AVALANCHE INVOLVEMENT: 1 PERSON DEAD due to being buried in a very large slab avalanche on an open south face just off the side of Hakuba Goryu Ski Area. The man was wearing a beacon but his friends and other bystanders could not locate him in the immense amount of debris.

His body was finally found by Search and Rescue workers at 17:00. It is suspected that avalanche sheared at the January 22nd sun crust and storm snow interface. Evergreen Guides Dave Enright and Bill Glude will be joining ACT director Motomura Kouji to investigate the site of this avalanche today to determine the cause of the slide.

Use your head to make well informed decisions and be sure to carry all the proper safety and rescue gear if you are heading into off piste and backcountry areas. Stay to well supported and simple terrain away from steep and convex terrain to reduce hazard and injury.

HEAVY SNOW WARNING: Copious amounts of snow on all resorts and mountains in the Hakuba/Otari!
Continued heavy snow fall is adding load to the recent storm snow that has started to slab and release from the buried sun crust of January 22nd on southern exposures. These slab avalanches have the potential of being massive and very destructive. Loose slides are releasing on all aspects due to weak bonds with in the new snow. Avoid avalanche terrain and gullies where loose slides and sluff can accumulate to create very deep burials.


ALPINE ZONE: HIGH HAZARD !! Stronger winds, colder temperatures and greater snow fall are all contributing to very unstable conditions in Alpine and Tree Line Zones. Watch out for avalanches from ALPINE ZONES travelling to the valley and into TREELINE and BELOW TREELINE ZONES.