Conquering Mount Fuji

Happy Weekend everyone!

We climbed Mount Fuji!

We were planning to go on Saturday, but it worked out best to leave on Friday afternoon. We left on Friday afternoon around 1600, got to the base of the mountain around 1800, took the bus to the 5th station, and started climbing around 2000. It normally takes 5.5-6 hours to get to the top, but we left early and wanted to catch sunrise, so we took our time, stopped and rested every so often so it took us about 8 hours. Most of the climb (it's definitely more of a climb than a hike) is about half ash, gravel and small rocks; the rest is big volcanic rocks and boulders (in case you were wondering...both make for difficult and not fun climbing). We didn't want to get to the top too early; the weather was terrible and Mount Fuji is entirely exposed, so the top would be even worse than it was at the 8th and 9th stations (cold, suspended water [we were in a cloud, so it was just..wet everywhere] and just insanely windy (Alex thought the wind was gusting up to 40-50 knots. It was scary windy.) We got to to the 8th station around midnight. We rested, had water, ate some snacks, and huddled together for warmth. We got to the top around 0400; had some (overpriced) ramen, green tea and coffee; and waited for the sun. It was just as we expected up there: very cold, very wet, and very windy up at the summit. There were clouds everywhere and visibility was low. We were finishing breakfast (I guess that's what we call it when it's 4 AM?) and suddenly the clouds parted and we saw the sunrise. It was beautiful! And it lasted for about 2 seconds before the clouds covered it up again. This happened a couple of other times, so we took our summit pictures and GTFO that mountain volcano. We were freezing and soaked and just OVER it. So we walked, slid and stumbled our way down the mountain, which was about as fun as going up!

Pretty quickly though, we got to see the sun come out from the clouds and it was beautiful. It really was incredible; a sight I never thought or even imagined to see!

 In the car on the way to Fuji!

 The Beast.

 Before!

We bought Fuji climbing sticks at the bottom (see previous picture) and you can pay at each of the stations to have them burn in a stamp. 

Taking a rest at one of the stations; clearly we're not all loving this adventure.

Getting stamps at one of the stations!

Our attempt at a selfie, mid climb. Obviously red headlamps were an oops!

 WE MADE IT!

Hot, delicious ramen at the summit

The group picture at the top "Hurry. onetwothreego! now let's get off this damn thing!" Can you tell we're cold?

 Our summit picture

This is what it looked like most of the way.

My attempt at taking pictures on the run down.

The sun came out a little bit! 

 

 This is about 5-10 minutes from the top when things started to get really pretty! (Much less rainy, windy and cold!)

It was a very rough climb, but we are so glad we made it; even more glad that it's over!! It was probably one of the most challenging experiences of my life, but it was an awesome one.