The Northern Alps in Nagano Prefecture Photo: Wikipedia
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Record 3,129 stranded on Japanese mountains in 2018

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dbsaiya, I am almost 60, have a clean bill of health, jog about 5 times a week (3 to 10km each time) work out, better reflexes than most half my age and am well aware of my surroundings. Please don't put an age on ones ability to do certain things in life.

11 ( +14 / -3 )

I'm with since1981 though still in my 40s. And I have no plans to stop when I hit 70 either. Kobe, do you just mean cutting out more serious climbing or any kind of trekking? My uncle was still running marathons, including Pike's Peak, into his mid 70s. My Dad retired in the mountains and even at 80 he can still shoot up hillsides with me step for step. And I have colleagues in their 40s, walking stalks of tobacco, who can barely make it to the station after work.

Not all oldsters are created equal. Should we know our limits and be extremely prepared, trying to avoid burdening others, sure. But this idea of dialing back all our activities is absurd.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Whatever happened to the French woman who disappeared last year?

6 ( +8 / -2 )

I'd like to see the number of those hiking, by age group. I'm a hiker and do see mostly those in their 50s and over. Many groups in their 60s as well. Don't see many young people hiking therefore the percentages will be high for those over 60.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

"Among the dead and missing, 110, or 32.2 percent, were in their 70s,"

As a climber i will hang up my climbing boots well before 70.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Know your limitations. Be responsible for yourself. Don't expect anyone else to rescue you. Plan accordingly.

There are some 70 yr old people in crazy fantastic shape and there are some 45 yr old people in terrible shape.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

I would love to know just how much the people were charged for any rescues!

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Some people are underestimating climbing mountains with a simple hike. They go unprepared, no proper shoes or other protective gear or insufficient water etc. I'm surprised some people even had a signal during their climb, they are lucky.

Perhaps a small information booth at the base of the mountains warning and checking climbers if they are prepared. I know, impossible to do but still, it might help a little.

Whatever happened to the French woman who disappeared last year?

Good question, I haven't heard about this anymore.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

It would be interesting to know the reasons for the hiking incidents. Weather related, health related, getting lost, etc?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Some of them are people who (obviously unexpectedly) are just out hiking or gathering and encounter health problems like strokes and heart attacks. Some mountains are very steep, and digging up takenoko can be very strenuous.

Some of them are foolish, I don't care how experienced, who go up high mountains taking on the weather, possibly because "it's the only time I can go". The biggest idiots are the ones who say poor conditions are character building or equate it to camping in a bit of rain.

Some of them are posers who have bought 300,000 yen's worth of gear and want to be a cool kid who goes "backcountry" snowboarding or skiing (read: walking 200m from the top lift of a ski resort and dropping in) but are too stupid or inexperienced to get a map out, or too stingy to pay 8,000 yen a head for a guide.

Anyone suggesting 70 year olds shouldn't be active should look up the 70-year-old marathon record or best time on a big cycling climb like Mount Fuji or Mount Norikura. They should then try to beat the time.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

As a climber i will hang up my climbing boots well before 70

Wow, for a person living in what is a country full of mountains...

I'm in my 6ties, this January went ski touring in the Kamikawa area with a bunch of other people in their 6&7ties. Preparation, food drops in the fall, and fitness were the ingredients that gaves us all a great time, and I can see this continuing for many years to come.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'm all for people living their lives, taking chances if they so desire, and all that, but at what point does it go from your choice to someone else's requirement to rescue you?

You could walk down the street and still need rescuing, the point, as others have posted, is knowledge and preparation. I don't know why people don't use guides when they first venture an area, but I've never needed rescue, especially when with a guide.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'm all for people living their lives, taking chances if they so desire, and all that, but at what point does it go from your choice to someone else's requirement to rescue you?

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Get these old timers out of cars and out of the mountains. This is getting ridiculous. I'm well on my way to being an old timer myself and I can't understand some of these folks.

-13 ( +2 / -15 )

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