It's very forward thinking for Niseko Village (Higashiyama) resort to educate and promote avalanche safety on a zone and it's dangers, snowpack and terrain traps before allowing access to shredding it. Other resorts around the world should follow in their boot-steps. The steep and deep Mizuno-no-Sawa area is controlled and patrolled, but does not keep you out of powder covered crevasses or self sluff-slide trouble. Having some basic avalanche s

The storm settled and the sun is showing us what the huge snowfall has done to our Hokkaido landscape. Mt. Yotei is looking loaded with snow as is the rest of the Niseko area. After riding days of tree lines through the storm, it's so good to see where we are snowboarding again. The backcountry access gates in Hanazono, Hirafu, Higashiyama and Annupuri opened up and skiing and snowboarding here is all time! We are enjoying the sun because the for