All deposits are nonrefundable. Payment in full of the remaining balance is due 180 days before your trip starts.
9 Day Hokkaido Japan Guided Backcountry Skiing
Join us for nine days of skiing in Japan! This is a ski trip doubled with a cultural experience. Explore the amazing Japanese terrain, food, and culture with us in January!
Overview
Itinerary
Prerequisites
Inclusions
Gear
You'll travel to a few different areas in Japan, including Niesko and Furano. Each offers a different experience!
Day 0 - Arrival in Hokkaido!
- Pickup by Blackbird Mountain Guides.
- Group dinner, staying in Furano for the night.
Day 1 - Central Hokkaido Ski Day
Day 2 - Central Hokkaido Ski Day
Day 3 - Central Hokkaido Ski Day
Day 4 - Ski and Travel Day
- Breakfast at hotel / Air BNB.
- Ski laps in Hokkaido, half day.
- Drive to Niesko. Cultural day! Enjoy the amazing and unique Japanese culture.
Day 5 - Niesko
- We’ll cover ski mountaineering skills if not previously covered.
- Ski touring in Niesko. We’ll choose the location based on the snow conditions. This day will be used to assess movement skills and find terrain that challenges us and allows us to use ski mountaineering skills.
- Team Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 6 - Niesko
- We’ll cover ski mountaineering skills if not previously covered.
- Ski touring in Niesko. We’ll choose the location based on the snow conditions. This day will be used to assess movement skills and find terrain that challenges us and allows us to use ski mountaineering skills.
- Team Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 7 - Niesko
- We’ll cover ski mountaineering skills if not previously covered.
- Ski touring in Niesko. We’ll choose the location based on the snow conditions. This day will be used to assess movement skills and find terrain that challenges us and allows us to use ski mountaineering skills.
- We'll end the trip with a team dinner to celebrate!
Day 8 - Travel day
Today is our last day, we'll all fly home today after an amazing trip full of awesome skiing!
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- Advanced Resort Riding Skills - Including off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions.
- Intermediate Touring Experience - Including efficient gear management and skinning, transition technique, with 20+ days of backcountry experience.
- Strong Fitness - Able to spend a long, active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of 1-1.5 hours between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 8-10 miles, climbing 2,500 - 3,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day. People with strong fitness typically have a strenuous workout 3-4 days a week
Ski/Split Touring Gear
- Alpine Touring Ski or Splitboard Setup - No snowshoes
- Alpine Touring or Splitboard Boots
- Climbing Skins
- Touring Backpack - with pockets for avalanche gear
- Adjustable Touring Poles
- Avalanche Beacon
- Avalanche Shovel
- Avalanche Probe
- Headlamp
- Lodge Slippers Clothing & Accessories
- Technical Outerwear (jacket, bibs/pants)
- Multiple Midlayer Options
- Gloves
- Helmet
- Goggles
- Beanie
- Baseball Cap
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Water Bottle / Hydration Pack (2L)
- Lunch and Snacks
Know Before you go
Price/Person
$250.00
Private Programs
Duration:
View Full Itinerary
Private Programs
Blackbird Mountain Guides offers both scheduled group programs and private programs.
Private programs are simply above and beyond what Blackbird Mountain Guides currently has scheduled. Scheduled courses are not always less expensive. Before booking a trip with Blackbird Mountain Guides, clients are encouraged to review the differences between these types of programs, and to decide what works best for them.
SCHEDULED PROGRAMS
Scheduled Programs have fixed dates, itineraries, objectives, curriculum, and costs. They typically appeal to solo individuals or small groups or who are looking to share the cost of their program with a larger group. Correspondingly, scheduled programs are less expensive for smaller groups (1-2), and they provide the opportunity to meet others with similar interests. If you have a large group (3+), Scheduled programs will often be more expensive. They can fill up quickly, and scheduling flexibility is obviously limited.
Scheduled programs will have advertised dates. All scheduled programs can be run as private programs with private dates/rates as well.
PRIVATE PROGRAMS
Private programs have scheduling freedom. They typically appeal to those who would like some flexibility in planning their own trip or course. In this regard, Itineraries and objectives can be tailored to suit current conditions as well as client goals. Private programs are normally less expensive for larger groups (3+). If you have a small group (1-2) private programs will be more expensive.
Full Itinerary
You'll travel to a few different areas in Japan, including Niesko and Furano. Each offers a different experience!
Day 0 - Arrival in Hokkaido!
- Pickup by Blackbird Mountain Guides.
- Group dinner, staying in Furano for the night.
Day 1 - Central Hokkaido Ski Day
Day 2 - Central Hokkaido Ski Day
Day 3 - Central Hokkaido Ski Day
Day 4 - Ski and Travel Day
- Breakfast at hotel / Air BNB.
- Ski laps in Hokkaido, half day.
- Drive to Niesko. Cultural day! Enjoy the amazing and unique Japanese culture.
Day 5 - Niesko
- We’ll cover ski mountaineering skills if not previously covered.
- Ski touring in Niesko. We’ll choose the location based on the snow conditions. This day will be used to assess movement skills and find terrain that challenges us and allows us to use ski mountaineering skills.
- Team Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 6 - Niesko
- We’ll cover ski mountaineering skills if not previously covered.
- Ski touring in Niesko. We’ll choose the location based on the snow conditions. This day will be used to assess movement skills and find terrain that challenges us and allows us to use ski mountaineering skills.
- Team Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 7 - Niesko
- We’ll cover ski mountaineering skills if not previously covered.
- Ski touring in Niesko. We’ll choose the location based on the snow conditions. This day will be used to assess movement skills and find terrain that challenges us and allows us to use ski mountaineering skills.
- We'll end the trip with a team dinner to celebrate!
Day 8 - Travel day
Today is our last day, we'll all fly home today after an amazing trip full of awesome skiing!
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- Advanced Resort Riding Skills - Including off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions.
- Intermediate Touring Experience - Including efficient gear management and skinning, transition technique, with 20+ days of backcountry experience.
- Strong Fitness - Able to spend a long, active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of 1-1.5 hours between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 8-10 miles, climbing 2,500 - 3,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day. People with strong fitness typically have a strenuous workout 3-4 days a week
Ski/Split Touring Gear
- Alpine Touring Ski or Splitboard Setup - No snowshoes
- Alpine Touring or Splitboard Boots
- Climbing Skins
- Touring Backpack - with pockets for avalanche gear
- Adjustable Touring Poles
- Avalanche Beacon
- Avalanche Shovel
- Avalanche Probe
- Headlamp
- Lodge Slippers Clothing & Accessories
- Technical Outerwear (jacket, bibs/pants)
- Multiple Midlayer Options
- Gloves
- Helmet
- Goggles
- Beanie
- Baseball Cap
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Water Bottle / Hydration Pack (2L)
- Lunch and Snacks
Epic Reviews From Adventurers
10 reviews
- Rated 5 out of 5 starsReady for a trip to pillow town?
Ok, this was my 2nd hut trip with Blackbird and wow was it amazing. I mean, at 50 if I had done this 25 years ago I am pretty sure my life would have gone in a very different direction.
First and foremost, Zeb Blaise (owner and lead guide), is an absolute rockstar. He ensured that everyone made it to the lodge no matter how hard the weather and airlines tried to prevent it. He was constantly working to make sure this was an amazing experience.
While visibility was difficult all week I still think we scored big time. With 5-10cm of fresh every day and a mix of guides and practicum's with local knowledge we were never longing for more. With the ability to self select we were able to choose from skiing bell to bell or a more mellow day but always had fun.
I could go on about the food being fantastic and the hut's sauna for days but there is only so much room to type.
Oh yeah, about the pillows... This is probably this best pillow terrain I've ever seen, in person, a magazine or a video part. I mean Mike Lindell would be jealous of this place. A week later and I'm still dreaming about pillow lines!
The only real question is whether I will return to Snowfall or check out a different hut next winter...
Jeremy R.Verified Buyer - Rated 5 out of 5 starsBlackbird Guides - Snowfall Lodge
In short, a once in a lifetime experience. The perfect balance between comfort (a lodge that is off the grid but has everything you need, including sauna and amazing food) and outdoor adventure (disconnected, epic snow and terrain, unreal views, the list goes on). To top it off, Blackbird guides helps to make the experience as good as it gets. They are professionals at coordinating and communicating plans, as well as true backcountry mountain guides - ensuring a safe experience, while providing education and guaranteeing epic powder turns. I have used Blackbird since they started and will continue to do so. They are at the top of their game. Don't miss this trip, or frankly, any trip Blackbird puts together. If you have the opportunity, GO!
Greg F.Verified Buyer - Rated 5 out of 5 starsIncredible hut trip
Magnificent terrain to explore each day and a beautiful hut to return to each night. Couldn’t have loved this week more!
Jennifer L.Verified Buyer - Rated 5 out of 5 starsAnother Epic Trip to BC
Blackbird trips are something special. Amazing terrain, super knowledgeable and fun guides, great guests, and spectacular food. Snowfall had it all, from high alpine & glaciers to super fun tree and pillow skiing. Looking forward to coming back.
Henning F.Verified Buyer
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