January 15, 2023. Hokkaido Newspaper.
Local officials call for increased safety measures after an avalanche claimed a life and the number of guided tours in the popular snowy mountains increase. On January 13, a woman believed to be a foreigner who was backcountry skiing outside the ski resort area was killed in an avalanche on Mt.Yotei (1,898 meters). There is a growing sense of danger among local officials and residents who are increasingly concerned about similar accidents occurring. In the Niseko ski resort area, which includes Kutchan Town and Niseko Town, the popularity of backcountry skiing has led to an increase in the number of guides, and local officials point out that safety management skills and protocols amongst guides vary. There is also a preference among skiing enthusiasts to avoid the backcountry rules enforced near the ski resorts and go out into the natural winter mountains that are not bound by the same rules and now there are calls for stronger safety measures throughout the region. “There is demand and money to be made, so there is a real sense that the number of guides is increasing.” A local guide describes the Niseko area as popular among European backcountry enthusiasts in recent years. Some guides even bring their clients from overseas. In the case of yesterday’s tragic accident, the guide is believed to have been a foreigner. Another local guide said, “Some guides are not able to sufficiently perceive the risks involved.” In the case of this most recent accident, several local business operators and those involved in the ski tourism industry have also questioned the judgment of the guide, saying that the tour was carried out in windy conditions and on avalanche-prone slopes. Some observers also point out that the accident occurred on a natural winter mountain not at a ski resort. For more than 20 years, ski resorts in the Niseko area have been operating under the “Niseko Rules,” based on lessons learned from fatal backcountry skiing accidents in the past. These “Niseko Rules” designate which off-piste areas and which backcountry gates will be opened based on weather and snow conditions and strongly encourage the use of safety equipment. Mt. Yotei is not covered by the “Niseko Rules.” Mr. Shintani, Director of the Niseko Avalanche Research Institute, based in Niseko Town, was involved in the decision-making process for the “Niseko Rules" and has been providing avalanche forecasts which are published daily and contain life-saving information about current avalanche and mountain weather and snow conditions in the Niseko ski resort area. Mr. Shintani points out the reality of the situation: “While the “Niseko Rules" are strictly enforced in the ski resorts, many guides take their clients to mountains without rules.” He adds that mountains outside of the resort rules require more extreme caution and worries that, “The more guides who do not understand the true nature of avalanches, the more accidents there will be.” As a result of the easing of Japanese immigration restrictions and the increase in the number of foreign visitors this winter, many skiers and snowboarders have found the backcountry even more appealing. According to a local guide business operator, “More people are heading to Mt. Yotei, where it is easier to get away from the crowds at the resorts, and ski and ride fresh powder snow.” Mr. Yamada, Chairman of the Niseko Winter Guide Association, which is made up of 23 guide operating companies in the Niseko area, said, “Not all of Mt. Yotei is dangerous, and it is the guide's role to choose where it is safe to ski. We would like to improve the sharing of information on the condition of Niseko's mountains in the future.” In response to the accident, local residents have voiced their opinion that the entire ski resort community should further promote training and cooperation among guides.
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