Stay Safe Powder Nozawa
For all the joy and delight of a day out skiing or boarding in powder – a powder day can also be super deadly.
This goes not just for skiing off-piste in the backcountry, but inbounds as well.
People travel from all over the world for Nozawa Onsen’s epically deep powder… But many of us have never experienced such deep snow.
The dark side of this life-changing powder is that it also takes lives – avalanches and people suffocating in the snow.
The light, fluffy snow can turn holes, valleys, depressions and moats around trees into death traps.
When you fall into a hole or moat, the loose snow can act like quicksand, pulling you down – unfortunate for anyone who falls in headfirst.
As gravity pulls you downward, the loose snow covers up your airways.
With the once-in-a-decade snowstorm hitting Japan over the last week, the quick succession of heavy snowfall within a short amount of time results in surface avalanches due to unstable snowpack.
Two people have already passed away this season at Nozawa Onsen and two men were found in the backcountry at nearby Tsugaike Mountain Resort after being hit by an avalanche.
As people search for fresh powder, in and amongst trees, there’s also risk of death from high-speed impact with those trees.
Here’s some advice on how to stay safe out there!
It’s time to forget the saying: “There are no friends on a powder day.”
Buddy up and don’t ride alone! Make sure you and your riding pals have agreed to look out for each other.
- Always ski trees with a partner and stay in visual and audio contact.
- Have regular points on the descent where you regroup and check everyone is there.
- If you fall towards a tree, try grab at the trunk or branches to stop yourself from falling into the moat.
- If you do fall into a moat, try not to struggle… Keep your airways clear and wait for your partner to come and help.
- Take extra precautions at the end of the day when your legs are tired and you’re out searching in different places for any untouched snow.
- Nozawa specific: Do not cut between the cat tracks, especially on Forest Trail as it can cause avalanches and injure beginners below. Also, don’t ski the steeper runs, specifically Schneider and Utopia in the early morning before the resort opens as they have groomers with winches operating and people can get injured.
Backcountry
Nozawa Onsen has recently become famous for its backcountry skiing. People head out all the time, often into the back bowl off the back of Yamabiko.
If you’re venturing out into the backcountry, make sure you file a backcountry plan report with the Ski Patrol office before heading out. Read here for more information on how to do this.
It’s important to have the right equipment before you set out including;
- Avalanche Beacon
- Probe
- Shovel
- Food and Water
- Headlight
- Warme Clothes and Back up
- Cell Phone that works
- First Aid Kit
- Lighter and anyting else to aid in safety and survival
When venturing into the backcountry, it is entirely at your own risk. Because of this, it’s important to know what you’re doing.
Respect the mountain, read the conditions and stay safe out there!