Guys all jokes aside - A lot of ropes are up for a reason (not that i have read the whole story and know this is what they did - but it is a good time for a reminder!). There is a LOT of snow out there! Please be careful!
More at
http://unofficialnetworks.com/avalanche-goryu-1-dead-hakuba-japan-jan-28-71437/
Two male Japanese skiers were involved in an avalanche in the Goryu ski resort sidecountry on Saturday, January 28. One of them was caught in the avalanche and killed. Evergreen Outdoor Center and ACT have put together a detailed report, which is copied below. Condolences to the friends and family of the deceased skier.
Avalanche Involvement, Hakuba, January 28th, 2012
2 male Japanese skiers, 41 and 51 years of age, both were involved in a very large avalanche in the Hakuba side country, one buried and found dead, one survivor left to search.
On their third run off the South Faces outside of Hakuba Goryu ski resort boundaries the two men strayed skiers left of their intended run due to poor visibility. By the time they realised that they were off their intended course they turned back right and descended just into the top of the large south facing open bowl and at this point triggered the avalanche just after noon. The depth ranged from 1 to 2 metres in depth and the slide fractured the whole width of the bowl, reaching just over 500 metres maximum width. The avalanche, taking the 51 year old, ran down two separate drainages for a slope distance of 1500 metres, losing 620 metres of elevation. The debris washed 100 metres up the wall on the opposite side of the valley to finally rest against a dam in the valley bottom.
crap, my heart skipped a beat reading that.... So sad 
RIP