SHIZUOKA, Jun 14 (News On Japan) –
A everlasting gate has been put in on the Yamanashi Prefecture entrance to the fifth station of Mt. Fuji, unveiled on June 13. Authorities hope the brand new measure will assist tackle the continuing drawback of reckless climbing makes an attempt.
Based on Yamanashi Prefecture, the steel-framed gate is roughly 8 meters extensive and three.5 meters tall, with a development value of round 15 million yen. Throughout the summer season climbing season beginning July 1, the gate will stay open from 3 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed in any respect different instances. As well as, the variety of climbers might be capped at 4,000 per day, with every climber required to pay a passage charge of 4,000 yen per journey.
Safety personnel might be stationed on the gate 24 hours a day all through the climbing interval. Climbers with reservations at mountain huts might be allowed to go exterior of standard working hours. One of many main security issues has been so-called “bullet climbing,” the place climbers try to achieve the summit in a single day with out enough relaxation. A short lived gate put in by Yamanashi Prefecture in 2024 considerably diminished these harmful makes an attempt.
Nonetheless, consideration has since turned to climbers making an attempt to achieve the summit carrying solely T-shirts, sandals, or different inadequate gear. To handle this situation, Yamanashi Prefecture has strengthened its deployment of “Mt. Fuji Rangers,” prefectural employees educated to intervene with poorly outfitted climbers. Their coaching was additionally demonstrated on June 13. Throughout the drill, one role-playing climber argued, “We at all times climb like this. Why cannot we go? We do not have time, allow us to by means of shortly.” The ranger responded, “We wish everybody to take pleasure in climbing Mt. Fuji, however your security is our high precedence. In your present outfit, it might be extraordinarily harmful, so we can not allow you to go.”
Underneath the brand new system, prefectural employees could have the authority to refuse entry to climbers missing enough tools. One vacationer observing the measures commented, “I believe it’s a necessity to stop accidents. For those who contemplate the necessity for helicopter rescues in case of emergencies, it is higher to have restrictions.”
In the meantime, on the Shizuoka Prefecture facet, the place the climbing season formally opens on July 10, native authorities say putting in an analogous gate can be troublesome resulting from variations in terrain. Nonetheless, they’re speeding to arrange momentary huts close to the trailhead to test climbers’ gear and clothes as a part of their very own security efforts.
Supply: FNN
