On June 5, 2022 (Sunday), the ski slope garbage pick-up event “Yukigyo CAMP Mountain Clean” was held at Maiko Snow Resort in Niigata Prefecture. This is an event that can be said to be a prelude to the "Yukigyo CAMP" held every fall in the hope that skiers and snowboarders will have plenty of snow in the season. Let's clean up the slopes that were taken care of last season! was planned by the ski resort and the Yukigyo CAMP management office.
On this day, which coincided with World Environment Day, 26 people who agreed with the purpose of the event participated. What can we do to play nature in the field? Continuing to use the gear and clothing you are using for a long time is also an eco-friendly approach. What can you do now that the season is over? Yes, ski resort cleaning activities. At the ski resort full of greenery, I worked while enjoying the pleasant early summer breeze.
What is Yukigo CAMP?
Yukigo CAMP is a camp festival event where people who love snowy mountains, including skiers and snowboarders, gather. “I hope it will snow a lot this winter,” literally “begging for snow,” while enjoying camping, shopping, workshops, local food, etc. for two days. It is held every October at Maiko Snow Resort.
For event details, check the Yukigyo CAMP official website and SNS.
Click here for Yukigyo CAMP official website
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Is it raining? Morning of the event
On the morning of the day, dark clouds were spreading over Maiko Snow Resort, the venue. It is planned to be held rain or shine, but I would like to avoid rain if possible.
Event starts at 8:00. First, I loosened up my body with Shuri Kosugi's morning yoga. Shuri is usually a yoga teacher, but in the winter she becomes a snowboard instructor and is active on the snow. When the yoga class started by Mr. Shuri, who knows all about snowy mountains, the clouds that were covered all over the sky went somewhere. Under the bright blue sky, everyone was prepared physically and mentally, ready for their upcoming activities.
Start mountain cleaning!
At 9:00, all the participants moved to the halfway point of the slope where the garbage was picked up. Let's start cleaning the mountain!
Everyone wears work gloves, has a garbage bag and garbage scissors, and spreads out on the wide summer slopes. While going down the Nagamine Run Run Course from around the Mountain Restaurant, pick up any trash you see.
“Everyone! The tension of the participants rises at once to the stylish performance of nature. While picking up trash, they seemed to enjoy the fun of hiking.
After about an hour and a half picking up trash, I descended to the ski center at the foot of the mountain and took a break. At that time, the collected items were sorted, but cigarette butts and plastic pieces were overwhelmingly large as garbage. Surprisingly, part of the outer shell of ski boots. In this way, materials that do not return to nature adversely affect the growth of plants. Even if something happens to break on the slopes, as a skier, I want you to dispose of it responsibly.
All kinds of rubbish in the snowdrift site
Actually, there was not much big garbage on the slopes so far. This was because after the winter season ended, the ski resort staff and locals were picking up trash. This is not enough... The participants, who were not satisfied with their sense of accomplishment, were guided next to a snowdrift field at the end of a steep slope.
The snow pile beside the parking lot is a place to bring in the snow that has accumulated in the parking lot during the season. Since the whole snow is moved at once with a bulldozer, etc., the garbage thrown away in the parking lot also accumulates together.
There was still snow in the snow pile, and a lot of garbage was found in this snow. From here, many bags of coins and sweets appear.
Mountain clean finished!
At 11:30, garbage pick-up is over. Then we all regrouped in front of the Maiko Kogen Lodge. When we collected garbage from the participants, we found cigarette butts, plastic pieces, candy wrappers, plastic bottles, and so on. All in all, it's quite a lot. All the items dropped or discarded by people who enjoyed skiing and snowboarding here. For those who love snow sports, the results are heartbreaking.
Lunch at Koshihikari, the polar horse, and a gift
After the mountain clean, we had a lunch of "Koshihikari rice from Minamiuonuma" and kenchin soup provided by Maiko Snow Resort. The rice is Koshihikari rice cooked by the staff of Maiko Kogen Lodge in the "momi kiln". The rice is cooked using a traditional cooking method that burns rice husks, giving each grain of rice a sparkling white shine like a jewel. There were quite a few participants who ran with their plates asking, "Do you have any more?!"
This event is fully booked in advance. Among them, there are people who actually hold events for environmental conservation activities themselves, and people who say, "I've gathered my friends because Maiko took such good care of me in the winter!" Snow sports fans gathered on a refreshing day in early summer. It was a meaningful experience for each participant, and it seemed to bring smiles to their faces.
Finally, the Yukigyo CAMP Executive Committee presents a one-day ticket for the Yukigyo CAMP scheduled to be held this fall as a participation prize. And Mr. Ijima of Maiko Snow Resort also announced the opening date of the ski resort, which was just decided. This year from December 16, 2022! A new attempt is also being planned, so I can't wait for winter!
"An event that shortens the sense of distance with customers"
We received a comment from Mr. Ijima of Maiko Snow Resort, who hosted this event.
We have held “Yukigyo CAMP” every autumn, but this time we will hold an event called “Mountain Clean” in June for the first time.
By picking up trash together, it was a good opportunity to talk closely with customers and hear their voices. The slopes have become beautiful, and everyone seems to have thought a little about the garbage problem at the ski resort, so I am very grateful. Up until now, information about the winter season has been one-sided, but we will be able to use the opinions that we have gathered from a closer distance like this time for the operation of the next season. I want to And we want our customers to have a more enjoyable winter.
*What is World Environment Day?
It was decided in commemoration of the "United Nations Conference on the Human Environment" held in Stockholm in 1972, and the United Nations set June 5 as "World Environment Day" in response to Japan's proposal. In Japan, it is "Environment Day" under the Basic Environment Law. Events and initiatives are held by various business operators and organizations in order to spread awareness of environmental conservation, deepen interest and understanding, and motivate people to actively engage in environmental conservation activities.
This year's theme is "Only One Earth," and appeals to the need to live a sustainable life in harmony with nature, with the theme of the irreplaceable earth. In Japan, the Ministry of the Environment will hold an event to light up landmarks all over the country in green on the night of June 5th. Many people may have seen the building dyed green?
next time at "Yukigyo CAMP" !
“Yukigyo CAMP 2022” will be held from October 15th (Sat) to 16th (Sun). This year, the content of the event and the number of participating stores have increased, and the sense of scale has increased compared to last year. The venue is also Maiko Snow Resort. You can enjoy shopping at shops, participating in workshops, and of course, don't forget to enjoy food and camping. Please invite your family and friends and let's do "Snow Prayer"!
Yukigoi CAMP: https://yukigoi-camp.com/
Instagram: @yukigoi_camp
Twitter: @yukigoi_camp
Facebook: @yukigoicamp