This blog entry is about a Mount Fuji hiking experience on July 3,4 2010 2 days weekend from go-gome 五合目 to hachi-gome 八合目. We weren’t able to reach the top due to bad weather condition (strong wind, rain and snow). I am a total beginner in hiking, and I swear I won’t go hiking again after this near-death experience. XD I was ready to die in every step I took.
There is a famous saying among japanese ppl that 一度も登らぬ馬鹿、二度登る馬鹿, which literally means “If you don’t even climb once, you are a fool. But if you climb twice, you are a fool”..So I guess im not a baka anymore?
139) What-to-wear:
a) waterproof jacket (1995 yen)
b) waterproof pants (4000 yen)
c) waterproof hiking shoes or high-cut running shoes (4140 yen) .
d) scarf, gloves for hiking, thick socks anything that keeps you warm.
140) What-to-bring:
a) camera (some says their camera is destroyed by the high moisture, but mine was fine)
b) foood, water, snacks, medicine, emergency kit
c) towel, clothes /sandals for change.
d) raincoat
e) a wooden hiking stick which u could stamp on it (buy when u reached there)
f) flashlight/headlight, headlight may be better..coz the headlight saved my life..when I got a direct head-bump on a sharp rock…
141) How to get there: We got on a Keio bus from Shinjuku west gate 新宿西口 straight to 五合目, it costs 2600 yen , 4:50pm to 7:30pm on Saturday. We went back at 11am on Sunday.
142) There was always people in front/behind you on the trial, mostly foreigners. (btw..I think I feel more familiar/could make connection with american easier than japanese ..which is quite strange becoz i usually hang out with asians only.)
143) people are very friendly on the way, when we met ppl will say ‘Happy 4 (becoz its July 4 XD)’, ‘おはようございます good morning ’, ‘頑張ってください please add oil” 気をつけて please be careful”..there r all kind of people..
144) so how dangerous is Mount Fuji?
a) around 4 people died in a year..
b) the person in the hut i stayed said that they found a frozen woman body 5 mins away last year..
c) there is no road..i have to climb with my hands and legs together…the volcano rock is sharp and slippery ..the sand is slippery…the chains aren’t really helpful…its so steep ..around 60 degree… my friends had to take turn to pull my hands.. so there is ‘ゴミの管理 (person in charge of trash, coz there is no trash cans all the way) ” and “beyoni の管理 (person in charge of me)” ..as if i am sth like rubbish..hahaha
145) How long does it take to climb the Mount Fuji ? We started hiking from 8pm to 2am then we arrived 8-gome only. They said it took 3 more hours to reach the top. Then we spent around 5 hours (though they say its usual half the time u climbed up) to get down. Getting downhill is much more difficult though its faster.
to be continued..つづく
impromptuz 