So today was the big climb day. I was pumped, I was excited, I.......had so little stuff compared to everyone else climbing. I got a bus to the 5th station on the mountain. Fuji has 9 stations running up and then the summit. The 5th station puts us in at around 2300 meters. The total is around 3780 ish. I realised my lack of stuff at the 5th station whene everyone had walking poles, backpacks full of rations and extra supplies, gloves, hats. What did I have? My baseball cap, my waterproof jacket, 2 energy gel packs and my camera case.........this was going to be good, I could feel it.
So set off from 5th station at around 8:30. What followed was the longest, hardest climb I have ever experienced. By about the 8th station I was knackered. It was becoming increasingly harder to climb, people were breathing on Oxygen capsules (I didn't give into one of those)like it was free (and at 10 pounds ago it wasn't) However, finally I made it to the summit, and it had only taken me until 1:15 so just under 5 hours. The view though was amazing! You could see to the ends of the earth and beyond. You could see into the crater which still had ice in it. ICE! in August with temperatures of 30 degrees! What was most crazy of all though was the fact that there was a village at the top of the mountain. Selling all sorts of touristy crap, and vending machines! Vending machines at the top of the tallest mountain in Japan! Go figure.
After finally getting my breath back I then did the downhill climb. It took about 2 and a half hours and the whole journey was down a path made of gravel, dust and loose stones so that every step you took might be your last. But i made it in one piece, although I think my legs may need replacing. So I say, "Not bad Mt. Fuji. Thanks for the memories."
