Judging form the past few years Kagura policy, that was about to happen wasn't it?

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20100308-00000084-yom-soci
Although the news dont state their exact location, they do say that they are somewere in the 津南町 (Tsunan town) area.
It seem to me that these guys went up the top lift that is open now from 27 of Feb and dropped towards the West behind Kagura...
If you check were the prefecture border is in kashmir or an on line map, I would be surprised if their position is not given in detail because they are actually in Nagano and not Niigata any more...

http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?type=scroll&lat=36.86057129743369&lon=138.6914...
Map centered on their estimated location.

It has happened in the past but people got out on their own. In Foggy/cloudy conditions it is easy to drop down on the wrong side if you do not know the area and do not check either your compass/gps. You could not see very far apparently on sunday at the top. Yes, that lift gives easy access to terrain that can bite you back in the backside. I hope they find them before more snow comes along. They must have ridden a long way down in order not to be able to boot it back up.
The Tsunan area is a nightmare to get to, even in summer by car on dry roads, I got 2 ppl car-sick last time I went there. Narrow georges, wide enough for only 1 car in many places, super-windy roads, etc... Beautiful but really out in the boonies. You do not want to get stranded there.

Drop down on the wrong side in Foggy/cloudy conditions.
That pretty much sums Kagura advertising campaign.
"We are the perfect place for beginners to come and experience back country, we have even opened the top lif for you in the middle of winter. Come and do what ever you like regardless of gear/experience/weather conditions, but please dont forget to register at the base lift that you are heading out. Have a nice day"

And they have picked the best picture to advertise their policy and promote good manners

(Japanese script translate to "lets shred this kind of snow in Kagura")

all of the above straight from their front page
http://www.princehotels.co.jp/ski/kagura/index.html

It's a tough call for Kagura. On the one hand you have more and more people who want easy access to the goods, but with that comes the risk of having people heading in the wrong spots or in the wrong conditions. I wonder if they will open the top lift next year again after this incidident. I wonder if it is actually still open now.

There are shitloads of places in Japan that provide easy access to the "goods", but none openly advertises them in the amateurish way kagura does.
There is no tough call when you have decided to be a circus. They are harvesting the fruits of their labor, too bad some poor guy has to pay for it...

I think many ski-jos have pics of untouched pow for advertising. There are things I do not like at Kagura either (hate the staggered opening of the lifts on the Tashiro side, it is criminal and I have complained to them about that) but nowhere is perfect, I choose to focus on the positives (I should change my name to Mr. BringJoy). But yeah, it is a bit more crowded every year. Last outing, we had some lone OZ snowboarder follow our tracks then once he caught-up with us while we were digging a pit, he asked us if he thought he could drop in "there". He then said not to mind him that he would stay behind following us and not create troubles. . Once the slope opened up he cut it above us and rushed to slash the untouched pow in front of us... Never had that happen to us before. So yes, once you meet these guys in the BC, it does feel like the place is a bit over-run. Was just bad luck though I guess.

And I have twice been asked by Japanese guys that caught up with me at the top "which way back to the resort". (I guess I could have told them to follow the setting sun to safety...)
Also being the majority of people heading out in Kagura, numerous times of Japanese guys dropping above me while I am still in the middle of the slope.
So stupidity is obviously not a privilege of a nationality...

If you know any other resort that has a picture of 2 guys dropping together on their front page please provide me the link.
Or any other resort that clearly states on their front page that we have opened the top lift that provides easy access to our popular backcountry from the 27th of February.
People that have selected this kind of advertising strategy are clowns in their own circus.

Yeah true, not many pics of dual riders I can remember of.

The 3 have been found by rescue!

hey! good result.

Glad to hear this had a good ending. But what's the story behind the top lift opening on Feb 27th? Is this something they do every year for those who want to access the BC?

Good to hear they are all right.

As to them shutting the top lift, you pay for your own rescue in the BC in Japan so I don't see much of a problem. Open the top lift all year and caveat emptor, I say. More like Europe.

Not only they open the top lift each year earlier than the previous one, but they also hand out a topo map with "safe" areas to do backcountry when in fact they do absolutely no avie control on them. At least thats how I remember things being run around there, since I still haven't gone up this season.

So looking at Kagura's web site trail map, it looks like this lift just serves 1 trail and is mostly used for BC/SC access (?). And it opens later in the season when the snow has settled?? But the opening day varies year to year. No avi control. Do they have access gates or check to see if people are properly equipped? I'm a Kagura JONG.

It serves only one cat track and one ungroomed run. I would not say "mostly" used for BC access but it is heavily used for it. HAving it open cuts about 30 mins or less out of a hike. There are no gates nor any avi control outside the 2 open runs. I see no problem with this set up, to be honest. It is how things work in Europe.

I like it just fine, intend to use it on Sunday possibly. Any takers? I want to ski north or east face of naeba san. think conditions may be a worse enemy than the hordes of loiterers this time around.

was thinking to go to that neck of the woods this sunday, but I have just been told that I was selfish for even thinking about it!
Careful about the east side of Naeba, when it goes, it tends to go huge, esp. around that time of the year.

It does have that "if it were to go..." look to it. I'm not sure how things will work out, maybe I'll just do the sensible thing and pass out drinking in Tokyo.

Look at you, mr bring joy! was out in kagura this past weekend along with Naeba. I think it is a bit refreshing to see at least one mountain trying to go for BC theme. Not perfect but nothing is. The snow was sticky near the bottom but up top had just a small layer of crust. Not powder but will take it. Naeba - we just hit near the gondola ropeway. Fresh tracks from start to finish. Cooled off midday so got better from start to finish.

hey guys

i rode the bc at kagura for years and a major accident is waiting to happen

why not allow only people who have rescue insurance ( its only 5,000 yen a year ) and avalanche gear/ training access to the back country?

easy to do this by selling a special ticket ( available from the office near the ropeway, kagura ); proof needed of the above.

have ski patrols regularly police access points ( there are really only a few )

no bc ticket, no bc

if u get caught bc with no ticket, your ski ticket should be pulled immediately