Hakuba Backcountry Day Tours
Most people visit Hakuba and peer beyond the resort boundaries drooling over the incredible terrain that surrounds the resorts.
There is no doubt that the Hakuba Alps has some of the steepest and most expansive terrain in Japan which can be daunting for those who may not know the terrain or where to begin.
Join Northern Heights Guides for an epic day (or more) of backcountry riding and they will help you navigate these wonderful mountains in a safe and efficient manner.
The Hakuba backcountry guiding is for
private groups only (ie you can't join a mixed group as a solo, the price is a fixed cost for 1 to 5 people) so depending on the weather, the guide can customise the tour to your group's needs. Whether you are a first timer in the backcountry who needs some tips or a seasoned powder-hound who is super fit, the guide can cater the tour to your group's ability level and amount of work you want to put into your turns.
Off-piste guiding is also a possibility, with zones where no or very little hiking is required.
Hakuba guiding typically sells out well in advance so be sure to book your day with a long lead time. If you have any questions or want to check about availability, please
make a booking request.
Tour Details:
Backcountry day tours can usually get 2 - 3 runs a day and upwards of 800~1,500 vertical meters hiking in a day, depending on the locations and group level. Lifts will be used where appropriate to assist with vertical gain.
Duration:
7.5 hours inclusive from collection to drop off.
What to Bring:
All backcountry tours will require touring equipment (touring skis with skins, splitboard with skins or snowshoes), avalanche safety gear (beacon, probe, shovel), backpack (25L minimum), lunch & snacks, water, warm clothes, helmet, goggles, sunglasses, money for lift(s).
Participant Skills:
The Hakuba backcountry tours are for those who can competently ski and board in powder and variable snow conditions. If you would like to try backcountry, but are not sure of your level,
please feel free to ask us. We can customise the day to suit your level.
Skiing Skills:
Usually this will mean a minimum strong intermediate level with the ability to link parallel turns on all runs in all snow conditions, negotiate turning in trees, avoiding hazards, following a traverse on skis and being fit enough to hike up.
Snowboarding Skills:
Usually this will mean a minimum strong intermediate level with the ability to link toe and heel side turns on all runs in all snow conditions, negotiate turning in trees, avoiding hazards, reading terrain and carrying speed across flats, following a traverse on board and being fit enough to hike up.