1 March 09
Hakuba has become the crust capital of the mountain world. It all started last week with a cloudy day that was very warm to well above 2200m, followed by a couple of rain events with overnight freezes. The result is thick temperature and rain crust everywhere. All aspects and all elevations and at both ends of the valley. I get out quite a bit and have seen nothing but crust. Places I go for pockets of low angle wind deposited snow are even struggling. Some of the crust I breakable under skis, sometimes it is boilerplate. The best touring now is for sunny aspects and good corn snow before lunch. Overcast and cold days offer nothing fun.
Eric and I attempted an alpine traverse from Goryu to Happo. Conditions started well but closed in on us as we reached the main ridge. We lost all visibility so hung out enjoying a long alpine lunch and returned teh way we came. Next time.
The aborted traverse allowed some up close time with the diamonds on Goryu Dake (2814m, pictured above) and a unique aspect of Hakuba, revealing some of the steepest short lines in the valley.
I have also been out with Mio, Kayoko and Junko in great weather. We had a long day of multiple descents starting on Norikura Dake and working our way through a variety of terrain styles and aspects after that It was a great day, perfect backcountry touring and memorable fun. Despite the crust.
Our lines on Norikura Dake's avalanche bowl.
dangerous routes
I cannot conceive how you can safely get down slopes as steep as this on Goryu, but I enjoy living vicariously through your pictures.
When people express surprise at seeing Hana hiking in the mountains, I often point them in the direction of your blog (Hakuba-Yari) to see what dogs (and humans) are really capable of.
Thanks for pointing people
Thanks for pointing people to my blog. I have a few times directed others to yours when we are talking about the joy of roaming in nature with a dog. Poor Lloyd has had little to no action this season though. Spring is his time.
As for negotiating steep terrain such as on Goryu Dake. We had no intention that day of riding the main couloirs criss-crossing the diamond faced peak visible from the valley. It was bullet proof ice crust top to bottom - extremely dangerous conditions on skis... and not much fun either. Nor would I typically attempt them on any given day in midwinter. In spring it is different, though still a serious undertaking. A well known mountain skier died on Goryu Dake last spring. His name was Yuki Arai.
People need a
People need a map.
http://itm-asp.com/cc/1615/83YMf2HC
Yes, the route from Happo-One to Goryu seems to be a dengerous one in winter though it is a popular one in summer. It must be a challengeable route in March/begin.
Karamatsu Sansou opens from April/end. Goryu Sansou opens from June/mid and during May Golden week. It requires one-day round trip between Goryu Toumi ski area and Shira-dake. It requires one-day round trip between Hapo-One ski are and Karamatsu-dake. It means one night in a tent is required for a trip from Happo-One to Goryu in winter.
Note that there is another Daikoku-dake in Norikura which is more well-known than one in Hakuba.
This March 1st at Karamatsu-dake was a day cursed. Two of six members were killed by hypothermia near to Karamatsu-dake. A lady (51) dropped to Toyama-side, and a gent (45) had been watching her. Another two (male 57 and female 50) were killed by hypothermia after dropping from around the 3rd cairn of Karamatsu-dake.
Thanks for the map. >It
Thanks for the map.
>It requires one-day round trip between Hapo-One ski are and Karamatsu-dake. It means one night in a tent is required for a trip from Happo-One to Goryu in winter.
Not really, but possibly. From Goyu to Karamatsu would be about 7 hours maximum, then less than 1 hour to traverse the ridge back to Happo ski resort. I am happy to do that as the sun sets.