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

SPLITFEST 2018

Splitfest 2018 is in the books.

Going into the 7th Annual Silverton Splitfest, I was nervous about conditions.

The snow was melting quick and a huge Dust Storm on 4-12 smoked the Juans.

But mother nature gave us the gift of almost a foot of new snow Thursday into Friday.

It made for an amazing weekend of incredible riding. Thanks to all for joining me and Silverton Avalanche School at this annual gathering of the tribe.

What a blessed life we lead!

On Day One of the fest, SAS hosted our final Avalanche Rescue Clinic of the season- Dust was blowing and the winds were chucking. As I buckled my bindings to head down at 4pm, we got hit with a huge gust that clocked in at 70 mph at Putney.

On Friday, an amazing group of splitters joined Jasper, Courtney and I for a rad, Day Two beginner clinic. We got our butts kicked above treeline, got blower storm pow and first tracks on the milk run and finished the day in some amazing cold smoke in the casa trees. The turns kept getting better as it continued nuking on us all day. It dumped all night and we all knew Saturday was going to be off the hook! We finished the day with an awesome presentation back at Kendall Mtn. from local CAIC forecaster Jeff Davis.

It was tough to sleep Friday night knowing how good Saturday's conditions were going to be. Another powder day in April- keep dismissing this season, fools!

I had a rocking group and the conditions did not disappoint. We pulled off one of my favorite RMP loops- the OH PRO POW tour and finished with big smiles, three big descents and just over 9 miles on the odometer.

This was the first time I was going to run four straight days of programming at Splitfest. To be frank, I was toasted Sunday. Plus the snow had changed from Saturday blower to Sunday corn. It was time to rally and step up for another advanced day tour. Up to Prospect and a morning descent off the ridge. Up R3's massive south face and back to the boiler and then a final ascent up to Putney. Strapping in, we shredded the pipe, dropped the Casa Path and hit CR 14 back to the TH. The team slayed it. I was crushed. Our 7 mile tour was a fitting way to end the 7th Annual Silverton Splitfest!

Archive

Search By Tags

bottom of page