Hakuba
Anyone here?
Any recommendations for best mountain in the valley (i.e. steepest, elevation, number of runs)
Any recommendations for good areas to look at doing some front/backcountry (not too far back) for guys who have no f idea of where they are?
I had my first day of riding today (in way too long) and ran into Jeremy Jones and the Teton Gravity Research crew !! at the peak of Happo-One heading out for a 4 day hike to do some filming in the deep backcountry.
I love Jeremy Jones! Did you talk to them? Pretty sure I would have been star struck and not said anything! haha
I love Teton Gravity Research! Did you talk to them? Pretty sure I would have been star struck and not said anything! haha
(they are very loosely associated to my business)
lol riders a total poser. He has no id 
I spoke to Jeremy for about 10 mins re Hakuba backcountry, he was really nice and gave me some very helpful direction. The crazy part is that I didn’t realise who I was talking to until after they had set off on their hike. I also had a chat with some of the other TGR guys (I think JK(?) and a tall guy with a beard ) they were really nice but I wasn’t aware of TGR until I got back and googled them.
The worst part is that I told Jeremy that “you sound like you know what you’re talking about” re backcountry riding.
I haven’t seen deeper yet but watched the trailer this afternoon and will buy asap. Looks insane.
They said they were heading out for 4 days, had all their camera equipment with them so I’m guessing we have another awesome human powered backcountry TGR flick to look forward to!!
The worst part is that I told Jeremy that “you sound like you know what you’re talking about” re backcountry riding.
Hahaha that’s classic 
Cool you got the chance to talk to him though. Maybe he liked the fact you didn’t know who he was???
Haha, that’s so funny Benji. ‘You sound like you know what you’re talking about’.
So how’s the snow over there? I saw on Facebook you said high pressure. Any snow in the forecast? How’s the board?
Gamblor is definitely the man to speak to about Hakuba. Check out the videos he’s been posting. If you’re lucky enough he might even show you something. PM him.
There’s some good out of bounds in the trees on the far left (skier’s) side. Read K2’s Hakuba thread, I left some info about it.
yeh that is probably one of the funniest things you could say to Jeremy Jones! stoked for you though
I didnt get to do any backcountry off Happo or Goryu as I didnt know where to go. The cook at our hostel was goin backcountry pretty much every day off either mountain.
If you make a trip out to Cortina its awesome. They have some tamer backcountry straight off the top of the resort through proper gates. Its an awesome tree run which you ride all the way down to a frozen over (and snowed over) river which you ride down and then through this massive dam wall thing, which you ride through and follow cat tracks. Keep taking the cat tracks to the left and keep going left around the mountain as you actually are in another resort and wont be able to use their lifts. eventually it opens up and you have to traverse far far left across a bunch of green runs of the other resort and the lift furthest skiers left is Cortina again. A really cool run. Also at the top of Cortina you instead of going through the backcountry gates you drop the cat track and go straight ahead through the expert only gates and once it opens up drop in left and keep working your way through alll the way across there as there is some mint tree runs there.
The lift halfway up on skiers left of the main run, take that then swing left at the top. bout 50m along go under the rope on the left where it opens up and sesh that whole bowls and area back towards the direction of the main run and the lift you came up.
Sweet tree runs! and you may come across the local bear/pig/deer things. really cool animals!
Cortina is really chilled with riding under ropes/through trees, but the past week or two the top two lifts have been closed to the top of the mtn as there has been massive snow and huge avi risk.
But I highly recomemnd Cortina after a fresh dumping. its work the longer bus rides there. Only prob is if they close the top for too much snow.
I think Ullar might hate me.
It has been dumping for over a month and on the day I arrived it rained quite heavily up to about 1300m.
All signs point to sun and crust for the rest of my stay :(
Was meant to be going on a guided backcountry tour tomorrow but half of our group pulled out because very strong winds apparently destroyed what has been described as the perfect snowpack, also on my first day of riding - apparently the guys that went out today on Happo and Tsugaike set off a few decent sized slides.
Thanks for the info. It’s very helpful. A few people have told me that Cortina is the spot for accessible front-country so will give that a go, but from what I have seen the last few days I don’t have very high hopes.
I should be in whis….
Ullr hates you but loves me for I have paid homage!!
Trees at Hakuba Cortina
only just saw this thread!
by the way guys, I was just told this today but if you duck a rope or go in any area marked out of bounds on the trail maps you immediately void your travel insurance (if something should happen to you). So remember, (1)always scope out your exits - don’t just blindly follow tracks or other people, (2)don’t play in avy terrain (including trees) without a partner,avy gear & knowledge. If you do hit a tree and break a leg be prepared to drag yourself back to the resort for the patrol to rescue you and for your insurance to be valid
Valid point. That goes for any mountain. Travel insurance will only cover you for accidents on piste, unless you have a special clause and pay a premium for the extra coverage (I’m guessing it will be significantly more as the risks/costs of rescue are much higher).