely impossible to get lost on the route
Also, while the slopes at Happo and other peaks tend to be closer to town, at Goryu you ski further from the base of the mountain. At the end, you have to traverse a forest road along the river for over an hour to get back. This is too much of a challenge for snowboarders, and there are fewer and fewer snowboarders these days. In addition, because you have to cross the bottom of the slope to get back, it's a hotbed of avalanches in early spring, and you'll be exposing yourself to the risk of an avalanche for the entire hour and a half. Taking this into account, it's not exactly a slope for intermediate skiers
The real thrill of Goryu is skiing down steep slopes covered in thick powder snow in a beautiful broadleaf forest. Such a situation is rare overseas. Light powder snow doesn't stick to steep slopes, but Japan's slightly damp snow allows it to stick firmly to steep slopes, making steep and deep skiing a reality. Goryu is a field that inbound skiers can't resist
[Comment]
Tomohiro Tonegawa,
Color Sports Club Official Website: http://www.colorsportclub.com/
Introduction article on STEEP : https://steep.jp/spot/2732/
Hakuba Cortina Ski Resort | Nagano Prefecture
It's crowded because you can get around by lift!
Considering the skiing risks, it's more suitable for advanced skiers.
With steeper slopes than Tsugaike, this area offers a challenging and rewarding skiing experience. Many people buy a day pass for the ski resort, use the lifts to enter the backcountry area, and then return to the main ski area, repeating this cycle. This results in a very high volume of users. In that sense, the sheer number of people can be more stressful than the natural environment itself.
Geographically, the presence of cliffs and rivers means caution is necessary. In fact, there are many incidents where people fall into holes in the snow above the river, get stuck, and need help from other groups. Considering the skiing risks, it's not recommended for beginners and is more suited to advanced skiers. Because of the crowds and short routes, it's not often included in guided tours, but if you go with a guide, even beginners can enjoy the skiing.
[Comment]
Tomohiro Tonegawa,
Color Sports Club Official Website:http://www.colorsportclub.com/
Introduction article on STEEP : https://steep.jp/spot/2732/
Hakuba Norikura Ski Resort | Nagano Prefecture
The difficulty level is higher than Cortina, making it suitable for advanced skiers,
but beginners can participate depending on the conditions if the south-facing slopes are limited.
Like Goryu, this field is covered with a broadleaf beech forest. Cortina is open to beginners on guided tours, but Hakuba Norikura is not suitable for beginners even on guided tours. The reason is that it is characterized by steep forested slopes. This is why it is extremely popular with inbound skiers, but the steep slopes in the forest are too difficult, so not many Japanese people go there. It is inevitably aimed at advanced skiers, and even more so than Cortina
However, depending on the conditions, even beginners can climb the southern slope of Hakuba Norikura. The route is short, and you can quickly descend and return. However, the conditions on this southern slope are prone to change, and large avalanches can occur. Also, cracks appear on the slope, and injuries have occurred when visibility is poor, so this is an area that is greatly affected by the conditions and weather. Occasional troubles do occur, so it is best to go with a guide
[Comment]
Tomohiro Tonegawa,
Color Sports Club Official Website: http://www.colorsportclub.com/
Introduction article on STEEP : https://steep.jp/spot/2732/
