The Tokyo Declaration...Part 2

In Tokyo at the New Otani hotel, the evening panel discussions were filled to capacity with on-lookers.  Even Crown Prince Naruhito came for two nights, sitting next to Mrs. Miura in white and carrying an armload of books for the climbers to sign in our private audiences.  Mountaineering is a favorite hobby of the crown prince. His younger brother, Prince Akishino, spent a lot of time with climbers during the course of our stay and seemed to feel a great connection to the gathering, as well.

Each afternoon, we spent time in closed-conference developing what became known as the Tokyo Declaration.  I was amazed at how committed the group was to making this something that would endure.  Doug Scott was very philosophical. John Roskelley was protective of the mountain environment. Jim Wickwire was his usual lawyerly-self, doting the i's and crossing the t's. And Sir Edmund and Messner weighed in long distance. On the last day, it all came together and consensus was reached.  I was given the honor of reading the declaration to the assembly and then we celebrated.

It was a tipping point for climbing. Never had a group of such celebrated and respected mountaineers and adventurers made such a strong statement about life in the mountains.  The following year, the Tokyo Declaration was read into the minutes of the now famous UN Earth Summit in Rio by a delegation from Japan.  It influenced the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development that stands as a guide to preserving our outdoor environment to this day.

It was an exciting time and Jim and I talked late into the night at the Lady Ottoline about the experiences we shared from then.  Since the Tokyo Summit, the mountains and access to them have seen many peaks and valleys.  The tragic Everest disaster of the mid-90’s, chronicled by Jon Krakauer, who was a Mountain Summit participant; the rise and fall of Greg Mortenson, subject of the best-selling book Three Cups of Tea; and the reality of Messner’s prediction that we would eventually have guided climbs to the summit of Everest, all speak to the call of the mountains and their influence on our overcrowded planet.  As Sir Edmund told the Tokyo Summit audience, “I personally believe that we have to make it more difficult for people to get into the wilderness areas. I think it’s most important that we don’t, for instance, have road access or even access by aircraft or helicopters.  Unless you can walk in there, you shouldn’t be able to go.”

Text of The Tokyo Declaration

• We the undersigned believe that the pursuit of adventure is an inherent right of the individual.
• Throughout history, man has been inspired to challenge the unknown on a journey of discovery into the wild places, and into the hidden aspects of his own nature.
• As the right of adventurous opportunities in nature must be preserved, so must the individual assume the responsibility of preserving those natural places.
o We must respect the local peoples and diverse cultures.
o Our presence in the wilderness must leave no permanent trace.
• We resolve to make our actions reflect these principles.  We will, along with kindred spirits, educate others—including our children—to aspire to the challenge of personal adventure, guided by the principals of this declaration.

Our world is smaller now.  There are even more people wanting to go into the mountains. Most are looking for the singular experience then they are on to the next thing.  That doesn’t make you a mountaineer.  True climbers crave the high altitude experience like a drug.  They would never come down if their personal lives didn’t require them to.  Chris Bonington and Colorado’s Jeff Lowe both said that everyone has a right to go into the mountains.  But they also said, if you want the real mountain experience, just walk 50 yards off the trail and you will be alone.  It was a simple statement but the Tokyo Declaration pointed the way to making the wilderness last forever.  It was definitely ahead of its time...at least 20 years.