| Jets Management Star Survives Avalanche
The Jets star who has only just begun to return to goalscoring
form since his knee operation over 8 months ago was on a backcountry
snowboarding expedition with fellow Jets founder, Steve, The
Steven, Parker, Paul Adamson and local boy Mogi Masato. Staying
at the Hachimantai Youth Hostel the four of them had set out
on a clear day to enjoy the climb up Chaus Dake and 5 kilometres
of backcountry powder.
After an hours hike to the summit, the group took a short break at a mountain hut before proceeding on their trip. Rapidly
encroaching black clouds and strong winds were a sign for the four not to hang around and they soon began their descent by
what, at least on paper appeared to be the safer route.
Eite, who had been studying avalanches and backcountry techniques, missed several key-signs and failed to conduct a snow
shovel test although the group's limited avalanche knowledge probably saved them from a more serious accident. Riding first,
the Jets' number 4 navigated a route down the wind swept ridge where the snow was relatively hard and stable. The four
snowboarders thus made it three quarters of the way down without incident.
Disaster struck however when Eite strayed off the ridge to cut down to the road back to the hostel. With the riding order
fixed, Mark's three partners watched in horror, and thankful safety, as the Jets captain tried to pick a route down. The wind
loaded 33degree slope began cracking as soon as Eite rode onto it and a 30metre wide slab gave way as he made his turn.
"I knew immediately that the slope had given way and did briefly think 'Is this it?' After reading so much about avalanches
there was no way I wanted to end up buried in all that snow and I just tried to get to the side of the slope as quickly as
I could" related a relieved Eite. To his small credit, he read the contours and made it to safer ground.
Once sure that their colleague was in a safe his three colleagues made their way carefully down the ridge led by Parker.
Back at the hostel the scene and debris from the avalanche was still visible even from several kilometres away.
Thankful that they were all safe and sound the Jets adventurers returned to Saitama Tuesday (20/03/01) to prepare for
their opening league fixture the following Sunday.
Hachimantai, Iwate-ken, March 17th-20th, 2001
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