「８割はきつい。でも非日常でリセット、それが魅力です」　アウトドアブームがけん引する高校の「登山部人気」

Due to the declining birthrate, the number of high school students participating in club activities is declining. Meanwhile, the number of members in mountain climbing clubs has increased compared to 10 years ago. Why do students choose mountain climbing as a club activity? We explore its appeal. The Inter-High School Championship Runner-Up is a Public High School that Balances Academic and Athletic Achievement Students navigate rugged mountain paths with ease. They are members of Shuyukan High School's Mountain Climbing Club. With a history spanning over 70 years, the boys' team placed second and the girls' team placed 16th at last year's Inter-High School Championships. A Shuyukan High School Mountain Climbing Club member said, "The load is heavy, because we're carrying everything we need for daily life—a miniature version of our house—on our backs." 15 New Students Join The Shuyukan High School Mountain Climbing Club currently has 42 members. This spring, 15 new members, both male and female, joined the club. Shuyukan High School freshman Baba Yuto said, "I was on the baseball team in middle school. In high school, I decided to try something new rather than continuing with baseball." Shuyukan High School freshman Nakagawahara Sota said, "I've always loved mountains since I was little. When I was in middle school, I heard about Shuyukan High School's mountain climbing club, and I studied hard for my high school entrance exams, hoping to join their club. During middle school, the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to go out into the city and interact with people. Mountain climbing is something you can do anytime, regardless of the coronavirus, and the mountains are always welcoming, so I enjoyed it as a form of leisure." Mountaineering Club Members Increase by 2,000 in 10 Years According to the Japan High School Athletic Federation, the number of students belonging to sports clubs will be over 1.06 million in 2023, a decrease of approximately 140,000 over the past 10 years. Meanwhile, the number of members of mountaineering clubs has increased by approximately 2,000, from 9,758 to 11,632. Shuyukan High School Mountaineering Club Advisor Kazuhiro Kusuda believes the outdoor boom has increased opportunities for students to experience nature, which is also a factor in the club's popularity. "Although there are some rough patches, about 10 students join each year," said Shuyukan High School Mountaineering Club Advisor Kazuhiro Kusuda. "I feel like more and more families are joining the club because they enjoy camping and mountain climbing with their families." Carrying loads weighing over 10 kg Shuyukan High School Mountaineering Club Advisor Kazuhiro Kusuda: "I was worried about the weather, but so far I think it's fine. We'll climb Mt. Homan as planned, then traverse and head to Mt. Mikuniyama." At the end of April, the club held its annual welcome hike for new students. First-year students and upperclassmen formed groups and spent two days and one night traversing Mt. Homan, which straddles the border between Dazaifu and Chikushino cities in Fukuoka Prefecture. The upperclassmen's backpacks, containing drinks, changes of clothing, tents, and other items, weighed over 10 kg. RKB reporter Masaru Komatsu: "It's tough." RKB photographer Sho Sakamoto: "But we're not even halfway there yet, are we?" RKB reporter Masaru Komatsu: "I may have underestimated the high school students' stamina. I'll do my best to keep up." The ability to adapt to unexpected situations is required The high school students were making good progress, but then an unexpected incident occurred. Student: "Oh, no, wait a moment." Student: "Did you get a cramp?" Student: "Uh, yeah." Even experienced climbers often experience cramps. The entire team continued forward, supporting the second-year member who had hurt his leg. In the group leading the way, an upperclassman was giving advice to the first-year student. Tetsuta Okazaki, captain of Shuyukan High School's mountain climbing club, said: "The tighter you tighten your laces, the easier it will be. It's more comfortable if your backpack is close to your body. Shall we stop for now?" Q: Why did you stop? Tetsuta Okazaki, captain of Shuyukan High School's mountaineering club, said, "Everyone looked tired. First-year students aren't used to carrying backpacks, so whether they're properly strapped on affects how hard it is." A sense of accomplishment, even when we can't see anything. We reached the summit about two hours after starting the climb. Q: How were the younger members? Tetsuta Okazaki, captain of Shuyukan High School's mountaineering club, said, "Those with sports experience are strong because they have good basic physical strength. We were just as tired." The summit was covered in clouds, but the club members' faces were beaming. Sota Kawahara, a first-year student, said, "We felt a sense of accomplishment. The view from the top was completely white, and we couldn't see...