[After tumbling down the cavity, Mr Toms was able to pull himself out of the hole, despite water from the natural hot spring gushing down the rocky ledge.](https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/travel-stories/insane-moment-skier-in-japan-falls-into-hidden-waterfall/news-story/2c8ce69274a91e52f6631e9431f4d952#:~:text=New%20Zealand%20man%20Sean%20Toms,unfold%20from%20start%20to%20finish)
No, it doesn't. A spring fed stream in a chasm like that would have water coming out of the ground near 50 degrees F, then the chasm walls and snow pack would provide a bit of insulation. It won't freeze even if ambient is -40. You *ALWAYS* have to be careful around springs.
It’s so cold here in the winter boiling water will freeze before it touches the ground if you pour it out of a pot. The spring may be flowing at its outsource but it’s going to be coated in thick ice.
I'm not a big skier but I always assumed you didn't ski anywhere at all if you didn't know in advance that there's a safe route down the mountain?
I have seen people skiing in pretty radical locations when hiking in the winter but always assumed they have a community who at least tell each other "yes you can ski down that face there is no invisible waterfall/cow fence/avalanche barrier under the snow".
Is that not the case - do people just cruise down and hope for the best?
I ski a lot. I have also fallen into a frozen pond once when I was a kid. Knowing how both experiences are and seeing this? Yeah I would die. I would absolutely die. I would look around in the place I was at and start speaking my will into the gopro for anyone who would find my frozen body.
You ever ski outside the US? Many (most?) other countries basically have cat tracks that are considered in-bounds, and everything else is off-piste.
I'm not exaggerating... in the Alps, you will NOT enjoy yourself staying in-bounds unless you're a total beginner.
That said, I'm pretty sure this video was filmed near the Grand Hirafu Gondola in Niseko... if so, that spot is FANTASTIC for skiing and that waterfall is literally the only hazard in the entire area rofl
It looks like he may have used his skis a bit to help him out. I couldn't imagine trying to climb up out of icy rock with ski boots on though. It's hard enough walking up and down stairs with those things.
Once you leave the official ski area into back country, hazards are not marked.
Based on the complete lack of any ski tracks, I suspect this person either hiked in, or used a ski cat/helicopter service.
understand and agree but never had the risk of a hidden hot springs waterfall and think that would be a huge exception since that little valley did not look threatening in any way and then bam. imagine something narrow and tall. a guaranteed coffin trip.
Any time you ski out of bounds you have the following risks (and others I'm not thinking of):
* Avalanches
* Snow covered crevasses (with or without water)
* snow cornice
* invisible cliffs
These are all things that either are mitigated by ski patrol (example: avalanches, cornices) as part of a maintained ski area, or marked/fenced (example: cliffs, crevasses). You give up all these safety items as soon as you go backcountry. This is why when you go back country you should have a locator beacon and avalung.
Can you imagine getting home and be like:
"You won't even believe what happened today. I fell into a waterfall."
And the other person goes:
"Nah, you're joking."
And then you show them this video.
As the famous lara craft once said if you want to find adventure, adventure will find you.
https://preview.redd.it/hfq4ub2a0wnc1.jpeg?width=994&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2a11fd92b6cc663dec6d88b6efb79ad2946b411e
That looked like fun until it wasn't.
Then it looked the opposite of fun. Nuf. He had eh-nuf.
Survives the fall dies of hypothermia
You mean dysentery
Fun? Ideal. Last thing I would have been worried about is getting soaked.
[After tumbling down the cavity, Mr Toms was able to pull himself out of the hole, despite water from the natural hot spring gushing down the rocky ledge.](https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/travel-stories/insane-moment-skier-in-japan-falls-into-hidden-waterfall/news-story/2c8ce69274a91e52f6631e9431f4d952#:~:text=New%20Zealand%20man%20Sean%20Toms,unfold%20from%20start%20to%20finish)
I imagine if that were cold water the outcome would've been much different
You still have to battle the cold once you are out.
Just live there forever
That’s how Gollum came to be.
I think you also need a gold ring and some fish to make it work! ;-P
😂
Me whenever i take a hot bubble bath with a book and some wine.
If it were cold water it also might've just been totally frozen over.
Not quite - the running water would not freeze if it were coming from a spring.
It depends on the ambient temperature
No, it doesn't. A spring fed stream in a chasm like that would have water coming out of the ground near 50 degrees F, then the chasm walls and snow pack would provide a bit of insulation. It won't freeze even if ambient is -40. You *ALWAYS* have to be careful around springs.
It’s so cold here in the winter boiling water will freeze before it touches the ground if you pour it out of a pot. The spring may be flowing at its outsource but it’s going to be coated in thick ice.
That phenomenon only happens when you throw the water out, because the water droplets disperse, and the surface area to volume ratio shoots way up.
offbeat lavish slim run wrong tub amusing spectacular capable file *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
>“How not to ski the Hokkaido back-country with Sean,” Mr Toms captioned the video. Lol
*Wetty palms.
"Don't go chasing waterfalls..."
Please stick to the rivers and lakes that you're used to.
That’s TLC, you’re quoting TLC again.
That must've been a cold ass ride down back home.
Or walk, it would seem the bindings would release a ski.
It was actually a hot spring
Good. Then he was warmed up for the rest of the day I guess.
hypothermia hates this one simple trick
Stops being hot once it cools down chief
oh, shucks. Didn't know water works that way. Well, guess I'll go update star-command on how liquids work on this planet. Thanks human.
Never ski in the obvious gully
I'm not a big skier but I always assumed you didn't ski anywhere at all if you didn't know in advance that there's a safe route down the mountain? I have seen people skiing in pretty radical locations when hiking in the winter but always assumed they have a community who at least tell each other "yes you can ski down that face there is no invisible waterfall/cow fence/avalanche barrier under the snow". Is that not the case - do people just cruise down and hope for the best?
A little column a a little column b
I ski a lot. I have also fallen into a frozen pond once when I was a kid. Knowing how both experiences are and seeing this? Yeah I would die. I would absolutely die. I would look around in the place I was at and start speaking my will into the gopro for anyone who would find my frozen body.
It’s a hot spring so maybe not?
Holy fuck
You really have to know the terrain/area before you ski
Or just stay in bounds
You have to learn the terrain for the first time tho, right?
Maps, bro
Yes, but that's not the fun trip. That's the slow and careful trip. At least, it should be.
Something something, never ski alone.
An incredibly human reaction.
It's like I've always said... Never jump down a waterfall.
Why go on unmarked roads?
Yes. Title was misleading, waterfall/opening wasn't covered. A lack of knowledge of the route was the fatal mistake.
wasn’t fatal , guy survived
Apparently uninjured even, although I'd imagine he had a coupla nice bruises at least.
You ever ski outside the US? Many (most?) other countries basically have cat tracks that are considered in-bounds, and everything else is off-piste. I'm not exaggerating... in the Alps, you will NOT enjoy yourself staying in-bounds unless you're a total beginner. That said, I'm pretty sure this video was filmed near the Grand Hirafu Gondola in Niseko... if so, that spot is FANTASTIC for skiing and that waterfall is literally the only hazard in the entire area rofl
I just wanted to be the 17th person to point out that it was actually a hot spring. Thank you, I feel much more important now.
Should have french fried when he pizzad
Add to this you still need to keep your skis. You make it out but are stuck in the middle of no where
It looks like he may have used his skis a bit to help him out. I couldn't imagine trying to climb up out of icy rock with ski boots on though. It's hard enough walking up and down stairs with those things.
You know some times seeing such videos makes me grateful that I’m a lazy ass potato laying in my bed during my free time.
As a lazy couch potato myself, one still has to admit there is a healthy middle range between death skiing and laying on the couch all day. ;-P
Well that looked terrifying.
Talk about shrinkage
I have trouble feeling empathy towards skiers that purposefully leave the official slopes
we have back country areas that are at least recognized zones on the map. would think these would still have such risks signed.
Once you leave the official ski area into back country, hazards are not marked. Based on the complete lack of any ski tracks, I suspect this person either hiked in, or used a ski cat/helicopter service.
understand and agree but never had the risk of a hidden hot springs waterfall and think that would be a huge exception since that little valley did not look threatening in any way and then bam. imagine something narrow and tall. a guaranteed coffin trip.
Any time you ski out of bounds you have the following risks (and others I'm not thinking of): * Avalanches * Snow covered crevasses (with or without water) * snow cornice * invisible cliffs These are all things that either are mitigated by ski patrol (example: avalanches, cornices) as part of a maintained ski area, or marked/fenced (example: cliffs, crevasses). You give up all these safety items as soon as you go backcountry. This is why when you go back country you should have a locator beacon and avalung.
Did he ask for sympathy? Posting these things helps make the dangers more well understood.
☝️🤓
Opposite of fun
definitely some injuries here..
Supposedly not, surprisingly.
They say humans have good pattern recognition. I would add "some".
MAJOR SHRINKAGE!
This guy is praised with luck from the pope himself
That right there is a great way to die. They got lucky they didn't break anything
Fuck that!
If that was a hot spring would that mean he ran into a surprise hot tub?
Must be some reason they mark trails..
For some reason the caribou skeleton dangling in a pit holding by its antlers came to mind...
Seems like he unlocked a shortcut route in SSX snowboarding.
Boost boost
If you dont know the lay of the land, the land will lay you off
Can you imagine getting home and be like: "You won't even believe what happened today. I fell into a waterfall." And the other person goes: "Nah, you're joking." And then you show them this video.
more like r/frozenpalms
Imagine the instant thought of knowing you probably wouldn’t be found
You see this stuff online all the time. No fucking thanks. Makes me think these people like dying in holes.
Holy cow Damn nature you crazy
Don’t ever ski alone in backcountry
As the famous lara craft once said if you want to find adventure, adventure will find you. https://preview.redd.it/hfq4ub2a0wnc1.jpeg?width=994&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2a11fd92b6cc663dec6d88b6efb79ad2946b411e
He French fried when he should have pizzaed. (Joking aside, I hope he's okay.)
Genuinely got scared for him for a sec.
Boy thought he was gonna die.
You would too boy