Avalanche
Industry News
On Wednesday, February 28, an American man was killed in an avalanche in Myoko City in the Niigata prefecture of Japan.
Japanese police were notified around 1:00 p.m. that a group of four men were lost in the backcountry, and at least one person had been caught in an avalanche. A rescue team was dispatched and located the party approximately 1,500 feet southeast of the Mt.Mitahara Summit just after 4:30 p.m. A police helicopter airlifted three of the party members, including an American man, while a fourth descended on their own.
The American man was in his late 30s and was taken to a Joetsu City Hospital in an unconscious state where he was later pronounced dead.
The police later identified the victim as U.S. national Stuart Remick, who lived in Japan’s Nagano prefecture. The Myoko police said Remick and the other men had been skiing and snowboarding when the avalanche struck.
Mount Mitahara and the neighboring peak, Mount Myoko, are popular with backcountry skiers and snowboarders.
Backcountry skiing has become increasingly popular with both Japanese and foreign travelers. However, with the rise in popularity comes a greater risk of avalanches. The Japanese National Police reported 94 avalanche rescue calls in 2022, including the death of American Pro Skier Kyle Smaine.
Unfortunately, this tragic incident is a reminder of the dangers that come with backcountry skiing and snowboarding. While it can be an exhilarating and enjoyable experience, all adventurers are recommended to take the necessary precautions and be aware of potential risks. The Japanese National Avalanche Network Narade.jp provides daily avalanche risk updates.
Japanese police caution that “rescue operations in snowy mountains can take time due to severe weather conditions such as accumulated snow and blizzards, so please be careful.”
