Hakuba Backcountry

The premier backcountry location in

Asia.

If   backcountry   is   your   thing   then   Hakuba   is   your   place.   The   secret is   well   and   truly   out   that   Hakuba   has   steep   challening   terrain   that is   easily   accessible.   There   is   almost   never   a   time   when   lack   of snow   is   an   issue,   more   usually   it   is   a   matter   of   waiting   for   it   to   stop snowing   and   stabilize   and   then   picking   a   safe   line   and   safe   time   to go.   In   January   2017,   the   World   Free   ride   tournament   (extreme skiing   and   boarding)   was   held   for   the   1st   time   in   Asia,   in   (you guessed   it)   Hakuba-   see   the   video   below.   If   you   need   any   more convincing   have   a   look   at   the   Jeremy   Jones   and   Xavier   da   le   Rue movie trailers below. The   most   popular   ski   resorts   for   backcountry   are   Happo,   Tsugaike and    Cortina    with    Tsugaike    being    regarded    as    the    safest,    and Happo   as   having   the   easiest   access.   It   is   possible   to   do   1,000 metre   vertical   descents   after   only   a   short   hike   of   the   top   of   Happo. As   long   as   you   begin   your   descent   from   a   point   above   the   the   ski resorts   (through   one   of   the   backcountry   gates)   you   don’t   have   to worry   about   violating   any   local   ski   rules.   What   you   do   need   to worry   about   is   avalanche   safety,   so   you   need   to   have   appropriate avalanche    safety    training,equipment    and    experience    to    tackle these    runs    or    else    go    with    a    qualified    guide    from    one    of    the companies below. If   you   will   be   going   without   a   guide,   then   you   won’t   need   to   be   told to   check   the   daily   avalanche   report   but   remember   the   report   only gives   you   a   general   picture   of   hte   avalanche   situation   on   any given   day,   you   will   still   need   to   manage   the   terrain   in   order   to avoid localized dangers. Mountain   Life   Hakuba    does   week   long   backcountry   tours with    small    group    sizes    and    also    do    shorter    tours    with    private groups.   They   also   run   avalanche   course   AST   level   1   three   times during the season, and AST level 2 once. Hakuba   Evergreen    do   day   trips   into   the   backcountry   for   several different   levels   as   well   as   longer   multi   day   tours.   The   owner   Dave Enright   was   one   of   the   first   foreigners   to   set   up   a   business   in Hakuba.    They    also    offer    level    1    &    2   AST    avalanche    courses several times during the season. Hakuba   Powder   Tours   do   combined   6   or   7   night   backcountry   + accommodation   packages,   with   the   accommodation   being   at   their lodge   near   the   station   in   Hakuba.   The   company   is   run   by   the   ex olympic skier Steve Lee. .