Why donate?
HokkaidoWilds.org and the authors of Niseko Backcountry made a profit of about 800,000yen in 2023. This has allowed us to finally realize a dream we’ve had since launching HokkaidoWilds.org in 2018 – have HokkaidoWilds.org be a conduit of financial support for the sustainability, safety, and accessibility of Hokkaido’s wild places.
Sales of Niseko Backcountry and readers’ donations to the Hokkaido Wilds website have made that possible. We can’t thank enough everyone who has contributed. The donations below were made possible by you.
MOUNTAIN HUTS
Total: 200,000yen (US$1,300)
Okuteine Hut
50,000yenHokkaido University Wandervogel ClubHut details
Okuteine Yama-no-ie Hut, maintained by the students of the Hokkaido University Wandervogel Club is a historic hut nestled in the Sapporo foothills. Our donation goes towards maintenance and upkeep of this amazing ski-in-ski-out winter oasis.
Donation breakdown: 100% Hokkaido Wilds Foundation
Hütte Muine
50,000yenHokkaido University Mountain Ski ClubHut details
Muine Hut is another Hokkaido University-managed hut, with the day-to-day maintenance handled by the Hokkaido University Mountain Ski Club. This historic hut is one we’d love to see remain for another 100years.
Donation breakdown: 100% Hokkaido Wilds Foundation
Shokanso Hut
50,000yenMashike Alpine ClubHut details
With an ageing, dwindling population, Mashike Town needs all the help they can get to ensure this beautiful hut remains standing and in good shape for users. While the donation itself went to the town council (for Shokanso hut upkeep), these funds will be made available to the Mashike Alpine Club when needed for upkeep and maintenance.
Donation breakdown: 100% Hokkaido Wilds Foundation
Teshio-dake Hut
50,000yenShibetsu CityHut details
In cooperation with officials at Shibetsu City, we ordered and arranged the shipping of 3 cubic meters (1650kg) of shirakaba white-birch firewood to the hut (to be delivered once the snow melts in late May). It’s a long trek into the hut in winter on skis (see our report here), but offers an incredible getaway for anyone keen to walk in. Like many huts in Hokkaido, there’s no charge for overnight stays, so we hope our donation of firewood helps offset upkeep costs.
Donation breakdown: 100% Hokkaido Wilds Foundation
AVALANCHE SAFETY
Total: 670,000yen (US$4,500)Japan Avalanche Network (NPO)
620,000yenWebsite
Our goal with this donation is to help JAN in increasing the frequency of the Niseko-Yotei-Yoichi-Shiribeshi zone forecasts moving forward.
Donation breakdown: 25% Chris’s personal proceeds from Niseko Backcountry sales, 25% Chris’s personal top-up, 50% Microsoft corporate matching of Chris’ personal donations.
Niseko-Annpuri Avalanche Accident Prevention Strategy Committee
50,000yenWebsiteニセコアンヌプリ地区なだれ事故防止対策協議会
This Committee administers the Niseko Rules and the comprehensive backcountry gate system in the Niseko Annupuri network of ski resorts. We admire the passion behind making lift-accessed backcountry safe in the area.
Donation breakdown: 100% Hokkaido Wilds Foundation
SEARCH AND RESCUE
Total: 200,000yen (US$1,350)Yotei-zan Foothills Firefighting Association
200,000yenWebsite羊蹄山ろく消防組合
The Search and Rescue Unit from the Yotei-zan Foothills Firefighter’s Association is one of the main first-responders in any mountain search and rescue operation in the greater Niseko area. It’s made up of the municipal fire departments of Kutchan, Rankoshi, Niseko, Makkari, Rusutsu, Kimobetsu, and Kyogoku. If a backcountry skier in the greater Niseko area is in distress and calls 119 (particularly outside of resort sidecountry areas), these brave firefighters will be the ones out in all conditions rescuing them. We donated 200,000yen worth of search and rescue equipment (insulated mats for use in rescue litters).
Donation breakdown: 100% Hokkaido Wilds Foundation
SUMMER INFRASTRUCTURE
Total: 368,000yen (US$2,500)Niseko Area Mountain Bike Association (NPO)
368,000yenWebsiteニセコエリアマウンテンバイク協会
Hokkaido lacks good mountain bike trails. The Niseko Area Mountain Bike Association (NAMBA) is changing that, with a comprehensive network of trails in the Niseko area for a start. See all their updates on Instagram or Facebook (or their website).
Donation breakdown: 25% Chris’s personal proceeds from Niseko Backcountry sales, 25% Chris’s personal top-up, 50% Microsoft corporate matching of Chris’ personal donations.
ABOUT HOKKAIDOWILDS.ORG
HokkaidoWilds.org is a non-profit voluntary association that exists to inspire people to explore and enjoy Hokkaido and the surrounding areas’ extraordinary outdoors by ski, bicycle, foot and canoe in an informed, safe and responsible way. In addition to detailed written route guides with great photography, we also provide GPS route files, custom English-language GeoPDF topographical maps (using Japan government map data), and safety notes. HokkaidoWilds.org is run by a Hokkaido-loving group of authors and contributors (see them all here).
HokkaidoWilds.org co-founder Rob Thomson is no stranger to adventure travel and expeditions. He previously cycled from Japan to Switzerland, and still holds the Guinness World Record for the Longest Journey by Skateboard (12,159km).
CONTACT
Rob Thomson (Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder, HokkaidoWilds.org)
TEL: +81 (0)80-4228-6132 (Japan mobile)
Email: rob@hokkaidowilds.org
Instagram: @hokkaidowilds
