Fuji-san
Trip Start
Apr 20, 2004
1
11
13
Trip End
Aug 28, 2005
Mt Fuji,
Japan
Monday, August 8, 2005
YATTA! - "Did it!" Certainly was no walk in the park!
Not too sure what I was really expecting from the climb but I didn't think it would be that challenging. I should have had a fair idea it would be a bit tough as it is higher than NZs Mt Cook (by 20m)! The only other mountain I have climbed was Mt Ruapehu at 2797m.
After waiting in Kawaguchiko for 7 boring hours we finally jumped on the bus which would take us to the Kawaguchiko 5 staion and we finally set off at 9am. We did visit the Mt Fuji Information Center for a hour or so - Oldest person to climb Mt Fuji was 103years - I have to do it!!!
We got a bit worried on the way up as we could see lightning from the bus window in the distance and just hoped that it wasn't coming our way. The night was perfect weather conditions for climbing - still and clear with a million stars above. It's not often we can see the stars above in Japan. During the climb we could see the lightning in the distance which looked awesome - no thunder which was a little strange? We could also see towns lit up scattered around below.
Adjusting to the Altitude break!
By the 6th station we were doing really well for time and feeling pretty good. 7th station also good. In fact we did well the whole way. Lungs were holding out and we didnt need to use that O2 after all, legs got pretty tired but we could still get one in front of the other, eyes were heavy from being so tired but I managed to keep them open - cold weather probably helped, hydration status was good and energy levels holding up.
Fuji asending route is broken into 10 stations - to our joy there was actually sub stations so lots of resting, so called "adjusting to altitude breaks" on the mountain!
By the 8th station we had caught up to the crowds. Japan is crazy and you quickly get used to queing - queing for public transport, restaurants, expo, bargin sales and now Mt Fuji! The que started at 3,300m, 476m from the top - now, im not talking a few bods here and there, im talking thousands of keen beans all racing to the top to catch sunrise! 476m vertical takes a long long time to climb at a step or 2 if your lucky every now and so! Now I know how those hill top sheep in NZ feel! Kawaguchiko route the most popular of the 4 routes as its easiest to get to from Tokyo and it faces east - good for seeing the sunrise. I cant say we wernt warned about the crowds - 300,000 people are believed to conquer Fuji each year and climbing season lasts only July and August each year!
The occasional shout of "Gambatte-yo" - good luck, you can do it sounded the way up. Anyway we plodded our way up, the sky getting lighter - lucky as the batteries in my headlamp were getting very dim and time getting closer to estimated sunrise at 4.36am.
Basking in the sunshine.
Time of arrival was 4.30ish. A solid 7.5 hours after depature! We made it in time to sit down and watch the sunrise up through the clouds. Amazing feeling - exhausted and very happy! Watching people walk through that final torii gate (large gate seen at the entrance to a shrine) you saw faces of frustration and exhaustion turn to smiles.
Sitting on the top of Japan, the sunrise was majic - so colourful and bright and well worth the climb.
After the excitment of the sunrise, it was breaky time. Luckly enough the top of Fuji-san has a restaurant, post office, toliets, huts, a weather station, vending machines, drink stalls and souviner stalls too! Toilet stop = NZ$2.50! Even with the sun fully out, it was still pretty chilly. We managed to squeeze into the restaurant area which was a bit warmer, found a bench seat to sit on and had a well deserved hot chockie and muffin. It didnt actually take long for the crowds to clear off and start making the journey down.
After the crowds on the way up, we were pretty keen to avoid them going down to decided to walk the loop of the crater and see what we could see. This took about 1 hour - I have no idea where the energy came from to do this. From the western side of the mountain we could see the full almost perfect cone shadow of Fuji laying on the ground below - pretty spectacular stuff!
7.45am was time to start making our way back down. 3.75 hours later we arrived back at Kawaguchiko 5th station a solid 13 hours 45mins after we initially set out! The way down felt 10 times more painful than the way up. Maybe it was the pace we were moving at, knees and feet aching, sun beating down on us and tired.
Lastly I need to mention Kawaguchiko - now rated as Japans most boring town! So so boring. The only thing it really has got going for it is the Mt Fuji views (most of the time we were there Fuji was covered in cloud which is apparently fairly common!) a MOS burger (had that twice in 2 days due to the lack of decent places to eat here - dont worry girls I had the side salad both times!) and the Onsen where we went to after the walk to relax and wash up!
Overall, it was an awesome experience. Fully challenging both physically and mentally! There is a Japanese proverb "He who climbs Mount Fuji once is a wise man, he who climbs it twice is a fool"!!!
For anyone considering climbing Mt Fuji, check out this web link
click here to jump to more info on climbing Mt Fuji
