Dancing Snow: Myoko Outdoor Adventures

January 21, 2012

This week

We're going to be going a little slow this week, as Bill is in Hakuba this week for the week-long JAN/CAA Level 1 avalanche course. The timing is not great, but we think it's important to keep studying and stay safe. That doesn't mean we can't tour up to the 29th though; just email info@dancingsnow.com, and we'll do everything to get a guide ready for you!

January 1, 2012

No Snow in Autumn?
Tateyama in the Spring!

The snow was really bad early in the season, meaning that Dancing Snow, like all our friends around us, cancelled our November tour to Tateyama. But no worries—it's at least as much fun in May! Think corn snow, big, fast descents, trips to the base of the famous (and really beautiful) Mt. Tsurugi or up into some of the bowls and couloirs.

We have reservations at Raicho-so for May 2 to 5! We are definitely going, so reserve (very) early! Just drop a note to info@dancingsnow.com. Guaranteed to be a great trip.

Mammut Monitor Program
Try out a new Mammut beacon!

Dancing Snow is very pleased to announce that, thanks to Mammut and Outdoor Japan (where Bill is an editor), we can provide our guests with the chance to use Mammut's new Element beacon absolutely free during a tour! All you have to do is fill out a simple questionnaire after the tour about the beacon and what you thought about it.

Join us in the beautiful Myoko backcountry! Dancing Snow has something for every adventurer, from hiking in the woods for complete beginners, to big descents from area peaks.

You don't have to be an expert skier to enjoy your own backcountry adventure with Dancing Snow! If you're ready to have fun in the snow, we have something for you. Just tell us what you'd like to do; we'll arrange a program to make it happen.

A great big tour

Snowboarders, skiers, telemarkers, French, Japanese, a New Zealander and an American: perfect recipe for fun. Lots of snow—LOTS of snow. See the whole album here (not many shot skiing, because it was too much fun).

January 14, 2012

Too much snow!

Just a note: a trip planned for the 14th had to be canceled because the snow was just coming down too fast! Also meaning that the traffic came to a stop, the lifts didn't start running until late. Sorry to the two skiers who were to join Bill on the hill, but we do want to be safe, too. Let's do it again soon.

January 13, 2012

First time on Maeyama

The snow has just been great, and just deep enough for our first trip up Maeyama with Vanessa and Emmot. Just deep enough to practice kickturns on the way up, and for a really fast trip down through the powder. We also discovered the biggest bear tree I've found yet (see the whole album at Bill's Facebook page).

January 4, 2012

First tour and wild raisins

With all the good snowfall we had, and new friend Ralph with us for a private tour, we headed out from Suginohara Ski Area to go north and up Mt. Akakura. The brush (see photos) is still not entirely buried, but (also see photos) some good snow was falling, and we had a good descent, if a little slow on the flatter lower sections because of the unconsolidated snow. But we did have a rare treat out in the woods (see the Ideas section for more).

January 1, 2012

Happy New Year!

Another year has come; there's lots of snow on the ground and more to come; and the Dancing Snow World Headquarters is open and ready to be our starting place for more tours! We got the sign on the door, so we figure it's now official.

Just to start the the year out with a bang, I overwrote all the content on this page with an older file; well, New Year's cleaning the hard way, I guess! But we'll have a lot more news from tours and such shortly. Like tomorrow, when Bill has a private tour to Mt. Akakura. It will be fun to see how well the brush has been covered over, and how far the saplings have been bent over. Should be good, though! Now, which skis to take....

December 28, 2011

First hiking

First hiking of the season—lots of snow (hard work for the sherpa, but that's what he's paid for), with the enjoyable company of Richard and Karen from Canada (and currently Chiba), and beautiful out in the woods. Absolutely no animal tracks in the woods, as it's just too deep for them to get out. The snow is super-soft—had to pack hard for our lunchtime table, but it was cold and nice and the fondue and coffee (and wine and snacks) were all great. Looking forward to more very soon! (This is also up on our Dancing Snow Facebook page, which is new and needs some friends...)

December 6, 2011

The Dancing Snow World Headquarters arrives

OK, it's a big name for a simple building (there's not much good rental property in Shin-Akakura), but it will be a great, warm place for a pre-tour meeting, study sessions, a cup of coffee in the morning and a cold beer in the afternoon after a tour. Time to start decorating, add some carpet, hook up the electricity and get some heaters in (and the beer cooler). And we have about 3cm of snow on the ground�that has to be a good sign!

If you didn't think it could happen here: Myoko avalanche

These guys are both very lucky and not the wisest people in the way they deal with avalanches. Spot the mistakes after the first slide comes down....