![]() snowboard snowboarding ski skiing telemark telemarking hakkoda japan |
Hakkoda Powder
Snow Tours ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Welcome to the #1 mountain in Japan for POWDER SNOW! What people are saying about Simon's Powder Tours: ![]() Love this place. Been 5 times in the last 8 years. I have boarded every single major resort in Japan, and quite a few of the smaller ones, over the last 15 years, some of them multiple times, and Hakkoda is the best for untouched backcountry. The quieter backcountry routes within an hour's drive of Niseko (Hirafu) for example see more backcountry traffic per week, than Hakkoda sees per season in my guesstimation. Long untouched runs. Fabulous nature and views. The Hakkoda Resort Hotel is fabulous as always with extremely kind and helpful staff, and good Japanese food. If you are going backcountry get Simon to take you ... for his unparalled knowledge of the mountain, backcountry safety, local insight, and witty stories. Simon gives a great tour. He knows where to find awesome freshies and always has a great attitude while shredding. Also, if you need back country gear (avi beacon, snow shoes, backpack, etc.) Simon can rent you anything you need. I had an incredible time at Hakkoda and I hope to come back soon! ![]() It was a great tour, even for someone like me with limited experience of backcountry it has been relatively easy to follow, and extremely rewarding and exciting! I would have never ventured to those areas by myself without you and Michael! ![]() My cheeks are still hurting after being smiling constantly for 48 hours in your
backyard. Yes, I think I actually I smiled in my sleep as well. ![]() I take a trip each year with my brothers to ski off-piste in the beautiful
mountains of Utah. We boot pack and traverse from the lifts in search of
that light Utah powder. Well, after skiing 5 meters of powder with Simon
in Hakkoda, it will be like returning to a Yugo after driving a
Ferrari. One brother's response after seeing a picture of our trip was,
"this makes my day at Alta look like kids stuff." Simon was
great company to be on the mountain with. It was less like a tour and more
like we had been friends for years. His knowledge of the terrain,
conditions, equipment, and language were invaluable. If you want to ski
mind blowing powder in paradise, call Simon, he'll hook you up. ![]() I skied with Simon and his working partner at that time, Michael, for four
days (February 4th- 7th, 2013). A couple of times we did some nice tours in
the backcountry where their knowledge of the terrain made everything go smooth and easy. At the end of the track, where we finally ended up, a minivan stood ready for picking us up and driving us back to the ropeway station.
When the ropeway was closed due to hard winds at the top, Simon and Michael came up alternative ideas instead of canceling.
I found both Simon and Michael being very positive, helpful and caring. I really hope I will have the opportunity to come back to Hakkoda and ski with them again.
Ski you later, I just wanted to thank you once again for sharing with us (four) the world of
back country style skiing in Hakkoda.
The sights we saw were truly amazing despite the fact that the snow
conditions were not quite as we had expected and hoped for - guess you
can not have great views and deep powder snow together all the time!!
On balance we are all glad to have visited and experienced Hakkoda and it is definitely on our radar.
The hotel was fantastic as were the management and staff and we would
appreciate your passing on our warmest gratitude to all there.
Finally we must not forget our bomb disposal expert and snowplough Ryan-
what a guy!! - please pass on our best wishes to him also!
It was a pleasure to have met you Simon and I for one enjoyed our chats
on the lift and at lunch.
Take care out there always and wishing you many deep powder days
(preferably light and dry). A FB message received today: Hi mate...how have you been? I'm working on the
final touches of my Japan video, then I will make a Hakkoda one and post it to
Youtube. We are coming back next Jan, I should have some dates soon. Stay well. ![]() Thank you for the wonderful time in Hakkoda. It was a blast. It was magic. It was unique. The quality of the powder was surreal. I don’t have enough superlatives to describe my first backcountry experience. Upon my return, I was simply speechless when my friends asked me about my trip. You have to see it to believe it ! Having your assistant Michael staying near the Hakkoda Resort Hotel was very
helpful. The previous evening, he kindly described a typical day and explained
what to expect. In the morning, he also taught me how to use the different gear
and strap it on my backpack. Since it was my first experience, his information
was priceless. Michael was also helpful on the mountain, probably a little bit
too much for my taste. After all, I tried backcountry to be outside of my
comfort zone … although I appreciated his help to stand up in the bottomless
powder :) For your information, I am already preparing my next trip to Hakkoda and I am
counting the days. Be warned ! ![]() Here are a few photos -- with Sterling diving in to some waist deeps and me looking for a snorkel to avoid choking on the faceshots! ![]() Hi Simon, Apologies I didn't post you this earlier, this is the video of
the weekend we spent with you in Hakkoda. Thanks again for an awesome weekend! My experience w/hakkodapowder was the BEST time I've ever had boarding! The
backcountry & snowshoeing was the highlight! Hakkoda is the most spectacular
place ever to snowboard. I doubt I'll ever encounter another incredible place
which will ever come close to this. ![]() Tina shreds pow at Hakkoda. Check out the giant tree well behind her! We've really seen all sides of Hakkoda in a few days. From an outstanding bluebird day with magnificent scenery to total whiteouts on the top of the gondola. All though night life is non-existent (except for what you can create yourself), when the powder finally arrives, it's well worth the wait. No crowds, and plenty of room to play. Thanks to your OUTSTANDING service Simon we've been able to get bookings at three different hotels, get driven up here and gotten special catering (comes in handy if you're not a seafood-afficionado :-) ). We've have some great days at the mountain with a 1:1 guide/guest-ratio, and when we got the powder it was well worth the long trip. ![]() Dan, Eric & Lars standing on top of the Mt. Ido volcanic crater on a rare bluebird day in February. We took the opportunity to do the 5km. Hokibatai route starting from this point! ![]() "Hey, when you are Norwegian, you like to jump! Lars starts to helicopter off a cornice down the Y-zawa route!" "Simon's team and their deep knowledge of the local geography and microclimate ensured we found unlimited, untracked deep champagne powder time and time again. The terrain was superbly varied from wide open bowls to tight tree runs. The organization was super efficient with transport ready and waiting at our exit point every time. We were able to take the runs mellow or as hard as we liked so catered really well for differing abilities/fitness levels. The short hikes from the gondola through the amazing snow monsters and were made easy by Simon and his team breaking trail and packing down the snow so we saved our energy for the untouched powder. A BIG thank you to Simon, Michael and Dan for a truly awesome weekend!!" ![]() Eric “Tree Well” Hwang ![]() Sean “Hyper Morning” Chan ![]() Andrew “Pow Addict” Munnoch ![]() Diana “Magnetic Butt” Chen Simon and Mike, this is Russ...hi-jacked my wife's facebook...thanks for another incredible day on Hakkoda! It just doesn't get any better than what we had today...sun was bright, powder was deep, and the mates were outstanding! ![]() This is a panaorama of Mt. Maedake. If you look close you can see the trail Simon, Russ, Pawel, and Mark snowshoed up. The back side was steep open powder fields....AWESOME! Thank u so much for the photo and awesome tour for 2 days! I think it
was the best one in my snowboarding experiences! I'd love to go back
there in if I get a chance! I will persuade my hubby
by showing this photo! ;) I am already so satisfied with my season ;) ![]() Mio, the powder queen! "Fantastic 1st day on Hakkoda. 70cm of fresh snow over yesterday. Simon toured us to places on the mountain we would never see otherwise. We
had a small group of 4 in total, which was fantastic given the sight of other groups heading into the backcountry with 10 to 20+ people each."
"The terrain at Hakkoda was amazing, the snow was light and fluffy and the tree skiing was epic. A resident of western Canada, I am no stranger to big dumps of snow and great mountain terrain, by the experience we had at Hakkoda yesterday with Simon was unique and magnificent. I will rave of this experience back home"
![]() Why is Michael smiling? You would too if faced with endless untracked powder as far as the eye can see! |
八甲田 パウダー
スノーツアー |
|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 2014
|