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Yamnuska Mountain Adventures

Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Ice Climbing, Backcountry Skiing

  • Avalanche
    • Avalanche Skills Training 1 – Canmore/Calgary
    • AST 1 (Classroom Webinar/Rockies Field Day)
    • Avalanche Skills Training 1 for Ice Climbers
    • Avalanche Skills Training 1 Refresher
    • Advanced Companion Rescue Course
    • Avalanche Skills Training 2 – Canadian Rockies
    • Avalanche Skills Training 2 – Rogers Pass
    • Avalanche Skills Training 2 – Purcell Lodge
  • Mountaineering
    • Beginner Programs
      • Scrambling Skills and Safety
      • Snow and Ice Long Weekend
      • Intro to Mountaineering
      • Women’s Intro to Mountaineering
      • Youth Mountaineering Course
      • Wapta Ice Hike
    • Intermediate and Advanced Programs
      • Yoho Peaks
      • Intro to Alpine Rock in the Bugaboos
      • Intro to Alpine Ice at the Columbia Icefields
      • Lake Louise Classics
      • Moraine Lake Alpine Classics
      • Rogers Pass Alpinist Camp
      • Bugaboos Granite
      • Tonquin Valley Alpine Climbing
    • Canadian Rockies 11,000ers
      • Mount Temple
      • Mount Willingdon
      • Mount Cline
      • Mt Woolley & Diadem
      • Mount Hector
      • Mount Athabasca
      • Mount Andromeda
      • Mt Joffre Expedition
      • Mount Victoria
      • Mt Edith Cavell
      • Mount Forbes
      • Mount Assiniboine
      • Mount Robson
    • Fast and Light Series
      • Castle Mountain
      • Mt Louis Kain Route
      • Bugaboo Spire – North East Ridge
      • Mt Sir Donald – Northwest Ridge
      • Mt Aberdeen
      • Mt Stanley
      • Mt Fay – West Ridge
      • Mt Temple – East Ridge
    • One-Day Crevasse Rescue for the Alpinist
    • Navigation 1 (Back to Basics with Map & Compass)
    • Navigation 2 (Digital Trip Planning & Electronic Navigation)
    • One Month Summer Mountaineering Program
    • Private Mountaineering and Guiding
      • Climb Mount Athabasca
      • Bugaboos Climbing Guides
      • Climb Mount Assiniboine
      • Climb Mount Robson
  • Skiing
    • Instructional Backcountry Skiing & Boarding
      • Intro to Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding
      • Splitboarding Intro
      • Backcountry Freerider
      • Ultimate Steep & Deep Clinic
    • Guided Steep & Deep Programs
      • Rogers Pass Powder Skiing
      • Signature Series Splitboarding Camp with Justin Lamoureux
      • Kootenays Powder Adventure
      • Backcountry Powder Pass
    • Ski Mountaineering & Classic Traverses
      • Intro to Ski Mountaineering
      • Crevasse Rescue for Skiers & Splitboarders
      • The Wapta Traverse
      • Bow to Yoho Advanced Ski Week
      • Remote Ski Camp – Freshfields
      • Bugaboos to Rogers Pass Ski Traverse
    • 11’000ers Ski Programs
      • Mt Hector
      • The Lyells & Mons Ski Descents
      • Mt Columbia Ski Expedition
    • International Ski Trips
      • Troll Peninsula, Iceland Ski Safari
      • Rishiri Island Skiing in Japan
    • Navigation 1 (Back to Basics with Map & Compass)
    • Navigation 2 (Digital Trip Planning & Electronic Navigation)
    • One Month Backcountry Ski Program
    • Private Ski Guiding & Splitboarding
  • Rock Climbing
    • Rock Climbing Level 1 – Outdoor Rock Intro
    • Rock Climbing Level 2 – Learn to Lead
    • Rock Climbing Level 3 – Multi-Pitch Climbing Course
    • Rock Climbing Level 4 – Trad Rock Leader
    • Rock Climbing Level 5 – Rock Rescue
      • Foundational Rock Rescue
      • Advanced Rock Rescue
    • Signature Series Rock Leader with Sean Isaac
    • Hot Rock
    • Ghost Rock
    • El Potrero Chico Rock Road Trip
    • Beginner Experiential Rock Climbing
    • Multipitch & Instructional Rock Climbing
  • Ice Climbing
    • Ice Climbing Level 1 – Basic Ice
    • Ice Climbing Level 2 – Top Rope Management
    • Ice Climbing Level 1 & 2 – Ice Evolution
    • Ice Climbing Level 3 – Ice Leader
    • Ice Climbing Level 4 – Multi-Pitch Ice Leader
    • Steep Ice and Mixed Climbing Clinic
    • Drytooling Clinic
    • Rampart Creek Ice Camp
    • Ghost Ice Climbing Camp
    • ‘Hot’ Ice Climbing
    • Signature Series Ice Climbing with Sean Isaac
      • Early Season Ice Camp with Sean Isaac
      • Ice Leader Camp with Sean Isaac
      • Mixed Master Camp
      • Steep Ice Clinic with Sean Isaac
      • Mixed Climbing Clinic with Sean Isaac
      • Ice Lead Clinic with Sean Isaac
      • Multi-pitch Systems Clinic with Sean Isaac
    • Southern Ontario Ice Climbing
      • Southern Ontario – One-day Ice Climbing Essentials
      • Southern Ontario Ice Leader
    • Avalanche Skills for Ice Climbers
    • Beginner Experiential Ice Climbing
    • Private Multipitch & Instructional Ice Climbing
  • Mountain Semesters
    • 3-Month Mountain Skills Semester
    • 1-Month Summer Mountaineering Semester
    • 1-Month Ski & Splitboard Semester

Rishiri Island Skiing in Japan

Skiing the Floating Mountain, Japan

Rishiri Island, 20 km off the northern tip of Hokkaido, Japan is one of the most unique but unknown skiing destinations in the world. Rising directly out of the Sea of Japan, the 1721m Mt Rishiri is a dormant volcano that creates the island itself. With a circumference of around 60 km, the cone-shaped mountain has been eroded over time to create many different ridges and valleys that provide seemingly endless options for skiing. There is no shortage of skiing options from steep alpine terrain up high to rolling treed terrain down low.

In addition to skiing, the remote location and small communities in the area will be a fantastic cultural experience. Rishiri Island’s 5000 inhabitants come from a long history of fishing with tourism recently becoming popular. As part of our Japan ski trip package, we will be staying at a Ryokan (Japanese Inn) where the owner is one of the few backcountry skiers on the island. He will accompany us for part of our time skiing in the area. His family will also provide us with authentic Japanese cuisine. A private Onsen (hot spring) is also located on-site and will be a welcome addition to your Rishiri Island skiing experience.

Check out this video to get a feeling of all that Rishiri Island has to offer. Don’t miss out on your chance to visit this spectacular island.

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Day 1:  Meet at the Wakkanai airport on Hokkaido before transferring to the Rishiri Ferry. In good visibility, Mt Rishiri dominates the views during the ferry ride. Once we dock at Rishiri Island we will be transferred to our trip accommodation.

Days 2-7:  We will explore the dormant volcano’s many options looking for good skiing and a good adventure. Snowmachines or vans will be used to cover the flatter ground between the coast and steeper terrain on the volcano. The day’s skiing objectives will be chosen based on the weather, avalanche conditions, and snow quality. Each day we will finish with a soak in the onsen and with traditional Japanese food.

Day 8:  We will retrace our journey from Rishiri Island to Wakkanai where we will conclude this cultural skiing experience.

Instructors & Group Size

Yamnuska has specialized in running mountain tours for Japanese guests in Canada for many years. Due to this, we have excellent Japanese connections and local guides who we use in operating this tour.

There will be one of our ACMG guides on the program. There will also be a local Japanese guide who will accompany us at the start of the trip and help with logistics throughout.

The minimum group size is 4 participants, the maximum is 8.

Meeting Time and Place

There is one flight per day that will allow us to arrive in Wakkanai and catch the ferry to Rishiri Island. Guests must arrive on this flight (Haneda (HND) to Wakkanai (WKJ) NH571 10:45-12:35). We will have a quick turnaround to catch the ferry over to Rishiri Island.

Transportation

You will be responsible for your flight costs to arrive and depart to Wakkanai, Japan. Included in the price of the program are all ground transportation costs starting from day 1 through day 8 returning to the airport.

Accommodations

Accommodation is included in the tour price.

We will be staying at a modern Ryokan (Japanese Inn). The program is priced based on double occupancy. There are 3 rooms available for single occupancy that can be booked for an additional charge on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would prefer your own room, please let us know in advance and we will do our best to organize this.

Meals

All breakfasts and dinners are included in this trip with the exception of 2 nights where we will eat in local restaurants in the evening. No lunches are included however these can be purchased locally.  For the 2 evening meals not included, different options will be available for guests to choose from and purchase on their own. Alcoholic beverages are also not included.

You will need to bring adequate clothing and equipment for a backcountry ski trip. Yamnuska will supply group equipment and can provide certain pieces of technical equipment (harness, transceiver etc.) if required. Please see the list below.

Equipment List

You will need to bring your own clothing and gear for day ski tours.

The equipment and clothing you bring will have a big impact on the quality of your experience. Please be sure to bring all the items listed.  If unsure about anything, please don’t hesitate to call and ask us!

Skis

Alpine Touring skis are essentially downhill skis with a special touring binding that allows the heel to lift whilst going uphill or across the flats and then ‘locks down’ to become a regular downhill safety binding. We recommend this system to anyone with a background in downhill skiing.

Splitboards may also be appropriate if you are experienced with them in the backcountry.

Equipment List

You need to bring:

  • Skis We recommend a short (160 – 185cm) wide ski designed for powder skiing and ski touring.  Please see the note under rental information if you are renting ski equipment.
  • Climbing skins ‘Stick-on type’
  • Ski Poles
  • Ski boots
  • Ski crampons
  • Avalanche Transceiver – digital transceiver with triple antennae rentals available
  • Avalanche shovel – collapsible metal shovel designed for companion rescue rentals available
  • Collapsible probe rentals available
  • Daypack (large enough for spare clothes, lunch & equipment) rentals are available
  • Sunglasses and ski goggles
  • Thermos flask and water bottle
  • Sunblock & Lip Cream
  • Headlamp with fresh batteries
  • Small Blister & 1st-Aid Kit
  • Small repair kit for bindings, skis, or splitboard (this may include straps, nuts, bolts, small leatherman)
  • Camera 
  • Personal Toilet Items including hand sanitizer
  • Ear Plugs

Additional gear info:

  • Skis/splitboard:  There are two viable backcountry systems, Alpine Touring and Splitboard.
  • Alpine Touring:  Essentially downhill skis with a special touring binding which allows the heel to lift when going uphill and then locks down to become an alpine binding for the downhill.
  • Splitboard:  SIf you are a rider and proficient on a snowboard, the backcountry touring version is called a splitboard. This is a snowboard that can be split to make two ski-type platforms for touring on the uphill ascent. The bindings have two positions and can be switched depending on whether you are climbing or descending. Split boards also use climbing skins for the ascent. For the downhill, the board is reassembled or joined to be in snowboard (ride) mode. If you are new to this system, you will need to practice the transitions of switching the board from touring to riding and back again. Your enjoyment will be vastly greater if you are efficient and practiced with this transition. For splitboarders, regular snowboard boots will work. A splitboard specific boot will give you more comfort when in touring mode and offer extra support to make sidehilling and traversing terrain easier to manage.
  • Boots:  Backcountry boots are different from regular alpine ski boots. In the backcountry, boots need to have an uphill mode that allows a free range of motion in the upper part of the boot. You should not use your regular ski boots for touring and walking uphill.
  • Climbing skins:  The glue on the base of the skin should be in good condition and the skins need to be properly fitted. Try the skins on your skis/splitboard to make sure they are the right length and width before you arrive.
  • Ski poles:  Backcountry poles need powder baskets on the tips.
  • Avalanche Transceiver:  A three antennae transceiver is required.
  • Probe:  A minimum of 240 cm in length.
  • Shovel:  A metal blade shovel is required.

Clothing List

The climate on Rishiri is cold and moist so it is important to have a range of layers with you. An essential item is a ski mask as it’s easy to get facial frostnip in the prevailing strong moist winds found higher up. We suggest bringing light clothing of varying thicknesses that can be ‘layered’ to achieve comfort and versatility. The most important consideration for clothing is the ability to regulate temperature as you change from periods of activity to periods of rest and from the ascent to the descent.

  • Synthetic or wool long underwear (top & bottoms)
  • Softshell or Gore-Tex pants
  • Warm shirts (not cotton)
  • Medium weight fleece sweater
  • Softshell jacket (or equivalent)
  • Lightly insulated jacket
  • Waterproof jacket with hood (Gore-Tex)
  • Waterproof pants (Gore-Tex or nylon, with side zippers)
  • Socks – ski socks (wool or synthetic)
  • Wool or fleece hat
  • Ski Mask … strongly recommended!
  • Waterproof ski mountaineering gloves or mitts (warm)
  • Lightweight gloves
  • Sunhat
  • Casual clothing to wear for travel and after the ski day
  • Snow boots
  • Swimsuit 
  • Toiletries
  • Face Mask

CASH

Japan is largely a cash society and ATMs are scarce in the smaller towns. You will need cash to pay for lunches, drinks, and other incidentals.

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. We require a 35% deposit on booking with the balance due 8 weeks before departure.

It is wise to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident whilst here. Obtain extra coverage if necessary.

Detailed booking instructions and conditions.

Risk is an inherent part of all mountain activities. We strive to manage and reduce it however, it is impossible to totally eliminate. Learn more about our safety and risk management approach here.  Please note that you will be required to sign our waiver before commencing the program. Please view our sample waiver copy.

There are two basic types of insurance that most travellers need to consider: Medical and Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance. We highly recommend you purchase it.

  • Beautiful sea views skiing Rishiri Island
  • Powder skiing on Rishiri Island
  • Rishiri Island, rising out of the Sea of Japan
  • Skinning up on Rishiri Island

Dates:

PRICE:

$4495 CDN includes certified guide, land transfers, all breakfasts, and dinners (with the exception of 2 nights where we will eat in local restaurants in the evening). There is no GST (sales tax) on this program.

Not included in this program are flights to and from Wakkanai. As well, you will be responsible for your own lunches and alcoholic beverages on the trip which can be purchased locally.

Please note you will be required to sign the Yamnuska Release of Liability, and Waiver of Claims prior to commencing the program. Please review the sample waiver prior to booking and call us with any questions.

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Is it for you?

This is a challenging trip with multiple days of touring in a row. There are days of ascent over 1000m (3300ft) and you should be comfortable skiing with a pack (15-20lbs/7-9 kg) on most terrain in variable conditions. Skiers and riders should be intermediate skiers at minimum, able to link turns in variable snow conditions.  This would be suitable for people who have completed the Wapta traverse, Bow/Yoho Advanced ski week, or a lodged-based touring week.

Skiers and Splitboarders should be competent with their transitions (switching from ski tour mode to downhill mode). Splitboarders should be comfortable skiing downhill in split mode.

Splitboarders should have their downhill kick turns dialed, as this skill will be used frequently to traverse downhill and across slopes at mellow angles.

We strongly urge skiers and Splitboarders to bring spare parts for their setups. Most of our guides are familiar with splitboarding sets ups, but each system is different, and our expectation is that guests will have basic knowledge on common Splitboard concerns (i.e. replacing toe straps on Splitboard bindings).

Training

Understanding the prerequisites should help with your training throughout the winter. Winter ski tours and walks with a 15-20lb pack are recommended as the best training, however other activities such as cross country skiing and hiking can also be good training. Please read the itinerary and difficulty sections and be both physically and mentally prepared for the trip. If you are uncertain about your experience level, please call us.

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