Niseko

"Alive after 17 hours under an avalanche

A 21 years old has been found alive under an avalanche after 17 hours. He was found conscious and with just mild hypothermia according to the rescue services.

The man was skiing off piste near Evolène in the Swiss Valais when he was buried by the slide. His family reported him missing at 17h30 and a search found a slide measuring 50 by 150 meters with tracks entering. However for safety reasons the search operation had to be suspended until Sunday morning.

At first light rescue workers in a helicopter over flew the slide and saw the surface of the snow move. The man was buried some 50cm under the snow and was probably saved by the depth of burial and an air pocket he had managed to create around his head.

(c) pistehors.com"

This is one holiday story that the kid probably could have done without. Very lucky to be alive.

Essential backcountry kit:

Beacon, Probe, shovel and BUDDY!

Apparently we had a 2009's first snow sighting on Mt Youtei yesterday, October 4th. Its arriving early this year! Photographic evidence courtesy of Glen Claydon (notified via Japan Ski Experience's Facebook updates). Regular Kutchannel contributor Jaws42 once again takes home part of the prize: pride, and probably beer. Keep an eye out for snow in the village (corner grass in front of Abucha) and start getting your wax on. It's on!

The high cloud cover kept the riders cool and left both Mount Youtei and Annupuri clearly visible for the entire day, Niseko's stunning natural backdrop the perfect canvas for the day's events.

The race route at Niseko Village, weaving throughout what used to a golf course, was sufficiently challenging for the riders, as evidenced by even the eventually triumphant shacho club's huffing and puffing. Team Niseko looked hard to beat... are there no challengers? Muroran? Otaru? Hakodate? Sapporo? Tokyo? Bring it on.

The Hokkaido BBQ College was also in town to get down. Steaks, veggies, and bread, rounded out with aburi bacon. Have you seen them grill up aburi bacon? A slab of bacon the size of a human arm, slowly roasting inches from the coals, deep down inside you know that... "I am a carnivore." The soup & salad were simply ornamental.

As the day wound down a slight mountain breeze's chill reminded us all of epic powder days to come, but the weather looks like it should hold up throughout Niseko Cycle Week and Niseko Golf Week, just long enough to showcase the final weeks of Niseko's perfect summers. There was even talk amongst the locals of putting on a 2010 "Niseko Chrome Week"... can it be true? The Kutchannel hopes so. Bring on the Harleys, Hondas, and Kawasakis!

If you weren't able to attend Niseko Cycle Week, no worries, you have another week to get in on the action. Check the 2009 Niseko Cycle Week event schedule for a complete listing of this week's events.