Kita Hiyodori the pick

4 Jan 09

With the Happo backbowls hammered by wind and not much low altitude snow we have been in the Otari end of the valley again touring north aspects from about 2000m. And it has been good. I tail guided a group today with a few other locals out and about either in pairs or guiding clients. It was busy at first but plenty of lines on offer to space everyone out. By midday we hardly saw another person.

Small slab release on the exact bowl we decided not to drop into a few days earlier.

If it didn't snow again for another month (I wish!), Hakuba Yari would keep me very busy. I am now so satisfied that I bagged a summit descent in early November before winter started to arrive. With another 7 meters or so of snow due to fall in the valley before March is out, the peaks are all but gone for now.

Comments

Submitted by SC on 5 January 2009 - 9:45am.

People need a map.
http://itm-asp.com/cc/1615/r5O0mCVH
I've never been on the top of Hiyodor Peak, cos I prefer to Tenguhara (also called Tengupara) slope or Hakuba Norikura slope rather. The south face of Hiyodori Peak has much avy risk where a fatal accident last season on the popular access path from Tsugaike Kogen ski area to Tenguhara. I suppose an access from the west face of the peak would be moderate and safe. Soudai Hut and Seijodai Hut are private ones. Tsugaike Lodge and Tsugaike Hutte are commercial ones.
FYI. Another BC course:
http://itm-asp.com/cc/1615/Or40VcGq
I never been. I suppose this course would be rather for snow trecking than for down-hill skiing. It would be easy on fine day without wind. However, you might lost your way in foggy day (causing a fatail accident) cos there are rather flat hills/ridges. Avy risk would be when climbing on Yama-no-kami. Much trecking experience in summer season or much navi skill in winter season would be required. ?

Submitted by Chris (i-cjw.com) on 5 January 2009 - 6:33pm.

Is that Hakuba Yari in the last photo? Looks different from how I remember it. Nice conditions up there though!

Submitted by Damian on 6 January 2009 - 8:53am.

CS - I may be wrong, but I do not believe that there was any fatal accident last season on the road that traverses below the south slope of Hiyodori. It certainly was not documented nor reported in the Japan Avalanche Network end of season meeting, nor spoken about in town.

Chris - yes, thats Hakuba Yari as viewed from ENE. With the lack of snowfall and strong winds of late, approach conditions are pretty good for a mountaineering outing (and also a ski descent).

Submitted by SC on 11 January 2009 - 5:41am.

I was confused. See the map below.
http://itm-asp.com/cc/1615/5MT0nT2L
The fatal avy accident happened at 16:00 on Feb 3rd 2008 on "Rinkan Course" inbound Tugaike Kogen ski area. Newspapers did not report the accurate location. I guess the site was at around "B" marked. Two ladies (both 20, beginners) were killed by an avy. They failed a stop sign though the course was closed by avy danger at that point. There was a controversy cos the Rinkan Course was only the way for beginners when descending.
My poor memory told that there would be a fatal avy accident at "A" marked several years ago. But, it might be wrong.
Tsugaike has many good and popular hiking courses in summer season, but the safety is not guaranteed in winter unlike summer.

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