As promised in midst of all the techinical and sports ramblings I write, here is a write up on my Mt.Fuji experience. To see my Mt.Fuji photos click here.
Climbing Mt.Fuji was one of the most strenuous at the same time an adventurous and exciting exercise I have undertook in my life. Last month when I was in japan, I traveled to Tokyo for sight seeing with one of my friends there. We had no real intentions of going to Mt.Fuji as time was very limited with us. But on the way to Tokyo by Limited express trains from Kobe,we were excited to see the Fuji station. I inquired with a Japanese co-passenger whether Mt.Fuji is nearby for which his answer was yes and we got down in the Fuji station.From Fuji we took a train to Fujinomiya from where buses fly to the the go-gome or 5th station from which most trekkers climb Mt.Fuji. But we missed the bus at 3 o clock in Fujinomiya and the next bus was slated to come at 5 o clock. So we inquired a taxi driver how much it would cost to go-gome. He said 8600 yen and also as a testimony to the fact that people are nice and honest in japan, he told that a bus to go-gome would cost 2500 yen per person and also got us a bus time table chart. But we still traveled by the
taxi as time was limited. On the way to go-gome we enjoyed the wonderful sights of Fuji. We shook our head saying yes to most things the taxi driver told to us on the way in spite of we saying to him that we don't understand Japanese in Japanese.But he was a nice guy and probably trying to let us know more abt Mt.Fuji,climbing,weather etc.,We reached go-gome in about 45 minutes. A large perfectly cone shaped volcanic mountain welcomed us at the go-gome(Kawaguchi 5th Station). As we had no real plans of climbing Mt.Fuji when we left Kobe,we did not bring with us the required winter clothes and climbing gear. We were not that confident that we would be able to manage the cold at the top but we thought as we have come so far there is no point going back without climbing to the top station. We bought some minimal climbing gear(walking stick,torch light) and a kind of woolen T shirt thinking it would keep us warm enough.

We started climbing at around 5.30 pm in the evening. My regular visits to the gym during that period made me fit enough and climbing was not that difficult for me. My friend was impressed with my stamina and the speed at which i was able to climb. My friend was getting tired and suggested to me we will stop after 7th Station. I told him no way and gave him a few encouraging words to carry on. As we trekked through the night on the way to the top the wind was getting stronger and the few warm clothes on me were not enough to beat the cold. Till 8th station the cold was not really getting on to us. But when we reached 8th station it started getting on to me and when I saw around there were co-trekkers with much better warm clothes, the desire for warmth struck me.I took all the t-shirts I had in my back pack and wore it inside. Still it was not enough to beat the cold. The illusion of warmth made the cold go deep in to my spine and I was feeling really cold. I seem to be happier in this photo (the night mode in the camera was not properly set contributing to the ghost like photo and believe me I dont look so bad to be as horrific as a ghost:)) on the 8th station but actually I was feeling terrible because of the cold. It was around 9.30 in the night and we thought of taking some rest in a hut house in 8th station vying for the warmth of a hut house. But the un affordable cost(we needed it only for 3-4 hours) of the accommodation in the hut house did not allow us the luxury. We planned to spend the night in the cold. I was not able to sit as the cold got too much and i started shivering. My friend had better warm clothes and atleast was not shivering. The wind was killing me and I said to my friend I would prefer trekking instead of sitting in the cold.

We carried along on the long trek to the top taking frequent rests in between till the cold would get to me and we wouls start trekking again to beat the cold. We preferred walking briskly so as to beat the cold. As we were going near the top the wind was getting stronger and the cold worse. It was a terrible feeling and my friend started complaining to me I was foolish enough to bring him here and climbing Mt.Fuji to see the Sun Rise. Atleast with me I was happy to trek. He was neither happy with the cold nor with the trekking. But we moved shivering in the cold and trekking briskly to beat it. We reached the top station at around 3.15 am in the morning and sat down shivering waiting for the Sun rise. All along the way we enjoyed the beautiful sights of Mt.Fuji and the stars in the night. I was happy to be 3776m above sea level and thats quite a height although the cold was nerve wracking. People said that the sun would come out around 4.30 am. Japan is the land of morning sun as Sun rise happens pretty early in the morning. I knew that the Sun normally rises at 4.50 - 5 in the morning and it would be a long wait for us. I was constantly shivering and did not have anything to protect my head or ears from the cold. I don't remember anybody else was there like that including my friend. Finally the SUN started to break through the darkness at around 4.30 am in the morning. By 5 am the SUN rise happened and the sun rays beating on us were soothing although not enough to beat the cold on the top. My hands were shivering to take good shots of the sun rise. But my friend did take some good snaps of the sun 1 2 3 4.Thats me at the top down and out before the SUN and shivering in the cold.After seeing the spectacle of the SUN on top of the mountain I decided to climb down immediately so as to get to warmer parts. My friend was a bit tired and he decided to take some rest at the top before climbing down. Climbing down Mt.Fuji is said to be much tougher than going up as most people slip when they climb down but if you are careful and know where to keep your next step its not all that tough. I did not fall once on the climb down and I climbed down pretty fast as well(in about 2 Hrs). But I had previous experience of living in a hilly city in india and climbing small hills for the initial 13 years in my life. As the I was walking it was getting warmer and warmer and I returned to wearing only one t-shirt. So that was the climb down. Hope you enjoyed reading my Fuji experience.

Finally to all ambitious trekkers who have not climbed Mt.Fuji and would like to climb it, here are a few tips based on my experience.Climbing Mt.Fuji is not all that difficult as it is made out to be if you are fit and dont have breathing problems when on top.July,August is the only official time when Mt.Fuji is open for climbing although with special permission some experienced trekkers climb it during the off season but it is considered very risky. It is said lot of trekkers who climb Mt.Fuji during the winter dont return back. Anyways Just make sure you have the proper climbing gear and winter gear(huh...sure you need it). For climbing a head light, a walking stick and shoes with proper grip should get you through. Make sure you pack up light and carry only the warm clothes needed and some energy drink which you might need on the way to the top. I would suggest that you carry thermals and a thick leather jacket to beat from the cold. This should be enough to beat the cold. Dont give up on the way up. Think its near and its not too far off. Keep thinking this until you get to the top. The climb up is surely worth for the SUN rise. On the way down just be sure where to keep the next step. Happy trekking!!!