love | michaelackerman

top of page

POWDER & PEAKS- JAPAN 2020

We’ll begin and end this expedition visiting some lesser known sidecountry areas of Hokkaido. Expect to bookend the Rishiri mission with secret tours around Furano (and group dependent) a crack at Tokachidake. Our team’s main focus will be the remote and elusive Rishiri volcano. Working with my local partners at Stealth Backcountry allows us to hit the goods from the moment we land!

Floating the Volcano

Rishiri Island is a backcountry skiing haven with a huge variety of ski and snowboard terrain for those willing to earn their turns. Mount Rishiri is a dormant cone-shaped volcano at the center of the remote Rishiri Island. In the native Ainu language, “Rishiri” means “island with a high peak”, which pretty much sums it up! Others call Rishiri the “floating island”, possibly because you’ll gain a lot of pleasure from floating in the deep powder!

Skiing Rishiri Island is on the bucket list for many Japan backcountry skiing aficionados. Powder on Hokkaido is world renowned because of the abundant, light, fluffy, amazing cold smoke that results from the weather systems that blow down from Siberia. Compared to most Hokkaido ski areas, Rishiri Island is much further north (and closer) to Siberia so the powder there is even better than amazing!

And if devouring all that Japanese powder isn’t enough for you, there’s also an abundance of local seafood to satisfy your appetite. A Rishiri ski trip provides a delightfully unadulterated Japanese experience.

Where is Rishiri Island?

Rishiri Island (Rishiritō) is a small island in the Sea of Japan, about 20 kilometers off the northwest coast of Hokkaido. The Oshidomari Port on Rishiri Island can be accessed via ferry from Otaru or Wakkanai (Hokkaido’s northernmost town). Wakkanai is a 5.5 hour train trip from Sapporo.

Rishiri Terrain

Mount Rishiri has an elevation of 1,721 metres. Depending on weather conditions, the backcountry terrain we’ll access will include a combination of ATL alpine zones and NTL/BTL tree skiing. Mt Rishiri has many ridges, gullies, and bowls- some of which are super steep, and there are several peaks to tackle. BUT, there is also a reasonable amount of mellow terrain below treeline for us to explore.

We will utilize a snowmobile to cover the long and flat distances at the base of the mountain before committing to human-power. No worries if you’re not a seasoned sled-neck!

Rishiri Ski Season

In late winter and early spring there’s a greater chance for clear days, although the main, year-round weather inhibitor to summiting Mt Rishiri is the wind. Rishiri is renowned for its oft-gusty conditions! Our expedition will run from 2/22/20 to 3/1/20.

Sign Me Up!/ Contact

michaelackerman.org

O light! Thank you, Albert.

"No love without a little innocence. Where was the innocence? Empires were tumbling down; nations and men were tearing at one another's...

O light! Thank you, Albert.

Seeking Perspective, Participation and Peace at 9318ft

When there’s 400 residents in your town and almost one hundred of your neighbors decide to gather, it feels like a big crowd. “I really...

Seeking Perspective, Participation and Peace at 9318ft

Denali- Weston Slay@Home Series

Great online session this past Friday night( 4/17/20)>listening to Pat talk about his recent West Butt trip and providing folks lots of...

Denali- Weston Slay@Home Series

WINTER 19-20 photoflection pt.1

WINTER 19-20 photoflection pt.1

WINTER 19-20 photoflection pt.2

WINTER 19-20 photoflection pt.2

2020 Silverton Splitfest

9th Annual Silverton Splitfest [if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"...

2020 Silverton Splitfest

Sexy San Juans

The San Juans getting some love in this new iPhone commercial- Mt Emma and Potosi at :06 and some Helitrax mitigation at :30. Fuck yeah!!!!

Making Memories of the Now

“For a sport so present in the now, it’s the memories that make it important. Going fast through nature. Those long moments lost to a...

Making Memories of the Now

Winter, Dropping in for More

I dragged my feet with this week's entry. I knew the pattern was going to change back to winter. I didn’t want to boast more about...

Winter, Dropping in for More

Stepping Out

Caution is giving way to confidence. Small strides lengthening into a robust march, As our footfalls take us deeper and higher into the...

Stepping Out

1

2

Featured Posts

untitled image

#avynuggets Read the Story & Develop Home Turf Advantage

untitled image

#avynuggets 21st Century AvyEd w/ Ack

O light! Thank you, Albert.

O light! Thank you, Albert.

So Quickly October Arrived.

So Quickly October Arrived.

untitled image

Purple Mountains

untitled image

Outlaws in a Blizzard

Seeking Perspective, Participation and Peace at 9318ft

Seeking Perspective, Participation and Peace at 9318ft

Denali- Weston Slay@Home Series

Denali- Weston Slay@Home Series

untitled image

Silverton

WINTER 19-20 photoflection pt.1

WINTER 19-20 photoflection pt.1

Recent Posts

Totally Deep Podcast

#avynuggets Companion Rescue Showdown

#avynuggets Read the Story & Develop Home Turf Advantage

#avynuggets 21st Century AvyEd w/ Ack

O light! Thank you, Albert.

So Quickly October Arrived.

Purple Mountains

Outlaws in a Blizzard

Recent Newsletter

Screen Shot 2019-07-10 at 7.02.13 AM.png

Post Archive

Search By Tags

Blog Archive

michaelackerman.org

bottom of page