According to 'Sounan Shimatsusho,' several soldiers (who they were is unclear) replaced their ordinary leather military boots with tabi socks to climb the mountain.
遭難始末によれば、"山登り"という事で履物を普段の皮製の軍靴から地下足袋に換えて参加した兵士も何名かいたことが確認されている（氏名までは不詳）。