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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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A White Christmas?

I've mentioned my affinity for Durango Snow Lovers before.

Jeff's update on Thursday is giving me reason to hope.

12/7/17 Thursday 4 am

Everyone is asking when it will snow. If you look back through history big storms in November are nearly non-existent. Big storms in December have happened and are usually memorable, but they are not as common as you think, in fact going back to 1991, there were 12 years we had a total of 10 inches of snow or less for the entire month of December.

Here are some highlights: 1999 .01", 1998 .07", 16 1.5",05 3.6", 95 4.4", 03 4.8", 00 5.0".

I could go on but you get the idea, in all 12 years of <10", 12 years >10" 2 years they missed measurements.

I personally would much rather get this persistent ridge pattern over with now, have the ridge break down right around Christmas with the cold air in place and let the storms track in. Yes, these measurements were in town not in the foothill/mountain areas and I realize that most areas above 7400' are used to more snow than we have had so far this year. I still think it is going to come after the 20th, I am watching modeling of a bowling ball storm come through the southwest starting about 23rd, if this keeps up it would make for a nice Christmas storm! Models have no doubt been struggling, this cold has been further west than they predicted, a slight warm-up still looks likely going into next week, but as I have said anything is really possible after the 15th.

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