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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.

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michaelackerman.org

Community Format Level One with SJMG

Durango Based Level One Avalanche Course- Community Format

San Juan Mountain Guides pioneered 3-day Hut Based Level Ones and the incredibly popular, 4-day Level One Advanced Course (formerly know as 4 day L1 Pro Course)

SJMG is always looking for new ways to refine our avalanche education programs and offer more learning and value for participants. This season, San Juan Mountain Guides is considering a new type of Level One Course: The Community Format (an L1 that adopts the evening classroom schedule incorporated in many local EMS/EMT courses)

This PROPOSED Durango Based Level One Avalanche Course Includes:

6, two-hour classroom sessions and two field days.

Course participants receive AIARE Level One certification upon course completion.

Number of Participants- 12 per session

Cost per Participant- ~$459.00

Classroom and Field Day Locations TBD

Session One begins 12/19

Classroom Sessions are on Tuesday Evenings/ No Classes over Xmas/NYE Break

Session Two begins 2/6

Attendance at all classroom and field experiences is required.

Session One Classroom Dates: 12/19 1/2 1/9 1/16 1/23 1/30

Session One Field Days: TBD by class/field conditions

Session Two Classroom Dates: 2/6 2/13 2/20 2/27 3/6 3/13

Session Two Field Days: TBD by class/field conditions

Interested?

I'm assembling a list of interested students before this goes live on SJMG's homepage.

CONTACT ME HERE with QUESTIONS and to SECURE YOUR SPOT

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