Navigating the Storm – Gate Guiding in Challenging Conditions
Some guiding days are about blue skies and endless visibility. Others are about reading the mountain, adapting to the conditions, and making the right decisions at the right time. This was very much the second kind of day.
Alex and Kinsey joined me for a gate guiding day in Niseko under a forecast that didn’t look promising at all. Kinsey is a skier. Alex, after a lot of back and forth, was still undecided between skis and snowboard. In the end, he committed to the snowboard—and as the day unfolded, that decision paid off in a big way.
The weather forecast was calling for rapidly increasing wind, expected to reach up to 80 km/h at the summit by mid-afternoon. Definitely not what most people would consider an ideal day for freeride or backcountry-style gate guiding. But there was one key factor in our favor: a lot of fresh snow. Lower elevations were going to be sheltered, and that’s where the potential was.
We met at 8:00 am at .BASE in Hirafu, as usual. We went through a full equipment check—beacon, shovel, probe—and reviewed how to use everything properly. Once ready, we headed straight to the Ace Gondola, keeping a close eye on lift status. At that point, only the very top lifts were closed, which gave us some room to work with.
Our first plan was Gate 11, moving quickly toward Niseko Village. Unfortunately, when we arrived, the gate was closed. Slightly frustrating—but that’s part of guiding in real mountain conditions. Since we were already there, we adapted. Superstition was open, and it delivered: deep snow, well over knee-deep in places, though heavier than expected in that zone.
After a couple of runs, we decided to move back toward Hirafu. I briefly considered Annupuri, but with the wind coming straight from that side, it was clear those gates would be heavily wind-affected and not much fun. The safer and smarter option was to head toward Rob Roy.
On the way, riding the Hooded Chair, we noticed Gate 5 was open and clearly loaded with snow. The first run was good, but on the second descent I started noticing cracking on certain aspects. Nothing dramatic—but enough to raise a red flag. No hesitation: time to move on.
Back to the original plan. Rob Roy was absolutely firing. The snow was drier, deeper, and far more consistent. It also felt significantly safer to ride. Smooth turns, great flow, and big smiles all around. It was one of those zones where everything just comes together.
We were tempted to repeat it, but then another idea came up: Miharashi from the backside.
That run was pure magic. Deep, cold powder, very few tracks, and an incredible sense of space despite the storm. So good, in fact, that we ended up back at the gondola—and decided to do another Miharashi lap.
On the way back from the second run, we considered heading toward Super Ridge, but by then the wind had really picked up. Shortly after, Ace Gondola was shut down due to wind. Perfect timing.
It was around 2:00 pm, and Alex and Kinsey decided to call it a day. Their feedback summed it up perfectly:
“Incredible how well you managed the weather and the timing.”
Days like this are a great reminder of what professional gate guiding in Niseko is really about. It’s not just about finding powder—it’s about terrain choice, snow quality, wind exposure, safety, and timing, especially when conditions are challenging.
Not a perfect forecast.
Not a perfect day.
But absolutely the right decisions—and an unforgettable experience navigating the storm.
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