Tokachi Range Backcountry Skiing

Posted on Dec 7, 2023
1
Posted on Dec 7, 2023
0 1
The Tokachi Range 十勝連峰 at the southern end of the Daisetsuzan National Park 大雪山国立公園 in central Hokkaido offers direct access to the alpine, with a number of trailheads very near treeline. The powder skiing at mid-altitudes can be some of the best in Hokkaido, active volcanic steam vents dot the landscape, and long spring tours offer up some truly expansive terrain. Looking for other backcountry ski routes in Hokkaido? See our full list here.

Featured image skier: Mathieu Jaudon.

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1 thought on “Tokachi Range Backcountry Skiing”

  1. Hey,
    are there any guides left in Furano around Feb 19th and the 3th of march?
    We would be a group of 2 guys.
    Thanks in advance 🙂

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Conditions

In deep winter in the Tokachi Range, expect to enjoy beautiful, dry, cold, deep powder at or around the treeline. Generally, the alpine in the range in deep winter (December to mid-March) has low visibility and high winds (see more detail here).

Spring (mid-March till early May) brings more clear-sky days, allowing for longer, higher-altitude forays into the high peaks.

Up to 1,500m: Dependable powder conditions in winter can be expected up to around 1,500m (about 400m above treeline) in altitude in the Tokachi Range.

Beyond 1,500m: Above 1,500m in winter, skiers should expect highly wind-affected surface conditions, hardpack snow, and rime.

Avalanche Bulletins

There are currently no daily recreation-oriented avalanche bulletins in central Hokkaido.

For sporadic observations and snowpack stability commentary, check the Furano Avalanche Center‘s Facebook page and website.

You can browse individual contributions to the Japan Avalanche Network‘s Tokachi Range page here (mostly in Japanese).

Parking

Most trailheads in the range all have plenty of plowed parking. Note, however, the following.

> Hakuginso Parking
This applies to Sandan-yama and Maetokachi-dake. Park to the east side of the parking area.


> Furano-dake Parking

Furano-dake’s backcountry skiing start point (the T-intersection of Routes 966 and 291 here) has very limited parking.

For Furano-dake, we recommend the following: 1) get to the trailhead early (by 9am, the small parking area can be full); 2) if cars are backed up, consider skiing elsewhere; 3) avoid parking on the road, and if you do, spend 10 minutes or so digging out the snowbank so your vehicle isn’t taking up too much of the lane; 4) don’t park overnight on the road or in the parking lot.

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ADVANCED FILTERS

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About Filters

REGION: The general mountain/geographical region the route is in.

BEST MONTH(S): Time of year a route is suited to visiting. Some pop all season, some are more limited.

DIFFICULTY: How strenuous a route is, and how technical it is. Full details here.

FREERIDE/SKITOUR: Very subjective, but is a route more-of-a-walk-than-a-ski or the other way around? Some routes are all about the screaming downhill (freeride), some are more about the hunt for a peak or nice forest (ski-tour). Some are in between. 

MAIN ASPECT: Which cardinal direction the primary consequential slope is facing, that you might encounter on the route. More details here.

ROUTE TAGS: An eclectic picking of other categories that routes might belong to.

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Please let us know how we can make it easier to narrow down your search. Contact Rob at rob@hokkaidowilds.org with your suggestions.

Tokachi Range Backcountry Skiing Difficulty Rating

Category

Grade

Points

Strenuousness

Vertical Gain

D

25

Time ascending

D

0

Technicality

Altitude

D

0

Hazards

D

0

Navigation

D

0

Totals

25/100

GRADES range from A (very difficult) to D (easy). Hazards include exposure to avalanche and fall risk. More details here. Rating rubric adapted from Hokkaido Yukiyama Guidebook 北海道雪山ガイド.