Grow your skills with empowering backcountry experiences
Join one of our introductory tours or directly or register to participate in any of the training programs below so you can :
Become a safe and competent rider by accessing the highest standard of training
Get hands-on experiences and meet future riding partners in one of our small groups
Join a training adapted to your lifestyle so you can maximize your time in the mountains
Fit your training to your budget and needs
Training Programs
Learn from home and maximize your time spent in the mountains!
We offer introductory backcountry and Avalanche Canada licensed training programs with classroom components taught online.
Tours
Learn with professionals so you can become a better rider in the mountains.
Our specialty tours range from introduction to the backcountry to high alpine advanced tours. Each of these tours share the same goal though: safe turns in the best possible conditions.
How we do it
Our courses and tours follow the internationally acclaimed Avalanche Canada curriculum to deliver you the highest standards of safety and quality.
Social
Backcountry touring is about sharing a meaningful experience with a small group of people you trust, relying on them for your safety and you ensuring theirs.
Our training programs and tours put this overarching principle at the top of the list so we can have fun, ride safely and build relationships.
Active
No more talking and rambling by the instructor, it’s time for you to take the lead!
The way we teach and lead our programs and tours puts you behind the driving wheel so that you can directly utilize the content taught by assessing the interaction between the environmental conditions, the mountainous terrain and the people in your group.
Pragmatic
We teach theoretical modules online during the week so that you can make best use of your time in the mountains.
Our programs are modular and taught in various locations, so you can adapt your training to your needs.
Book your backcountry adventure
Any questions regarding the details of our services or maybe you have a request for a custom tour or training?
Follow the links below to book your experience or send us a message via our contact form below.
Why we do it
We are a small team of passionate guides, riders and nature-lovers with extensive knowledge and experience in the Japanese mountains.
We believe anyone should have access to affordable and high-quality training to become a safer rider in the backcountry.
On every training program and every tour that we lead our mantra is the following :
Come out with a better understanding of the risks inherent to the backcountry and how to minimize the stress and maximize the pleasure
Increase your ability to select the best terrain ad snow on any given day
Increase your ability to transfer skills and knowledge to become an advocate for a safer approach to the backcountry
Avalanche and backcountry skills training
Register to join one of our trainings and unlock your gate to the backcountry. We currently offer a complete range of backcountry courses from beginner to advanced levels on the scheduled weeks below.
We also provide customized and private training programs upon request, please contact us for further details.
Each course can be taken independently however make sure you meet the requirements before joining a course.
Avalanche Skills Training 1 +
Tue,Wed - 2 evening sessions (19:00-21:00)
Friday - Pre-tour meeting (19:30-20:30)
Saturday - 1 field day
Sunday - 1 day of BC touring
Your key to becoming a reliable partner in the backcountry.
By the end of this course you will:
Know your touring gear and make an efficient use of it
Know your avalanche safety kit and have a first practice with it
Know how to efficiently transfer between downhill and uphill travel
Identify avalanche risk areas
Understand the basic structures of the snowpack
Know the steps required to plan and conduct a tour
Use the Avaluator as a risk mitigation aid
Understand the Avalanche Bulletin and define a hazard rating in regions where there is none
Who is it for : riders who had a first experience and want to do it the right way
Pre-requirements : previous experience riding ungroomed runs
Price : ¥35,000
Intro to Backcountry
On demand - 1 field day
Build your confidence to become a future party leader, hone (or refresh) your avalanche safety and touring skills.
At the end of the day you will:
Efficiently plan and lead a tour
Understand the basics of avalanche forecasting
Practice the use of your transceiver, probe and shovel
Improve terrain reading and safe travel techniques
Perform a snow pit and a selection of snow tests
Who is it for : riders who go out regularly
Pre-requirements : AST 1
Price : ¥18,000
Companion Rescue skills (CRS)
On demand - 1 field day
Master the skills to efficiently perform an avalanche rescue.
At the end of the day you will:
Properly prioritize and organize when involved in an avalanche rescue scenario
Quickly solve single & multiple burial transceiver searches
Practice close proximity & deep burial transceiver searching techniques
Have practiced with probing and shoveling to reach your maximum efficiency
Know more about safety equipment
Who is it for : anyone
Pre-requirements : AST 1 or similar
Price : ¥18,000
Scheduling AST 1+
Tue / Wed - AST1 online evening sessions from 19:00 to 21:00
Friday - Pre-tour meeting from 19:30 to 20:30
Saturday - AST1 field day
Sunday - Backcountry tour day
AST 1+ Session dates
Session 1: JAN 4-5 online, 8-9 Hakuba
Session 2a: JAN 12-13 online, 15-16 Nozawa Onsen
Session 2b: JAN 18-19 online, 22-23 Nozawa Onsen
Session 3: FULL
FEB 1-2 online, 5-6 MyokoSession 4: FEB 8-9 online, 12-13 Hakuba
Session 5: FULL
FEB 15-16 online, 19-20 MyokoNEW! Session 6: MAR 15-16 online, 19-20 Myoko
Avalanche Skills training 2
On demand - custom & open groups
Online - 2 sessions of 3 hours
Field days 1-3 - Student led trips
Your key to becoming a serious trip leader in the backcountry.
By the end of this course you will:
Use the Avaluator to determine the additional planning and travel techniques needed to travel safely in avalanche terrain
Be able to do a personal review of the avalanche danger rating at a local level
Efficiently identify avalanche terrain using the ATES (Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale) and use it to develop personal ratings on a small scale
Develop a selection of itineraries and use the terrain to your advantage to adapt your risks
Use mountain travel techniques appropriate to avalanche conditions
Lead an autonomous companion rescue effectively
Understand the limits of your training.
Who is it for : riders who go out regularly and wish to lead their own trips
Pre-requirements : AST 1
Price : ¥57,000
AST 1 Refresh / M.A.T
On demand - 1 field day
The Managin Avalanche Terrain (aka MAT) course is for those who have taken their AST 1 and are looking to improve their terrain assessment skills.
MAT is a field-based course designed to expand on the terrain management taught in AST 1. This course will help you develop more advanced winter backcountry travel skills and mitigate your risk by honing your terrain evaluation and travel skills.
At the end of the day you will:
Skills to help you plan, prepare for, and execute a safe backcountry trip.
Techniques to minimize risk when travelling in the backcountry.
How to recognize and classify avalanche terrain.
Who is it for : riders who want to expand their AST1 skills and are looking towards taking their AST2.
Pre-requirements : AST 1
Price : ¥18,000 / person (min. 2)
Custom training
On demand - 1 field day
Build your skills accordingly to your goals. This training day will be designed jointly by our instructing team and you. Go beyond the standard Avalanche Canada programs to grow skills with mountain professionals: big terrain riding, mixed progression, expedition planning, etc..
At the end of the day you will:
Efficiently plan and lead a tour
Review the basics of avalanche forecasting
Match your terrain selection to your goal
Select your gear accordingly to the tour you are planning
Elaborate a proper emergency and evacuation plan
Who is it for : riders who go out regularly
Pre-requirements : AST 1
Price : ¥25,000 / person (min. 2)
Looking for a more immersive riding experience in the backcountry?
Check out our backcountry tours page.
Backcountry Tours
APRIL 2022 SPECIAL TATEYAMA ALPINE TOURS
We are pleased to offer again the key to the best alpine touring venue in Japan.
Start your skin track at 2400m, submerge yourself in breath-taking scenery, ride 4 digits elevation drop runs and refresh yourself with an onsen and a fresh beer to celebrate the day.
DETAILS & BOOKING HERE
If you have ever wanted to explore the terrain of Tateyama with international ski guides with all the local knowledge of the best spots, we are running several small group multi-day tours starting from:
April 17-18 / April 22-23 / April 24-25 / April 25-26 APRIL 15-16 SOLD OUT
Stay at Murodo Lodge with breakfast + dinner
2 days touring + travel in/out
Or book your private tour at your own dates.
Tateyama accommodation and trips fill fast so don't miss out.
Register to participate on one of our tours matching your level below and unlock your door to the backcountry.
Sharing with you the critical points behind the decision-making processes concerning terrain or adjustment to your gear is not infringing a trade secret, it is our commitment to keeping all of us safer and becoming more responsible people when we are in the mountains.
Directly check our availabilities online :
Rates (group of max. 5, contact us for larger groups) :
JPY 45'000 - Single payment
JPY 22'500 - 2 persons
JPY 15'000 - 3 persons
JPY 11'250 - 4 persons
JPY 9'000 - 5 persons
Looking for a more in-depth training program in avalanche safety?
Check out our training program page.
Purchase
Complete your registration by settling the payment for your training program or guided tour.
AST 1+ and BC tour :
1 online theory, 1 field day, 1 BC tour
JPY 35'000 - 1 person
Private & custom guided tour
1 field day
JPY 45'000 - single payment
JPY 22'500 - 2 persons
JPY 15'000 - 3 persons
JPY 11'250 - 4 persons
JPY 9'000 - 5 persons
CRS and Advanced training
1 field day
JPY 18'000 - 1 person
Rentals
Avalanche safety pack
A 25-30L pack containing a transceiver, a probe and a shovel.
JPY 4'500 - 1 pack x 1 day
Split-board / Ski touring kit (inc. skins and poles)
A 3 piece set including a split-board or touring skis, skins and touring poles.
JPY 14'500 - 1 kit x 2 days