The Nagano Prefectural Police Mountain Rescue Team is urging hikers to avoid fatal mistakes as "double distress" cases rise this summer [1].
These incidents occur when climbers who have already been rescued once return to the mountains and require a second rescue shortly after. This trend places an immense emotional and physical burden on rescue teams and highlights a critical lack of safety judgment among some hikers [2].
Recent data from the Hakuba Ōyukigawa region illustrates the severity of the issue. One man was rescued after becoming immobilized by fatigue on June 30, only to require a second rescue on July 2 [1]. In another instance, two foreign nationals were rescued on July 14, having previously been saved just two days earlier on July 12 [1].
The rescue team expressed frustration and grief through an official X post, questioning how many more calls to bereaved families they must make [1]. The team said, "Do not die in the mountains" [1].
Alpinist Ken Noguchi also criticized the mindset of those who ignore the dangers of the terrain. Noguchi said that he questions whether some individuals even need to be saved when they seem to underestimate both the mountains and the rescue teams [1].
Authorities emphasize that mountain accidents are preventable through proper preparation and a willingness to abandon a climb when conditions become unsafe [2]. The team continues to call for hikers to exercise better self-judgment to prevent unnecessary loss of life, and the exhaustion of emergency resources [1].
“Do not die in the mountains”
The rise in 'double distress' cases suggests a psychological gap in risk assessment among recreational hikers, where the first rescue is viewed as a safety net rather than a warning. This creates a systemic strain on regional emergency services in Nagano, shifting the focus from accidental rescues to preventable negligence during the peak summer season.
