Shiribetsu-dake Northwest Gully Backcountry (Hokkaido, Japan)

This route up the northwestern corner of Shiribetsu-dake 尻別岳 (1107m) is, relatively speaking, a mellower route to the popular 989m false peak on the mountain. It offers relatively lower-trafficked access to the false peak than the West Bowl, easily one of the most popular backcountry zones in Hokkaido. The 989m peak offers a number of appealing descent aspects for the experienced backcountry traveller prepared to carefully assess snowpack conditions. Locally, Shiribetsu-dake is known as Hokkaido's most avalanche-prone mountain, so extra care must be taken on this very accessible, attractive peak.

Shiribetsu-dake has somewhat of a folklorish presence within the Hokkaido backcountry skiing community. On the one hand, it offers some of the most easily accessible steep skiing in southern Hokkaido. The snow, too, is extremely deep and dry. There’s a reason it’s home to Hokkaido’s only heliskiing operation – the snow is that good.

On the other hand, it’s also known locally as a melting pot of every sort of avalanche you’ll encounter in Hokkaido, all in one convenient package – colossal glide cracks (the ‘crevasses’ of Hokkaido), full-depth avalanches, loose dry and loose wet activity. This peak sees it all, on all aspects, all season long. That said, with good terrain management on the part of skiers, Shiribetsu-dake can be a fantastic place to ski.

The route outlined here accesses the 989m peak from the northwest, via a relatively mellow gully through well-spaced old-growth forest glades. On the descent, there are a few options available that can be dialled according to the day’s avalanche conditions and one’s own appetite for and experience with exposure to avalanche terrain. This route accesses the 989m peak from a different direction than the more popular West Bowl route.