We’re leaving at 2 am tomorrow night and should get there by 6 am or so, and will climb it along with the gazillions of other people who climb mt. fuji this time of year.
It’s a volcano but hasn’t erupted in 300 years so I think it’ll last another couple of days. : )
Neither me or my husband know a damn thing about mountain climbing but our tour guide people (this is a community tour group trip) say you don’t need anything but hiking boots and a walking stick (which you can aquire for about $12 on the mountain…the stick that is). It’s roughly 2 1/2 miles tall and supposedly windy and cold on top, not to mention thin air. I’m a bit scared because saturday’s forecast calls for thunderstorms and I kind of don’t want to be struck by lightning while doing this…but this is what me and my husband are doing for our birthday and hopefully will be loads of fun.
Thanks for that link. Wow, I’m a bit scared now. I didn’t think at all about the possibilities of slipping down the mountain on loose gravel. Oh well, if it was dangerous they’d only let experienced people do it so it can’t be too bad.
We’re not going on one of those overnight see the sunrise ones because the weather this month has been endless clouds and rain every day. Hopefully there will at least be SOME visibility up there. I just really hope it isn’t thundering and lightning.
I de-lurk to say good luck on the fantastic journey that awaits.
My family has the distinction of having climbed up the wrong side of Mt. Fuji on the second to last day of climbing season. My folks messed up on the directions, so we hiked up a path that was mostly abandoned. We found an inhabited hut most of the way up where the friendly mountain dude branded our walking sticks to show our achievment. Sticks are an absolute must, both for the hiking help and the souvenier value.
Beware the gravel, especially on the way down. You can build up a dangerous head of steam running down the mountain. I nearly sent my walking stick through my head when I tripped while mountainsurfing. On the same day my family made the trip, a man was run over by a boulder and killed.
But if I could do it at 10 and my sister could at 5, I’m sure you’ll survive.
Yes, I’ve heard about it being dirty up there and about the food being expensive and the water not that fresh, among other things. So we’re bringing food and water. I hear they charge for bathrooms, I hope they have the western kind because I have not yet had the pleasure of trying a japanese style toilet and am afraid of peeing on myself in one. My husband doesn’t understand my concerns. But then, he can just stand up and will never have to worry about things like that. (Yeah, for those of you who don’t know, Japan has different toilets. It’s hard to describe them but they look like little basins in the floor that you squat over while holding railings. Most places in Tokyo have “western” toilets, I just don’t know if Mt. Fuji does. For those who’ve been there…does it?)
Anyway, we leave tonight. Should be amazing. I will give a full report and post pictures when I get back!
