浅間山火山館の神田館長に会おう Meet Kanda-san, Mt. Asama Kazankan's Director

July 20, 2013: 長野に来る理由 Reasons to Come to Nagano

欧米の公の森林にRanger(森林保護官)という制度がある。
自然を守りながら訪ねる方に森林を説明し、緊急の時に安全活動もする。

浅間山を天狗温泉(浅間山荘)から登る時に途中にログハウスがある。火山館です。給水やトイレがあるし、2階は浅間山の自然を説明する資料館となっている。そこに館長の神田さんが親切に浅間山のうんちくを教えてくれる。神田さんは私に言わせたらRangerです。

今回、息子と登山した時に休憩している間に神田さんが色々と親切に教えてくれた。浅間山の3つの重なった火山の独特のチリから登山の歴史まで、その話を聞いてさらに浅間山のファンになりました。特に、この火山の地理が奥深くて面白い。登って行く中で目の前に浅間山の2万4300年前からの歴史が見える。

神田さんと浅間山「火山館」が信州の宝物だと思った。

Back in the States, many national and state parks and wilderness areas have Rangers -- people that work to preserve nature while interpreting that nature to visitors, as well as providing help in times of emergencies.

On our recent climb of Mt. Asama, we found the 2-story log house along the way that is Kazankan ("Volcano Hall"). Besides providing water and toilet facilities for climbers, the 2nd story is a geological museum of the mountain. And Kanda-san, the live-in director, happily fills in the details with his thorough knowledge.

During our rest stops there, Kanda-san described the 24,300 year geological history of the mountain and explained where the various stages of the 3-in-1 volcano development can be seen. Mt. Asama is the only volcano in the world to actually be 3 separate mountains that grew on top of each other. All of that dynamic activity can be seen in the peaks and ridges that make up Mt. Asama.

And the mountain's history of human interaction is equally as fascinating. Kanda-san took the time to explain that to us as well. He may not have the title of "Ranger", but in my mind that is what Kanda-san is.

Kanda-san and the Mt. Asama Kazankan -- two of Nagano's greatest treasures.

浅間山火山館 Mt. Asama Kazankan



Asama Kazankan's welcoming loghouse facade


The Volcano Explained


One of the Geological Displays





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