Question:
I Climbed Mt. Fuji
It took 7 hours to get from the Navy base to the 5th station on Fuji, halfway up the mountain. I went with two buddies and we had to take trains and buses, plus were limited to doing it last weekend, so we left at 0900 and started our climb at 1600. The trail was packed, you can only climb Fuji for about 2 months of the year due to weather, and the trail was so crowded, it almost wasn't a work out. I was without any hiking gear, just shorts, a jacket, small backpack and running shoes. At about 2000, I slept under a wool blanket for a couple hours on a concrete slab when the temperature was 5 C. At midnight, we got up and joined the steady stream of climbers. I had no light, but the moon was 95% full, and there were so many climbers with lights that seeing wasn't a problem.
The altitude was an issue, but because of the crowds, we were limited in speed, so even as a guy who rarely does cardio, I wasn't hurting much. There were kids and grannies climbing, a few people puking, but most people keeping a slow steady pace. Just below the summit, we stopped for food and I slept for a half our on lava rocks, this time under a borrowed sleeping bag. The sun was peaking behind the clouds and we climbed for another 45 minutes to the top, got there about 0600 Sunday morning. The sun was shining and warm.
Going down was the worst part, I got a couple blisters from sliding because the path was all ash and lava rocks. Also there was rain, and it sucked.
I'd highly recommend the climb, just start early and head down after sunset. The weather is unpredictable, but if you're not overnight, it will be much more bearable. Oh, yeah, they charge you for using toilets, but there is water and huts to sleep in throughout the route up, expensive, but it means you could carry less. A weekday would probably be less crowded than a weekend.
Congrats Danny. I did that climb back in 1990 with some of my Navy buddies. We had a great great time.
Congrats Danny. I did that climb back in 1990 with some of my Navy buddies. We had a great great time. Thanks. Great thing about the Navy is the opportunity to do things like this.
It took 7 hours to get from the Navy base to the 5th station on Fuji, halfway up the mountain. I went with two buddies and we had to take trains and buses, plus were limited to doing it last weekend, so we left at 0900 and started our climb at 1600. The trail was packed, you can only climb Fuji for about 2 months of the year due to weather, and the trail was so crowded, it almost wasn't a work out. I was without any hiking gear, just shorts, a jacket, small backpack and running shoes. At about 2000, I slept under a wool blanket for a couple hours on a concrete slab when the temperature was 5 C. At midnight, we got up and joined the steady stream of climbers. I had no light, but the moon was 95% full, and there were so many climbers with lights that seeing wasn't a problem.
The altitude was an issue, but because of the crowds, we were limited in speed, so even as a guy who rarely does cardio, I wasn't hurting much. There were kids and grannies climbing, a few people puking, but most people keeping a slow steady pace. Just below the summit, we stopped for food and I slept for a half our on lava rocks, this time under a borrowed sleeping bag. The sun was peaking behind the clouds and we climbed for another 45 minutes to the top, got there about 0600 Sunday morning. The sun was shining and warm.
Going down was the worst part, I got a couple blisters from sliding because the path was all ash and lava rocks. Also there was rain, and it sucked.
I'd highly recommend the climb, just start early and head down after sunset. The weather is unpredictable, but if you're not overnight, it will be much more bearable. Oh, yeah, they charge you for using toilets, but there is water and huts to sleep in throughout the route up, expensive, but it means you could carry less. A weekday would probably be less crowded than a weekend.
Answer:
Congrats Danny. I did that climb back in 1990 with some of my Navy buddies. We had a great great time.
Answer:
Congrats Danny. I did that climb back in 1990 with some of my Navy buddies. We had a great great time. Thanks. Great thing about the Navy is the opportunity to do things like this.