HOKKAIDO, Japan – Seven foreign tourists who were backcountry skiing called for rescue near the Furano ski resort in Hokkaido on Friday, January 16th, after becoming lost and stranded off the resort.
According to JapanToday, the tourists called for assistance around 3:40pm, informing police that they had become lost while skiing outside of the resort’s patrolled area. Fortunately all of the skiers were rescued without any injury.
The satellite communication function found on smartphones was used to make the call. The guests were found at Mount Furano Nishidake, an area near the resort.
Furano is one of the most famous ski resorts on Japan’s northern island, Hokkaido. It offers around 2,725 feet of vertical drop with 28 marked trails and a max run length of just over 6 miles. 2 zones and separate bases are connected at the top of the mountain with terrain suitable for everything from beginners to advanced skiers.
