Japan Avy Deaths

[spaulding24]

Lots of avy activity going on over here in japan. It's tough to really find good resources on what exactly happened, but here's a few news links.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/201.../#.VLxq1IkazCQ

http://snowjapan.com/japan-daily-sno...orts/Myoko-Now

Tough to read. RIP

[bonnie4]

We would like to be able to take our snowpulse backpacks but have learned that it is very difficult/impossible to get the canisters filled in Japan. Does anyone have experience with figuring this out? I have been told that it might be possible to get them filled at dive shops on USA military bases. Also have been told that there might be some hotels that rent either the full backpacks with filled canisters or just filled canisters..."under the table".

[Lindahl]

All I know is that I was unable to get my Mammut filled on Hokkaido. You can rent full backpacks though. Japanese air cannisters go through separate certification - thats the main problem from what I heard. I borrowed a cannister from a local on key days.

[neck beard]

BCA is your best hope. Perhaps contact them directly and ask what they have established on the ground here.

The ownership and filling of compressed air tanks is regulated in Japan. Forget anything with a fancier gas than air.

Airbags in general are quite uncommon here.

To be fair, there may be recent developments of which I am totally unaware