Job Discussion Forums

[rich45]

Hi,

Has anybody here climbed Fuji-san? I am thinking about doing it the last weekend in August. How challenging (or not) is it? Although I am not overweight, I haven't done that much exercise in the last 12 months so I am a little concerned about the difficulty.

I'd be interested to hear anybody's experiences, advice, tips, etc.

Thanks,

Rich

[mc]

It's not particularly challenging as a climb (grandmothers and kids do it all the time), but it does require stamina. IIRC, it's six hours up and four hours down. If you're not used to that much exertion, then you might labor a bit. Otherwise, it's really just one foot in front of the other on a semi-steep grade (although it gets steeper and tougher near the top).

There's not a lot of time between now and the end of August, but if you have a chance to go on a few practice hikes at smaller mountains you should do so.

[Apsara]

I've climbed it twice. As above it's not technically difficult, it's just a long hard slog to the top and then a thigh-muscle quivering descent. It helps to buy the small cans of oxygen from Tokyu Hands or at shops near the mountain because the altitude will make you a bit breathless over 3,000m.

Take plenty of warm clothes- even if you don't need most of them during the climb you will at the top (usually around 0 deg C with windchill) or if the weather turns bad.

It's definitely worth doing especially in good weather, but once was probably enough!

[EmowshinallChicken]

Hadn't planned it....in my work clothes, jacket, shirt and tie, decent shoes; thumping hangover 4th July 2004 (celebrating giving the USA its independence) - never again; haunts me still.....4 hours to some big lodge/more expensive than a Tokyo hotel and more uncomfortable than my days in the UK military....ate and slept there for three hours...then I think up at 2am...for a three hour trek to the summit for 'sunrise'.....3hours down still to go...!!!...at that time, would have given a month or two's wages for the 5 minute helicopter flight down
Japanese teacher/guide drove me mad - how long to the next 'stage' 1hr, 2hrs, 3hrs........? only answer ever - YES!!! I'll stick to Ben Nevis in future!

[rich45]

Thanks for your replies...interesting experiences!

How about doing it at the very start of September? I gather buses from Kawaguchiko run all year round. What other differences are there between doing it at the end of August and the beginning ot September (apart from fewer people of course)?

Also, what is the best timeframe for doing the hike? I was thinking of doing it all in one day, starting at 6am or something. I'm not that bothered about the sunrise, more the achievement of doing it, although any thoughts about this way of thinking would be appreciated.

Thanks again,

Rich

[saloc]

Really depends which route you do. I believe the Fujinomiya route is the shortest. I did that once in about 5 or 6 hours I think, although it was a long time ago so can't remember exactly. But if you are not bothered about sunrise and doing a day hike then it can definitely be done in one day. It's not that hard a climb, but coming down can be as hard as going up - slippery gravel, you're tired, sore on the legs.

With regard to September climbing, I think the main difference is that the rest huts with food etc are probably closed out of season. If you take all your own provisions and aren't too bothered by that, then there will be little difference except, as you say, fewer people.

[Ashlee Peppercorn Monday]

Think of it as climbing a tower of cotton candy. Don't listen to the Chicken man. Anyone shy of his twenty-first birthday has the capacity to climb that lil' hill.

I tell you a story, today, even though for the past five years I've told my man that girls don't fart, I must have eaten some bad cereal or something. So a little bit of gas leaked out.

It was silent but smelly. My man and I were playing with the dog on the couch when suddenly he tucked his nose in his shirt and exclaimed, "BLEH!!! WAS THAT YOU?!?!? NASTY!!!"

In haste to defend myself, I said, "No way! It was the puppy!" (This is one of the perks of having a puppy) he replied with, "There is no way that the dog could create that amount of stink. Look - even he's disgusted!!"

Sure enough, I looked at the pup and he had BURIED HIS NOSE UNDER HIS PAW. His eyes looked up at me reproachfully as if to say, "Really? Did you have to do that? I am a hound dog - I have a really good sense of smell, and this one is UNPLEASANT!" I tried telling him that it wasn't me, but then he just buried his nose under BOTH paws and looked like he was going to puke.

So I had to own up. I SO WISH I could post a picture of the disgusted puppy for you. It was hilarious. But alas, because my camera is out of batteries I have missed another Kodak moment.

[seklarwia]

Umm...Ashlee, you realise that this is an ESL forum; not FB or Twitter

[Ashlee Peppercorn Monday]

That ol yarn is something I often tell me students, just pities me plenty when I see the look on their faces afterwards! As a woman who has struggled with her weight for years, they seem to get a real kick out of picturing that entire situation! Apologies all around if you our the Chicken man were offended, this was a thread about that surmountable beast Fuji so I felt my comments would be appropriate and appreciated.

[BlueRainbow]

Are you high? And you write like a man, you sound a lot like Anthony.

[move]

Some things I would recommend bringing with you - water, backpack, headlamp, windbreaker/poncho, several other layers of clothing, sunblock, sunglasses, snacks, camera, trekking poles.

Seriously, trekking poles. Fuji is mostly gravel so it is hard to get good traction. Plus, you are hiking up a hill for hours, so the poles would also help you use more of your upper body strength.

You will see some people with hiking sticks they bought as a souvenir, they have some ribbons tied to them and a bell. At each station you can get a stamp branded into the wood. It's kind of cool, but the brands get more expensive each stage you go up. The top is something ridiculous like 1000+ yen for the brand. I wouldn't bother with it.

Only one person in our group had problems with altitude sickness. She was a bit out of shape and she couldn't make it to the top. People have a tendency to breathe quicker when the air gets thinner, but just take long, deep breaths over and over again.

[rxk22]

[Apsara]

Well done! Pretty much everyone is affected by the altitude over 3,000m, and it doesn't matter if you're fit or not. Drinking lots of water helps, but sounds like you had plenty with you!

[rxk22]