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Sunrise on the summit of Mount Fuji
Entry 5 of 42 | show all | print this entry |
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11 hours uphill and 4 hours downhill. Awake for 29 hours - after 3 1/2 hours sleep from clubbing the night before (not the smartest thing I have done).
It was by far the MOST difficult, horrible, painful and physically challenging thing I have ever done. Complete T.O.R.T.U.R.E. It was definitely worth it to reach the summit and watch the sun rise.
Would I do it again? F##K NO WAY IN HELL!
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SATURDAY 02/09/2006 - SUNDAY 03/09/2006
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Climbed to the summit of Mount Fuji
Mel and I made it to Shinjuku station - on time. We had to pick up our clothes from the station locker...then everything went wrong. My contact lens played up so we had to find a toilet to take them out. Wearing my I'm half blind. Then lost my train ticket so couldn't get OUT of the station. Had trouble explaining to the ticket seller what happened but a nice guard let us through. Then Mel's ticket wouldn't validate, but we were running so late she just barged through the gates. They tried to call her back, but she pulled the foreigner "I don't understand" look and kept walking. Then we couldn't find the meeting point. The train stations are huge. Eventually, hot and bothered and half an hour later, we found Owen.
So we were ready to climb Mount Fuji. The trip was an overnight trip organised by the Tokyo Gaizen and group Owen is a part of. It was called the "Mount Fuji International Friendship Hike". There was about 50 people from all over the world, but most of them were living in Japan.
Arrived at the 5th station on Mount Fuji at about 3:30pm. This is at 2890 metres. This was where the hike would start. After changing, eating and some photos. The group prepped up was ready to go. The hike started about 5:45pm and I personally finished it at 4:45am!!!! That's 11 (yes ELEVEN) hours of walking. Most of it in the dark with a head lamp (which the batteries failed in the last 2 hours). It was all uphill and on a rocky path. Didn't take much photos - so tired and sore. Will get some photos of us hiking in the dark from Owen.
Before the sun set we did get to see some amazing views. We were above the clouds. Spectacular. At night there was lightning in the distance and clear skies - I saw a few shooting stars (when I had the energy to look up).
There were plenty of stations to stop and rest. About 10 - 15 stations. We would hike about 1/2 an hour. Then rest at a station. The toilets stunk. Every time we neared a station it was bitter sweet. Great to rest, but the approaching smell was horrible.
I was so tired, I fell asleep standing up resting on my walking stick.
The altitude sickness affected most people. We all had oxygen tanks to share with our "buddy". About 4 hours from the top, Mel and I used this Oxygen tank constantly. The last 1/2 hour was TORTURE. It was jam packed with hundreds of people so we could only walk 3 paces and then stop. And it was steeper and rockier. But I couldn't breath due to the altitude. At the summit Mount Fuji is 3700 metres!! Luckily Owen was there to push me on. In the end I felt like I was dying. Couldn't breath. Wanted to throw up. Exhausted. I was so tempted to just give up.
The thought that kept me going was Hikaru told me climbing to the top of Mount Fuji was very symbolic. It meant a new beginning. And to climb it would be such a personal achievement and a meaningful way to start my travels. That thought, and the fact that I had just spent the last bloody 10 hours climbing the damn mountain, and I wasn't going to give up in the last half hour!!!!!!!! Anyway, the last half hour turned out to be more then an hour. But I DID IT!!! I made it to the top and in time to see the sun rise! Owen made me sit down as he was scared I was going to faint.
The sun rose at 5:10am. And it was the most beautiful, amazing sun rise I had ever seen.
Mel arrived at the top just in time to see it. She looked like death. She was so tired and sick. But she made it and I'm really proud that she did. Ricky, the tour guide, thought Mel wouldn't make it - but she proved him wrong. Dan (from Melbourne) and Darren (from Malaysia) both were life savers on the trek. They helped us so much and in the last half hour they literally pulled Mel up the mountain.
It was so cold there was ice formations on the summit. Then on the way down it was so hot that Mel and I both got sun burnt!! Crazy.
Ate a bowl of ramen noodles for breakfast. So yum but too tired to enjoy it.
Had just enough time to push through the crowd and use the toilets before descending the mountain. The toilets was unisex. But I was so tired I didn't care that I had to line up to use the cubicles while guys stood on either side of me peeing into the urinals.
Then we descended mount fuji. No rest for the wicked - or the people on a tight schedule. Our bus leaves at midday. The trip downhill was all, er, downhill. Really rocky and loose stones. So very easy to slip and fall. One of the guides, Anton (from New Zealand) fell on his ass twice. hehe. I almost did, many times, almost, but kept my balance.
Everyone was exhausted - having a rest on the way down.
We walked really slow cos poor Mel was still suffering from altitude sickness and gastro. She couldn't stop for a rest. We both got sunburnt - Mel was burnt bright red!
In the last 2km a few of us caught a horse and carriage back to the 5th station. It was 1000 yen each (about AuS$10) but well worth it. Plus Dan paid for me as I had no money. Thanks Dan!
Made it to the bus. Mel and I had icecream and water for lunch. Crashed on the bus. And then back to Shinjuku station!
Moved to new apartment in Ikebukuro
Caught train back to Owen's place in Koenji. Had time for a quick shower and packed our luggage. We were moving to Owen's new apartment in Ikebukuro. Visal, Owen, Mel and I walked to the station (with all our luggage, 2 futon beds and 2 pillows), caught 2 trains and walked through busy Ikebukuro to the new apartment. The new place is huge - it has 2 bedrooms, a lounge, a dining room, and is spacious compared to the place in Koenji.
Got to new place at 6pm. Mel and I crashed on the futons and slept. We were both so exhausted, we didn't just sleep, we crashed!!! The place has no electricity, no water and no gas. But we didn't care. We have a place to stay. Owen and Visal went back to the place in Koenji. So nice of them to let us stay in their new place.
Slept til 10:30pm. Forced ourselves to get up in the dark. Lucky I had packed a torch. Went to Denny's restaurant (the only place open) and used their toilet to wash up. Back to apartment at midnight and slept til 10am. Exhausted but happy.
Latest Comments (3)
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Awesome, we're going to hike it! (reply)
Nov 25, 2007 17:27 EST by pippy339
Reading your story was great! We are planning a trip and want to add the hike to it! Did you have to plan anything in advance? Does it cost anything to hike? Is there anything you recommend for hikers to take? Thank you so much!!
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Re: !!!Oh my GOD!!! Fuji Gambate!! :-) (reply)
Sep 13, 2006 06:01 EST by beyond_the_sea
yeh it was horrible, horrible, horrible!!! but the view at the summit was spectacular and i'm really glad that I made it in time to see the sun rise.
i think that if you get the chance to do it, you should. I know YOU will love it cos you're crazy!!!
bev :0)
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In reply to:
I felt tired and altitude sick just readin... show all
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!!!Oh my GOD!!! Fuji Gambate!! :-) (reply)
Sep 12, 2006 06:42 EST by i.love.rachelle
I felt tired and altitude sick just reading your blog!! But it sounded like an awesome experience!! Well done for doing it! You gotta tell me the details so i can try and do it too!! You know i like crazy stuff like this... ;-).
Bon Voyage, Race
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