FRIENDS
If you want to buy some books with riding pictures from around the Japan Alps please check these links:
+100 Vol 1 (2007/2008) By George Baptista & Izumi Hiroshima
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/282691
+100 Vol 2 (2008/2009) By George Baptista & Izumi Hiroshima
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/756588
+100 Vol 3 (2009/2010) By George Baptista & Izumi Hiroshima
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1463193
+100 Vol 4 (2010/2011) By George Baptista & Izumi Hiroshima
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2350266
+100 Vol 5 (2011/2012) By George Baptista & Izumi Hiroshima
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3513225
George and Izumi-chan also have a blog that they maintain year-long with fabulous pictures:
http://www.backcountryjapan.com/
If you are looking for winter guiding in the Hakuba region:
Damian has been of the forefront of avalanche safety ever since his arrival in Hakuba and has ridden in many different places in the world.
He organizes tour groups on demand:
http://www.hakuba-alpine-guides.com
He has a blog which he maintains regularly with update on backcountry conditions around Hakuba:
http://www.steepdeepjapan.com/
He is also now instructing entry level avalanche classes. More details here:
http://www.avalancheschoolhakuba.com
If you are looking for winter guiding in the Hakkoda region:
Simon has been guiding there for years. Given the severe weather that occurs up North it is very easy to get dis-orientated and having a guide is the safe option. Every year a few people spent the night out in Hakkoda after getting lost. Don't be one of them! Having somebody to show you the stashes is always enjoyable as well. Simon speaks fluent Japanese and is a qualified ''Ham'' as well (among other things):
LINKS about backcountry skiing/boarding
Favorite websites relating to Japan:
George & Izumi-chan
http://www.backcountryjapan.com
Damien
Sakuchan
The ecclectic bunch (rather quiet recently)
A lot of useful information about resorts and lodging
http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubbthreads.php/ubb/cfrm
Favorite websites relating to France and the Hautes Alpes Region:
Serre Chevalier's official link
http://www.serre-chevalier.com/
Based in La Grave and now operated by a swedish couple
The guys who put their neck on the line day in day out
A couple with a good site about Briancon and its region
http://www.gdargaud.net/Climbing/Briancon.html
They collect avalanche information so that we can all learn
http://www.data-avalanche.org/static/dataavalanche/joomla/
LINKS about Ham Radio
Coming soon...