Risk Management Regarding Mountain Climbing Accident and Acute Mountain Sickness analyzed using Abandonments of Climbing Mt. Fuji

Abstract

The purpose of this study is 1) to grasp the attributes of mountain climbers and the reasons for abandoned ummit attempts, and 2) to consider risk management of climbers in natural parks in Japan. A field survey was plemented at Mt. Fuji. As a result, the proportion of young people was 63% and 1^sttime climbers was 55%. The rate of eaching the summit was 92% and that of abandonment was 7%. The most common reasons why climbers abandoned limbing were acute mountain sickness (AMS) and others similar to AMS. 76% of dropouts turned back at the 8^th step. In ddition to those, more climbers who did not stay at mountain hut abandoned climbing on the way to the top than those ho did stay. Finally, risk management regarding high mountain climbing in natural parkswas considered based on he results of this study and a couple ofdesirable management actions were proposed.