乗鞍で登山道を整備すること～たまには山へ恩返し～

Mount Norikura and Norikura Plateau, located in Chubu-Sangaku National Park, are visited by many climbers and hikers every year. The mountain trails (sidewalks) we walk on without even thinking about it are actually subject to stress every time we walk on them. When these stresses accumulate, they can become unbearable and even difficult to repair. By the time we notice, they can cause major road erosion, making recovery difficult. Furthermore, road erosion is not only being caused by hikers trampling on the trails, but also by natural disasters, such as the frequent occurrence of sudden heavy rains in recent years. Given the limited budgets and manpower of government agencies, what can be done to maintain mountain trails in a healthy manner? This article introduces initiatives exploring the best ways to maintain trails.

Maintaining mountain trails in Norikura - Sometimes we give back to the mountains.

❶ Maintaining hiking trails?

There are many footpaths on the Norikura Plateau, and a hiking trail leading from the plateau to Mount Norikura is also laid out. You might think, "Obviously, roads should be well maintained, right?", but Norikura is chronically short of funds and manpower for environmental maintenance, so it is difficult to maintain the roads.Maintenance cannot keep up with the speed at which the roads are deteriorating.We are facing the following challenges.

In the midst of all this, in Norikura, the Ministry of the Environment, which has jurisdiction over the national park, is holding a sidewalk maintenance seminar (several times in autumn from 2020 onwards) in the hopes of thinking about road maintenance together with local residents, government officials and hikers. The seminar is called "Occasionally giving back to the mountains in Norikura." Hokkaido mountain maintenance workers, who are working on maintenance and technology transfer across the country, have come to Norikura to discuss the "recent natural constructionThis is a seminar where you can continue to learn about road maintenance by "

❷ "Near-natural construction methods" ... Close to nature, with methods that are close to nature

The lecturer, Professor Okazaki (Hokkaido Mountain Maintenance), said that the purpose of mountain trail maintenance is"Striking a balance between erosion and conservation to preserve the ecosystem"He says that mountain environments depend on a good balance of soil, plants, water, and snow. When a hiking trail is built, that balance is disrupted, and poor management inevitably leads to degradation. It's not just about "making it easier to walk on because it's difficult," but also about slowing the rate of damage caused by use and speeding up restoration, striking a balance between erosion and conservation, and preserving the ecosystem. That's what is required of hiking trail maintenance.

The near-natural construction method is a method of restoring ecosystems by incorporating natural structures into construction. Unlike typical civil engineering methods that primarily aim for "ease of walking," this method involves understanding the cause of the collapse and considering the natural formations of the area when carrying out construction. By carrying out construction that is tailored to the location, not only will the path become easy to walk on, but the natural environment will be revived and the ecosystem will be restored.

Repairing Mountain Trails: The Concept and Techniques of Near-Natural Construction
Shinetsu Natural Environment Office

❸ Learning from nature

At the collapsed site,Why did it collapse so much?The first thing you should do is to identify the cause.What will happen if we respond in what way?Professor Okazaki says that we must imagine a future where the natural environment is restored.Based on the materials available on siteIt is necessary to use something that is appropriate for the site.

What is needed to fix the road isImitating nature",for that"Observing nature" How is the natural environment at the site? How many usable materials are there around? How is the water flowing...?The answer lies in nature" says Professor Okazaki. The near-natural construction method seeks to learn from nature and recreate the trigger that stops erosion and maintains the balance of the ecosystem.

Video of mountain trail construction using natural construction methods
Youtube/Yamamorito

❹ A new way to interact with the mountains...giving back to the mountains every once in a while

Professor Okazaki says that rather than spending a lot of money on public works projects all at once, it is important to prevent collapse and maintain the trails on a daily basis to keep a good balance between the amount of collapse and the amount of preservation. To achieve this, what can we do in Norikura...? No clear shape has yet emerged, but what has become clear from the several seminars is that one way to open up possibilities is for everyone who loves Norikura and enjoys the blessings of the mountains to continue to cooperate and get involved.

As for the participants of the mountain trail maintenance seminar, they all enjoyed the time they spent working up a sweat together while trying different things, and by being involved in mountain conservation work under Professor Okazaki's guidance, many seemed to feel a connection with the mountains that cannot be achieved by simply walking or looking at them.
"Maintaining mountain trails" and "preserving the natural environment" may seem like difficult and heavy tasks, but in fact they can be seen as a new way of interacting with mountains, one that involves humbly engaging in dialogue with nature and deepening one's connection with nature. By maintaining mountain trails, we can "give back to the mountains once in a while." If you have the opportunity, why not join us in exploring new ways of interacting with mountains?

When holding seminars and other events
We will announce it on the Norikura Kogen official Facebook page!
▼
https://www.facebook.com/norikurakogen