Hakuba Tsugaike 'heli ski'

11 April 08

The ridiculous heli skiing operation from Tsugaike ski resort to Tengubara (below Norikura Dake) seems to be under a welcome threat since the helicopter lands in national park.  It has always been national park, so I don't know why they decide to only now make a fuss about it.

The rolling flat terrain of Tengubara, speckled with small pine bushes, sits below the rounded form of Norikura Dake. I took this picture on Christmas Day 2007 after camping in the area and skiing from Norikura Dake.  This is easy access terrain and a gateway to excellent backcountry touring. A joy-ride helicopter is not needed. Note: the heli doesn't even go to Norikura Dake.

It was reported on April 6 that 200 people took the heli ride on one weekend (its like an amusement park) and that unnaturally high volume of skiers could pose a threat to the habitat of the protected Ptarmigan bird native to the area. 

I hope they shut it down.  Really, if you cant walk on snowshoes or skins from the top of the Tsugaike tram to Tengubara, then you don't deserve to be there in the first place.  It is beginner 'backcountry' at its best.  A helicopter is not needed and not welcomed in what represents a natural and pretty area that people like myself ski tour in all winter.

Of course, the hordes of Japanese spring backcountry fans (self propelled) that flock to the area each weekend already number in the hundreds.  They even sign post the 'backcountry' route.  It basically becomes a ski resort area, with a signposted groomed piste all the way to the top of the tram station in the nature reserve.

On a related note, the national park status is valuable for this area as the terrain above Tsugaike ski resort would (god forbid!) make the best ski resort in Japan if someone actually designed and built a proper large-scale resort (like the French and Austrians do).  I am specifically talking about the area around the nature reserve, Tengubara, Norikura Dake and over the north east side to Renge Onsen area. Along with the eastern terrain from Tengubara down behind Hiyodori. Its all prime ski resort terrain that will probably get some developers attention as temperatures warm up and the lower resort terrain becomes grass in coming winters. Such development would be a nightmare come true.