Tenki and Yuki Diary 5 Feb 08

Know the weather = know the snow pack = know the stability.

Steep Deep Japan Hakuba  weather data for the 24 hours to 7am for 860m asl Max temp +3C, min temp -5.5C.  -3C at 7am. Another 3cm of snow.   At 7am snow was still falling at less than 1cm per hour.  The last 24 hours has again been overcast, though with higher clouds.  Never any sunshine these days.

Field observations: Yesterday we decided it was not safe to travel in the backcountry.   Midday at 1600m the temperature was -2C with calm winds, not a breath.  Multiple natural avalanches were visible in the alpine region.

During Sunday's storm several; people were involved in an inbounds avalanche incident in Tsugaike ski resort in Hakuba.  Details in the SDJ Avalanche Incidents section.

Please refer to the Hakuba backcountry travel advisory from the guides at Evergreen Outdoors.