Climbing Mt. Fuji

Biomed Guys

The guys from the shop decided to climb Mt. Fuji this summer.

Halfway to the top

I don't know how far the top was in this photo, but it wasn't anywhere close. Notice the snow.

Our final pose before separation

After a while, I started getting leg cramps and I was still at the base of the mountain. Since me and my partner (Mr. Oard) were the slow ones, our group decided to split up. The rest of the guys kept climbing... Their mountain climbing stories were similar to ours. We had to rest every ten feet because it was so steep and we didn't come prepared. Me and Mr. Oard ran out of water at the peak of the mountain and climbing down was nothing but a fight for survival for the old man.

Time to climb to the top: 7 hours
Descending time: 5 hours
We weren't trying to set off any world records or anything. But if you have ever heard of anyone getting to the bottom of the mountain (back at Station Five) in less than 2 hours, they are full of shit (unless they took alternate transportation). Running takes 2 hours minimum if you are in beyond-excellent shape. Their velocity would be like running 2 miles in less than 7 minutes.

Slope of Mt Fuji during the day

IncrediblyX with his Fuji Stick

Along the way to the top, there are little shops that will brand a little logo as you go. Each brand, costs 200 yen. To get all the brands on your stick would cost about 50 bucks.

Stamping the Stick
Three more hours to the top

Everytime I thought I was reaching the summit, I was dead wrong. When I got to what I thought was the top, there was a really long trail ahead of me in the far off distance above the clouds.

During this trip, there were about three layers of clouds, not including the one that was covering up the summit. It would get hot one minute and extremely cold the next.

Climbing the Slopes
Torii Gate 3/4ths of the way up

At the end of the trip, I suffered from sunburn, never-ending leg cramps in both legs, and extreme soreness. It was a trip, never to be repeated again. The old saying goes, "If you go to Japan, you must climb Mt. Fuji once. Only a fool would climb it twice."

Slope of Mt Fuji Sunset

There is also a curse that if you don't climb Mt. Fuji during your military tour in Japan, you will be destined to come back to Japan again. Which could be a good thing or bad thing depending if you like being away from the U.S. for 2 or 3 more years. Of if you absolutely love living here.