Forget the ice ax and ¥50,000 climbing boots. The "mode du jour" for today's mountain hikers is the miniskirt and leggings.
The North Face, maker of the Gore-Tex waterproof jacket, and Alpine Tour Service Co. are targeting "yama girls," or mountain girls, the nickname for the growing number of women who are taking to the hills wearing short pants or fleece skirts with leggings and designer trekking boots.
"I want to wear something cute like a skirt," said Machiko Miyauchi, 25, who made her first ascent of Mount Fuji earlier this year after buying new equipment and shoes. "Climbing is healing. You can breathe fresh, clean air."
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