Japan SKI TOURING Trips GEAR LIST

You need to have everything on the list!

what i can provide

I can provide the following:

  • Transceiver (charge of $95/trip applies)

Let me know as soon as possible if you need a transceiver.

Due to baggage limitations on international trips I am unable to provide any other rental or loaner gear.

IMPORTANT Information about AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVERS

  • We only allow MODERN TRIPLE ANTENNA DIGITAL TRANSCEIVERS on our trips.

  • We NO LONGER ALLOW TRACKER DTS or TRACKER 2 TRANSCEIVERS on our trips as they are only dual antenna.

  • A transceiver with a MARKING FUNCTION IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

  • Your transceiver must have been tested in both transmit and receive modes – it needs to have a signal at a minimum of 30 metres in both modes.

  • Your transceiver must meet EN 300718 standard.  

  • If your transceiver does not meet the specifications above you will not be going skiing!

  • The guides use and recommend Black Diamond transceivers. Our second choice transceiver is the Mammut Barryvox.

  • Although we allow you to use them, we do not recommend any of the Tracker transceivers due to an inadequate marking function. Or any other transceiver that does not have a marking function.

Let me know if you would like more information on transceivers.

COMMON EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS

Issues we see with ski equipment include the following. Some of these problems might end your ski week or at least make life very frustrating! Make sure you have these things sorted out before the trip.

  • Slow skis/boards

    • Make sure your bases are smooth and waxed! A tune-up for your skis/board is essential.

  • Inappropriate backcountry skis/snowboards

    • Too heavy, too narrow, or skis and boards that are not backcountry specific.

    • Try to keep your set-up as light as possible.

    • Ski width under your foot in the 100-115 mm range is best. Narrower than this and you may have issues in deep snow or crust conditions, wider than this is often too heavy.

  • Old skins

    • Make sure your skin glue is in good shape and get them fixed if the glue is dirty, in clumps, or the glue has worn off at the edges or ends of the skins.

    • Avoid G3 “Alpinist”, “Scala” and “Expedition” skins - this is old stock with glue that does not work. “Alpinist+” and other G3 skins are better.

    • New skins are well worth the investment if yours are looking old. We can recommend Contour, Pomoca, or Colltex skins.

  • Boot problems

    • Ill-fitting boots will give you blisters. I recommend a professional boot fitting.

    • All boots have bolts and rivets that may come loose or buckles/straps that can break. If your boots are brand new or well-worn make sure fittings are tight and in good shape.

    • Bring specific tools to tighten the bolts/screws on your boots and check them a couple of times over the week.

  • Binding problems.

    • It is your responsibility to understand the limitations of your bindings and how to deal with their issues. Every type and brand of touring binding (for AT skis, split boards, or telemark skis) has the capacity to break or malfunction.

    • A common problem with most AT “tech” pin bindings is snow buildup beneath the toe resulting in a pre-release. Clearing this area every time you remove and enter the binding is essential for many of these bindings. The best bindings to avoid this problem are G3 Zeds or Ions. The less space beneath the toe piece the worse the issue becomes.

    • A common problem with AT bindings where the heel piece slides back and forth (EG Marker Kingpin) between up and down modes is icing of that mechanism. Carrying a small bottle of lock deicer may help alleviate this.

    • G3 Ion bindings have a mechanism in the heel piece that can ice up and cause a pre-release. I have seen an injury occur as a result of this problem. Carrying a small bottle of lock deicer may help alleviate this. Making sure the bindings dry out well every night will also help.

    • A common problem with split boarding bindings are fittings loosening leading to a loss of parts. You should bring extra parts and special tools to deal with that.

    • Ski brakes are highly recommended for all AT bindings.

  • Poles that are too long for skiing in deep powder snow

    • Adjustable length poles are best

The List

SKIING EQUIPMENT

  • AT touring skis or telemark skis or splitboard. Skis at least 100 mm underfoot are recommended for this trip.

    • Understand that telemark and snowboard bindings may not be releasable and greatly increase your risk if caught in an avalanche.

    • No snowboard/snowshoe combinations, splitboards only.

  • Skins

  • Touring specific boots

  • Adjustable length ski poles

equipment that you should bring skiing every day

  • Digital avalanche transceiver with three antennae (marking function recommended)

  • Avalanche shovel

  • Avalanche probe

  • Sunglasses

  • Goggles

  • Water bottle and/or thermos

  • Small headlamp

  • Skin wax: I find a simple candle works fine.

  • Small personal first aid/repair kit: band aids, blister kit, headache pills, hand and toe warmers, extra batteries for transceiver and headlamp, duct tape, pocket knife, special binding and boot parts.

  • Toilet kit: toilet paper, baggie for used paper, hand sanitizer

  • Camera

  • Health insurance and mountain rescue insurance information

  • 35-45 L capacity backpack

    • All your gear and clothing must fit inside your pack

    • Nothing should be strapped to the outside.

Additional gear to bring but which we may not use

  • Ski crampons. No need to carry these every day but bring them on the trip. Normally we would not need these, but if we get into the alpine there may be a wind scoured ridge with hard snow where they will come in handy. It is unlikely that we would need them at any other point.

  • Ski helmet. Norikura ski area requires all skiers wear a helmet on their No. 11 lift which accesses steep, uncontrolled terrain. A ski helmet is required for our Hakuba trip as we may use this lift.

optional safety gear

  • Emergency satellite messenger. Some brands offer mountain rescue insurance as an option.

  • Airbag pack. Although most airlines will allow the canisters and batteries for balloon packs on the aircraft there are special regulations involved. Please check with your airline well before you arrive at the airport.

Clothing Systems

  • Average temperatures at this time of year are normally about -5 to -12 but you need to be prepared for temperatures from -25 to +5. Stormy days can feel very cold with strong winds on ridges and heavy snowfall.

  • Several thin layers are better than fewer thicker layers. No cotton!

  • Long underwear tops and bottoms - wool or synthetic

  • Ski pants – softshell or light hardshell pants both are fine

  • Thin windbreaker/softshell - for walking uphill in warm conditions

  • Warmer softshell jacket – I prefer a hooded jacket but it’s absolutely necessary

  • Shell jacket – to keep the wet out, Gore-tex or similar seems best

  • Down or synthetic insulated jacket – for breaks and emergency use

  • Lightweight gloves – for walking uphill in warm conditions

  • Warm gloves – 2 pairs (mittens are optional but recommended if you get cold hands)

  • Hand warmers if you get cold hands

  • Warm toque for skiing down

  • Lightweight toque for walking up

  • Balaclava or neck tube – essential for cold conditions

  • Sun hat

TOWN and lodge

  • Lodge slippers or sandals (the lodge will have slippers available but I find they are usually too small). Wearing slippers in Motoi Lodge is required. I bring Birkenstocks.

  • Street shoes that are ok for walking around town in the snow (sidewalks and parking lots that may be snowy).

  • Snow boots are optional but can be helpful for outside the lodge and around town as there is usually a lot of snow even in the valley. When we leave the lodge to go skiing you will often be wearing your ski boots as the rides to the venues are usually only 5-20 minutes. The vans can be tight with all the gear so there may not be room for everyone to bring their snow boots every day.

  • Casual street clothes

  • Toiletries

  • Bathing suits are not allowed in the onsens (hot springs) so no need for one. The onsen in the Motoi is quite small and semi-private, usually we organize to use it one at a time. The public onsens we visit will have other users there. If you are uncomfortable with this you can sit it out but it is very much part of the cultural experience!

  • Electrical plug adapters: bring a 3 prong to 2 prong adapter as most Japanese sockets do not have a grounding hole. Otherwise the prong holes are the same shape as North America.

  • Ear plugs

Travelling

  • Passport. Ensure the expiry date is well after the trip ends. Citizens of Canada, USA, Australia, NZ, UK and most European countries do not require a visa to enter Japan.

  • Airplane tickets

  • Health insurance and mountain rescue information (carry this on you during the ski day)

GROUP GEAR

The guides will provide the following safety gear. The group will help carry it.

  • Group first aid kit

  • Group repair kit

  • Emergency toboggan/shelter

  • Radio

  • GPS, compass, map etc

EXTRA SKI GEAR

  • You may consider bringing one extra pair of skis or a snowboard. In case of non-repairable breakage to your kit there are rental options available in Hakuba but having your own gear is always preferable.

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