Mountain hut in the Northern Alps Closed during spring mountaineering season New Corona April 18 19:25
The spread of the new coronavirus has also affected the operation of mountain huts in the Northern Alps, which has reached the spring mountaineering season.
At Kamikochi, the gateway to the Northern Alps, and Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, the prefectural roads that connect to it will be available from 17th.
In the average year, many mountaineers visit and stay in mountain huts during the long holidays, but this is not the case due to the spread of the new coronavirus.
The mountain huts tend to be so-called three-dense because many climbers stay in a limited space.
According to the "North Alps Mountain Hut Friendship Club," all 13 huts belonging to the group that were scheduled to be open during the long holidays will stop accepting guests until the 6th of the month after the long holiday. It means that
Furthermore, it means that we will also suspend sales of tents and shops.
Dr. Kazuko Kamie, a member of the Japanese Mountaineering Medical Association who is familiar with mountain medical treatment, said, "There are a certain number of people who do not show symptoms with the new coronavirus, and there are many mountain climbers who do not have symptoms from various areas. If you gather in a mountain hut, there is a high risk that the infection will spread. It is also difficult to rescue the victims when considering the risk of infection, so we do not recommend climbing at this time. ”
Opening ceremony is held at the entrance, but the town has changed completely
An opening ceremony was held on the 17th at the entrance of the "Kama Tunnel" that connects to the Kamikochi area of Matsumoto City, the gateway to the Northern Alps.
If it is the usual year, it will be the beginning of the busy spring mountain climbing season, but Toshiaki Kamijo, the chairman of Kamikochi, said, "It is hard to say that you should come to the customer in such a situation. I want you to be able to be greeted with security safely. ”
Tourists at the bus terminal are also sparse, and the hotels and shops nearby have also decided to close temporarily on the 17th due to the spread of the infection.
A 30-year-old tourist who visited said, “I came because the weather was fine, but I also refrained from going out because the“ emergency declaration ”was also issued. There are places where I am also quitting the mountain hut, but it is“ 3 dense ” It's a place, so I don't think it can be helped. "
Mountain hut owner "Fill by the summer season"
The owner of the mountain hut is also faced with a difficult response.
Mr. Daisuke Hokari of Matsumoto city has three mountain huts in the Northern Alps open at this time, but all of them suspended until the 6th of next month.
I feel that the "Yarigatake Sanso" located near the summit of Mt. Yarigatake run by Hokari often sleeps more than 500 people, so there is a danger of so-called "3 density".
Also, in the spring mountain season, snow is melted to create water, so there is a limit to the amount of water that can be secured, and hand washing cannot be thoroughly done.
Hokari will prepare rainwear and goggles instead of protective clothing in order to relieve the employees' anxiety if they resume business after the 7th of next month.
Mr. Hokari said, "I think the mountain hut is a place where the risk of infection increases, so I think that there is no choice but to close the business at this time. I hope the spread of infection will stop by the summer mountain season when many mountaineers visit." .