January 21, 2017, Mt Yotei, Hokkiado Japan

Yoyo and I tagged along with  Yoshiko Ohba and IMG / JMG Cvetko Podlogar who was scouting a possible new route on Mt Yotei.  The new route didn't pan out for client usage (too long a traverse for split-boarders and the creek / ravine crossing was a bit sporty)   We climbed to 1200 meters and found that wind had blasted the snow to unpleasant ice and crust.   We considered doing a bit of traverse to allow a fall line descent to the cars, but rejected that after observing some shooting cracks on cross loaded slopes.   We managed to find some decent snow below 1000 meters -- enough fun to ski below our uptrack and skin back up to make a long traverse back to the cars.     As a PNW skier -- I found it strange to start skinning at 400 meters (1300 ft) with a snow depth of 5+ feet.   Event though Hokkiado is about the same lattitude as northern California -- it's much much colder -- as prevailing winds come from Siberia instead of Hawaii.

Mt Yotei -- only another 600 meters above in 40+ kph winds.






We did find some soft snow.


Ski sponsor style shot.