Event Level, Safety & Insurance

Information

Safety

All members are responsible for their own safety - not the club, management or the event organizer. This is the main condition of the club when you sign up. All organizers or ordinary people and not professionals. Please use your own judgement to decide if a trip is suitable for your level.

All members are strongly urged to get insurance to cover injuries ... or worse. The club does not have insurance for members.

Helicopter rescue for someone with a broken leg could cost 300,000yen! Searches for missing people are much more expensive.

Look at this webpage of accidents in Okutama and think carefully about getting insurance:

History of accidents in Okutama...

http://www.tfd.metro.tokyo.jp/hp-okutama/sangaku/

Accident Insurance

1. Usually about 8,000 yen/year for outdoor activities such as hiking and climbing. Application forms can be obtained from most outdoor shops (Montbell, Kamoshika in Takadanobaba).
2. Scanned application form that can be faxed to the insurance company are here:

• insurance1_document.pdf
• insurance1_application_form.pdf

1. For short trips you can get insurance online or over the phone for about 500 yen - see this website: http://www.is-bang.com/ski/trek/index.html

Weather Forecast: Japan Meteorological Agency

Where all Japanese weather forecasts come from!
Shows a lot of data other sites don't - expected rainfall in mm. Also comprehensive data in English.

English page:
http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/indexe.html
Japanese page:
http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/index.html

Event Rating System

To help people judge the difficulty of events there is a grading system based on two points: fitness & technical ability / danger.

Star Rating * to *****

Hikes are given a star rating - depending on difficulty and fitness required (time/steepness).

1* and 2* hikes are easy while 4* and 5* hikes usually require technical equipment and may need good fitness.

1* to 2*: Rated on fitness only usually

Non-technical

3*: Usually fitness and experience required. May be some dangerous places for inexperienced people.

A jump in fitness level and experience - be careful!

4* to 5*: Rated on danger level and fitness

Technical equipment may be necessary
Fitness and/or experience required

Detailed Information

Club presentation - basics with photos about hike level rating: OCJ_Presentation2009.pdf)

*: Easy hike

Map time: up to approximately 4 hours
Almost flat - not much climbing

Hiking boots and day pack recommended but may not be necessary

e.g. Takao-san

**: Moderate hike

Map time: 5-6 hours with day pack/4-5 hours with full overnight pack
Altitude climb: less than 600m in one day

Moderate slopes with occasional steep places
Hiking boots strongly recommended except in good conditions

e.g. Okutama

***: Strenuous hike and sometimes hazardous places

Map time: up to 8 hours with day pack / up to 6 hours with full overnight pack
Altitude climb: over 800m with day pack / over 600m with full overnight pack
May include many long, steep slopes
Areas with cliffs, river crossings and other hazards may be present
Hiking boots, proper clothes and pack required!
Fitness required!

e.g. Fuji-san, Hakuba-san, Kumotoriyama, Nabewari (** 1/2)

****: Extremely demanding hike, with possible danger

Use of chains, ropes or ladders on rocks with fatal exposures
Mountaineering or rock climbing experience an advantage

Technical equipment usually necessary
Hikers must be experienced and fit!

e.g. Yatsugatake ridge, Tsurugi with day pack, Kumotoriyama in winter

*****: Technical and dangerous

Fatal exposure common
Real danger to the most experienced hiker
Mountaineering or rock climbing experience compulsory
Technical equipment necessary

e.g. Tsurugi in winter, Yatsugatake ridge in winter