Better snowboarding and environmental protection in Oze
Hello, I'm a photographer's hoe.
This time I will write the second column.
Last time I introduced the activities so far, so this time I took up familiar events.
Currently, the place where I am doing creative activities for photography and writing is Gunma prefecture.
I first visited when I was XNUMX years old when I was aspiring to be a photographer.This area is the inner part of the metropolitan area where Japan's largest population lives.Although it is the lowest group in the ranking of attractive tourist destinations by prefecture, it is often said that it is the capital if you live.There are also unexpectedly good points.There are many trees and trees, and there is a clear stream that glitters, and many animals and plants are in operation.There are gravel roads, forest roads and mountain trails beyond the road that can be reached by car, and it looks like an undeveloped wonderland.
Speaking of Oze, skunk cabbage.The flowering situation of this famous spot changes depending on the amount of water, the weather, and the remaining snow.
Everything.I want to accept it as it is and enjoy the art of nature.
One of my favorite areas is "Oze".
The charm of Oze is Iloilo.I could see dramatic scenery, flowers, house martins nesting, stoats, windy, rainbows.It is a place where you can make a small discovery of nature with such a feeling.I am a hiking and mountaineering guide there.Originally, I thought that "freeride shooting is safer" and that it was secondary to me.But now it's dazzling with fresh greenery, and I really like the summer when I can get edible wild plants and vegetables.I think that Oze and nature are so attractive.
And here, too, there is a slippery big mountain.Its name is "Mt. Shibutsu".
It takes about XNUMX hours from the trailhead to reach the summit.The attraction is the outlook.Riding overlooking Ozegahara, which is one of the Ramsar Convention sites, is the most open feeling in Japan.More than half of the gliding area is open burn. When I was in my twenties, I used to go to Switzerland and Austria every year, but it's a favorite mountain that is as good as the scale there.
And will it be about XNUMX years now?Set in this mountain, we are holding a "Oze BC Photo Tour" for the general public, not professionals.The purpose of this tour is to climb the mountain together and shoot the slide.
Some customers contact me saying "I'm framed and decorating at home", and some people introduce me on FB and blogs, so I'm a photographer.
From the first BC challenger, sometimes the faces of magazine editors and manufacturers.In recent years, even the happy happenings that even active professionals and those who have experienced the Olympics will participate.I find it very rewarding to be able to witness a scene that impresses everyone and leave it in shape.
By the way, Mt. Shibutsu and the whole of Oze have a history of deep human involvement even though they are deep in the mountains.This time I will touch on that.
First of all, in the area called Oze, crustal movements such as uplifts and eruptions in ancient times created a terrain like a miniature garden surrounded by 2000m as it is today.The vast Ozegahara is the largest marshland in Honshu that contains a large amount of water.Before the war, he said, "I want to see Oze like a paradise once before I die."After the war, the famous song "Summer Thoughts" became popular and tourists rushed in to entertain people, but on the other hand, it was devastated.Research is gradually progressing, and restoration work and maintenance rules are applied according to the unique environment to restore the current beauty.Now, thanks to the efforts of many people, it has become Oze where no trash has fallen.It's a very miraculous thing.
In other words, the nature of Oze changes with the "human mind", and for better or worse, it may represent the figure of Ningen himself.
Mt. Shibutsu is composed of a slippery and fragile property called "serpentinite".Climbers usually avoid rock belts, trampling trees such as pinus pumila and walking in grasslands.As a result, the plants were damaged and Mt. Shibutsu was devastated.
It is wierd, is not it?There should be only people who like nature, but on the contrary, it is destroying nature.
That has come to be seen in the recent backcountry boom.
Recently, more and more people are sitting on bamboo grass or pinus pumila or putting their luggage on the mountaintop.It feels more fluffy than on the snow.Some people have thrown away their broken ski boots this year.The locals took it home instead, but it's a sad reality.Everyone wants to have fun and want to slip.Is that all?
During my summer tour, I try to tell not only about flowers and mountains, but also about their history and rules.Therefore, when you see it at the top of the mountain, it calls attention when it is very bad.But sometimes I'm scared because some people cut back.Stay modest.
Well, what happens if we go on like this?
I'm sure Mt. Shibutsu will be banned from climbing.
In fact, even now, climbing is prohibited for XNUMX days after Golden Week.
Also, even if the mountain is opened, the down route to Ozegahara is prohibited.This is because there are many people who avoid the remaining snow and serpentine and trample the vegetation.
It seems that there are similar projects in Japan and overseas and in other places as well.
In Tateyama, the excrement of winter runners and climbers seems to be a problem.Even if there is no sign of people in the silver world in winter, there are beautiful ponds and alpine plants in summer.If you broaden your horizons further, there are problems such as fishhooks with broken fishhooks and wild birds suffering from fishing lines in the river, and raccoon dogs that die by eating the vinyl discarded by BBQ as it is in the forest.
I've heard such a surprising message.
"Winthrows, dead grass, bear droppings are not wasted. The natural world has a near-perfect recycling system. Only humans produce unnecessary garbage."
And this, "Would you like to leave this beautiful nature to your children?"
In many cases, you think that you're okay if you're alone.
Sometimes I think so too.But I have to change it.
If everyone thinks so, it will be irreparable as a result.
Besides, if you get in a car, there is a problem with exhaust gas.If you wash the dishes, the river will become eutrophicated and the ecosystem will collapse.Petroleum is used as a raw material for both clothes and interiors.Snowboards themselves are also cut down from trees, using petroleum-derived adhesives, soles and waxes to peel animals and use petroleum to make things to wear, in fact.
Can you do anything then?
What should I do? .. ..
I don't know if it will be a definite answer, but I will give you some ideas as a reference.
For example, if you go to the home slopes in seasons other than winter, you will be surprised at the difference.
It is a beautiful flower park of lilies and lavender.Hiking trails are in place.Oh yeah, this SBN site also has a ski resort garbage picking event.
And in the case of Oze's wilderness, XNUMX kinds of vegetation live.Among them, there are weak flowers that "can only live here".There is also a grandpa tree that has taken root in this area long before we were born.Therefore, if you want to slide on the comfortable gliding barn forever, you should understand the nature there and act in a way that is beneficial.
As I heard, the basic behavior of humans is "interest → cognition → behavior".
In other words, even if it's a little worrisome at first, when you get interested, it will move to the actual action.Tell people you don't know first.Find out what you care about.Something may start from there.
In the current Ozegahara, the famous skunk cabbage, Ryukinka, Heloniopsis orientalis, Lindou Tateyama, Drosera rotundifolia, and Eriophorum vaginalis are all in the early spring.The yellow carpet of day lilies also entertains us over the summer.
Mt. Shibutsu is prohibited from entering the mountain until July XNUMX, but rare flowers such as Oze grass, Hosoba Hina light snow grass, Takamine Shiogama, Glaucidium palmatum, and Ibuki Aoi are in full bloom.On that big slope that made a big turn.
If you go to Natsuyama where you can see the mountains well, you will be able to see the routes and dangerous spots, and you will be better at snowboarding.Aerobic exercise also gives you strength.The scenery and flowers are beautiful and will heal us.
I wrote a little difficult story, but if you slip anyway, check it out and slip tokoton.That's it.
It feels good to go to the mountains in the summer.It doesn't cost any money.You can be healthy.
I love snowboarding and nature more and more! !!I want to say.
Let's go to Natsuyama, everyone on the border!
This summer, on a mountain trail full of greenery, I hope to meet many hikers who have stopped for some reason and are fantasizing about the winter gliding line.Let's enjoy nature play together and protect nature together!
Tomokazu Kuwano
Freelance Photographer / Oze Guide / Canoe Guide
SBN Features Tomokazu Kuwano Column
