While the great appeal of being able to enjoy free skiing in the great outdoors is the backcountry of snowy mountains, where there are various dangers lurking. Backcountry guides are experts who use their wealth of knowledge and experience to provide you with an unparalleled skiing experience while ensuring your safety on these snowy mountains.
We take a closer look at the ``personality'' and ``guiding'' of up-and-coming guides who choose professional guiding as their profession and step slowly and steadily into the world.
Born and raised in the Yamaya family
Mountain guide Daichi Terui was born and raised in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, where you can see Mt. Hayachine, one of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains. Born in the Taisho era, his grandfather was a ski jumper, and his father was Yamaya, whose hobbies were mountain climbing and skiing, so from an early age it was common for him to play outdoors, such as in the mountains or camping.
When they reach elementary school, they join the Boy Scouts and learn how to survive outdoors, such as camping, rope work, and making fires.
“You never know in life that the experiences you had back then are being put to good use in your current profession. Things like figure-eight knots and bowline knots.To begin with, back then I didn’t even know that mountain guides existed. ”
The two books that led Terui to become a mountain guide
The bookshelf at my parents' house was lined with many books about mountaineering and the outdoors. Of all the books I have devoured, there are two that left an impression on me.
“It’s Makoto Shiina’s Suspicious Exploration Team series.
Climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, and guzzle whiskey. I remember being so happy as a child that there were such free adults in the world."
This second book led Terui to the path of becoming a guide.
``Annapurna Premier 8000 by Herzog/Maurice Herzog, 1951'' by French mountaineer Maurice Herzog.
I read it many times and was influenced by it. In this book, I learned that there is a profession called mountain guide that has a strong social status, and I became interested."
For about 10 years, during elementary, junior high, and high school, I devoted my youth to cross-country skiing. In high school, there was no ski club, so I joined the track and field club and honed my explosive power in the short distances of 100m (my personal best was 11.65 seconds!) and 200m.In the fall, I took long distance races such as relay races to improve my stamina. ran the distance.
He also built a frame for his father's road bike that was lying around the house, and became immersed in road bikes. It was all about winter cross-country skiing.
``I used to do this a lot.I rode my bicycle up the hill 48km one way from my home in Hanamaki City to the Odagoshi trailhead of Mt. Hayachine (altitude 1,917m) and then returned home. During my school days, I was always moving and never stopping.
Thanks to that, I was able to vent my adolescent frustration outdoors, so I didn't have a period of rebelliousness (lol).
A fateful encounter at a mountain hut in Hokkaido
Entered Tokai University's Faculty of International Culture (Sapporo Campus) to learn about the culture of Northern Europe, the birthplace of Nordic skiing. There was also a longing for the nature of Hokkaido, the harsh and magnificent wilderness of Japan's northernmost region.
In the spring of my first year at university, I had a fateful encounter while staying at Ginreiso, a mountain hut located halfway up Mt. Haruka (906m) in Otaru City.
``When I told the woman I met there that I wanted to become a mountain guide in the future, she turned out to be a customer of international mountain guide Hirofumi Ishizaka, and on the pretext of introducing me to Mr. Ishizaka, the three of us suddenly decided to climb the multi-pitch of Akaiwa. I decided to go.”
Hirofumi Ishizaka, an international mountain guide, looks back on those days as follows.
“I still remember the first time I interviewed him. At that time, I just wanted to listen. Terui-kun was still a university student and had little experience in the mountains, but he was a cross-country skier. I was defeated by his basic physical strength and the sparkle in his eyes that showed his enthusiasm.''
The encounter at Mt. Haruka led to him looking up to Hirofumi Ishizaka as his mentor, and even though he was still in school, he started working as a guide under him.
``One day in winter, I decided to go skiing Mt. Yotei with Mr. Ishizaka, and I borrowed Dynafit boards and boots with tech bindings, and went backcountry skiing for the first time. Actually, I had never done alpine skiing before (lol).
If you want to work as a guide in Japan, you have to master mountain skiing! Based on his mentor's advice, he decided to use his part-time job money from his job at Ishii Sports Sapporo to attend lessons at the Sapporo Kokusai Ski Resort. Aim for weekdays when you can receive one-on-one instruction.
``Cross-country skis are skis with no edges, so I had a hard time setting the corners at first.That's why I started skiing as an adult.I'm
not very good at skiing, so I tend to make a lot of short turns, so I started skiing in videos and magazines. I admire the big turns you see in movies like that.”
Birth of a winter mountain guide who is one year younger
At the age of 19, while attending university, he obtained the Hokkaido outdoor mountain guide certification. The episode from that moment, which can be called the culmination of youthful spirit, is interesting.
``The eligibility age to apply was 18 years or older for summer mountains, and 20 years or older for winter mountains.You can't get a winter mountain guide qualification at 19 years old.No matter how much time passes, you won't be able to remain as an apprentice.Therefore, I contacted the secretariat. When I told him directly, ``I'm a year younger than you, but please do something with me,'' he said okay (lol).''
Thanks to my Hokkaido guide qualification, I was able to smoothly pass the transition exam and obtain a mountaineering guide qualification certified by the Japan Mountain Guide Association at the age of 23, upon graduating from university.
After that, he rapidly accumulated achievements, including Ski Guide Stage I at the age of 25, Ski Guide Stage II at the age of 27, and Mountain Guide Stage I at the age of 31.
During this time, I traveled from Japan to experience heli-skiing operations in Iceland, Scandinavia, and skied the auto route in the European Alps. I refined it.
I dare not have a home mountain
Terui is currently 34 years old. With bases in Sapporo and Azumino, they lead ski and snowboard tours throughout Japan. He specializes in the mountains of northern and eastern Hokkaido, as well as his hometown of Tohoku, but he intentionally does not have a home mountain. There's a reason for that.
``Rocks, soil, trees...Snow is the most unstable and uncertain thing in nature.Furthermore, as the weather changes in various ways due to climate change, it is important to know the various types of snow in various regions. I think it's better to have a margin of safety in case of an emergency.At
the same time, there are things you know because you're a local, but there are also things you don't notice because you're a local. I think it's time for me to gain some experience, and then I'll probably decide on my home mountain once I've finished absorbing most of it."
Even if the mountain changes, what they do is the same. They take in information from general town weather forecasts, ``Windy,'' and specialized weather information from ``Chikyuki,'' and create their own glasses for the day. They look at the scene through these glasses, judge whether it is safe or not, and communicate with the customers by observing their facial expressions as they guide the guide.
``When I go into the mountains, I always get nervous in a good way and am very careful.I always tell myself, ``Today is not normal'' and prepare.I check the weather forecast a few days in advance, Because
I don't have a home, I have many new discoveries, and I can enjoy the snowy mountains from the same perspective as the customers. However, due to my personality, I can't express my emotions on my face. I am guiding you calmly and calmly.”
Although he has loved reading the unconventional ``Suspicious Exploration Team,'' he is cautious and honest. Terui's roots lie in the humility and single-mindedness typical of Tohoku people.
Guide Ishizaka, his master, evaluates Terui as follows.
"Terui-kun is serious and passionate about his research. I think his attitude of not being afraid to take on any challenge is very good."
He not only learns about the nature and customs of various parts of Japan, but also learns about new gear and wear, and uses this knowledge to enrich himself.
By traveling around Japan and interacting with various people, history, and climate, he is deepening and broadening his abilities as a human being, not just a guide.
Mental self-care as a guide
Terui has one thing he keeps in mind every morning on the way to the snowy mountains. It's a mental check that allows you to look at yourself from an objective perspective.
``For example, if I can't give a customer a nice snow slide, I get impatient.Isn't that violating my sense of normalcy?Aren't these impatience and fatigue clouding my judgment? I ask myself these questions in order to maintain a neutral mental state.”
During the season, January and February, they head to the snowy mountains every day, without holidays. No matter how young you are, fatigue and stress accumulate every day. Taking care of your body is surprising and unexpected. It was about moving my body even more.
``I focus on stretching the parts of my body that are tense or stiff.Also, if I have time, I go up an artificial wall.When I exercise the muscles that I don't use when skiing, my body loosens up, and it feels strange.
For example, if you stretch your arms directly above you, the muscles in your neck and shoulders that have become stiff due to the weight of the backpack and stock work will loosen up and your hips will open up . It also expands your range of motion. Also, talking with your friends and thinking about your assignments refreshes your mind and body away from the snowy mountains."
I have to keep swimming
Terui laughs at himself and says that he is like a tuna that will die if he does not keep swimming. When the busy season ends and spring comes, it's time to go to your own mountain.
``It turns on a different switch than going on a guided mountain trip.It's a time to grab a tent and immerse yourself in the mountains for a long time, incorporate vertical movement climbing, and give it your all.Since last year, I've been aiming for the north face of Mt.Yarigatake, Kashima. Masu"
I've been skiing ever since I could remember, and started AT skiing at the age of 19, and this year marks my 15th year. It has become my own as the greatest weapon for mountain travel, and I have improved to the point where I can tackle some of the most difficult slopes in the Northern Alps.
``I think of mountain guides as Kuroko.The main character is the customer, and each step they take brings them closer to the summit.The person who is climbing is undoubtedly the person himself, and the guide can only help him.When he stands on the top, When I slide down a comfortable slope, I see everyone's smiling faces and I feel happy.It's a moment that makes me feel glad that I'm doing this job.''
Terui is a guide who has a good balance between the energy to move forward without looking aside once he has made a decision, and the caution to cross stone bridges. This balance can be said to be the most important quality for a guide. Guests expect their guides to take them to a world that they could not reach on their own. The guides will do their best to meet those expectations. Of course there is danger involved. We consider the weather, members, snow quality, and various other phenomena, and draw a line on actions and terrain where accidents will not occur.
Playing with life. It's better to be too careful about that line. It's better to be reserved. It's better to smell human.
The atmosphere is calming. Terui is such a guide.
【Profile】
Daichi Terui
Born in 1990 in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture. A mountain guide who is active in all seasons, from variation routes at high altitudes to ski tours staying overnight in a hut. Dedicated to cross-country skiing since childhood, he put on AT skis for the first time at the age of 19.
BC's specialty mountain areas are Hokkaido's northern and central Hokkaido areas, as well as the local Tohoku area. With bases in Sapporo and Azumino, we provide guides connecting people and mountains throughout the country.
Qualifications: Certified by Japan Mountain Guide Association (JMGA)
, Mountain Guide Stage I , Ski Guide Stage II
Terui Daichi
official website: https://teruidaichi.com/Official
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