FAQ
Q: When is the best time to come and ski hokkaido?
A: I would say that there is a strong chance of getting the goods anytime between January and February, and it is all about having a storm hitting the area for the week you are in town. The snowstorms here have enough firepower to take conditions from "meh" to "holy epic!" in a matter of just a day or two, and often overnight. Good snow is a bit of gamble after mid March, but anytime before that is a good bet.
Q: what are yukipowderguru trips like?
A: I will book all accommodations during the trip, show up with a van, or two if necessary, and take you to amazing locations both on and off the mountains across the island. We like to get away from the crowded areas and take you to locations that not many know even exist. We will also accompany you to dinner and take you to places that I would like to go and eat personally, from awesome ramen joints to cozy hole-in-a-walls that serve true Japanese local food. All you need to do is show up with your ski gear, and I will take care of you. Be sure to bring a towel and dry clothes everyday, because we make the point of going to an onsen after every ski session. It is good for recovery, and it is good for the soul.
Q: what should i bring in terms of gear?
A: First of all, you will need a backcountry set-up. This includes minimum safety gear of a beacon, probe, and shovel, a backpack to carry it along with your skins, snacks and extra layers. You will also need a way to get up the hill; whether it’s skis with touring bindings or a splitboard. It is hard to say what to wear because what works best is different for everyone, and figuring out the layering system for Japan is an art of its own. In general, a thin baselayer top and bottom, lightweight fleece midlayer, a puffy for when we’re stopped or it gets cold, and a good waterproof shell jacket and pants for protection from wind and snow.
Everyone has their own system, but as an example, I wear pretty much everything Patagonia: skins as baselayer top and bottom, Patagonia merino tights, R1 with hood(very important), Powslayer bibs/jacket. I often wear nano air vest when hiking and have another nano air jacket in the pack when it gets cold.
The idea is to have midlayers that breathe, and you can take off or put on throughout the day so that you don't sweat much and you don’t get cold. If you get too hot and sweat too much, you will inevitably get cold when you stop moving, and it can be extremely difficult to get warm again when wet, so having a layering system that allows you to adjust your temperature throughout the day is key.
As for your quiver, if you can afford to bring two pairs of skis, then I would bring one all-mountain pair and another “THE DEEP DAY” specific pow skis. If you can only bring one pair, then something wider than usual, but still skiable in variable conditions (i.e. a DPS wailers 112) would do just fine. If you are a snowboarder, you will definitely want to bring a splitboard even if it means that you have to rent one.
Q: what is the cancellation policy?
A: Due to the nature of our service and how the trips are set up, cancellation fee upon sending a deposit will be;
-25% of trip total cost when cancelled before 6 weeks prior to departure date
-50% of trip total cost when cancelled within 6 weeks prior to departure date
-100% of trip total cost when cancelled within 3 weeks prior to the departure date
*please keep in mind that by sending a deposit your group understand and assume the risk of injury or incident that could happen during our trips and agree to remove us of all liabilities.