in the northern Hakkōda Mountains. The Hakkōda Mountains have appeared on a postage stamp released on 20 July 1951 and, more recently, in a set of stamps released on 30 March 2015. Shikō Munakata, an internationally acclaimed local sōsaku-hanga artist, designed a badge for the climbers of Hakkōda in 1954. A portion of the mountains' forests was designated as a Biotic Community Protection Forest in 1989. Outdoor recreation The Hakkōda Mountains, particularly the area around the Hakkōda Ropeway, Sukayu Onsen, and Mount Ōdake, are a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders from around the world. The mountains offer an extensive area for backcountry winter and early spring recreation, with dry, powdery snow similar to what is seen at resorts in Hokkaido despite being slightly further south. Multiple ski resorts serve tourists near the bottom of the aerial lift and within close proximity of Sukayu Onsen. Jōgakura Bridge, spanning the northern and southern groups of the mountains, is a draw for tourists because of the panoramic views it offers of the mountains and their surroundings. Climbing Climbing to the summit of Mount Ōdake, the highest peak of the Hakkōda Mountains, is not difficult and does not require any technical skill between May and November. To reach the peak climbers start their ascent at Sukayu Onsen or the top of the Hakkōda Ropeway, both of which can be accessed by public buses or private automobiles from National Route 103 and National Route 394. From Sukayu Onsen, it takes about two hours to complete the ascent to the summit that is accessible by a well-marked pathway. From the top of the Hakkōda Ropeway it takes two hours to ascend to the summit and another two to descend back to the aerial lift. The summit can be reached outside of the mentioned climbing season; however dangers imposed by avalanches and harsh weather make advance training, personal radio beacons, and preparation necessary. Dangers and accidents The Hakkōda Mountains incident occurred on 23 January 1902, when a group of Imperial Japanese Army soldiers marched in a blizzard on the Hakkōda Mountains en route to Tashiro Hot Spring located in the Hakkōda Mountains. The 199 deaths during a single ascent make it the world's largest mountaineering disaster in the modern history of mountain climbing. Two people were killed and 12 were injured after an avalanche struck a hiking party in 2007. A woman who was snowboarding in