Japan: Climbing Mount Fuji

Oh man, Joanne just cannot keep her excitement under control.

Today is a day that we have both been waiting for and dreading. Today.. us two weaklings tackle Mount Fuji!

Because of our naturally amazing luck, it was raining today. Also it was thunderstorming. So we were hiking up a mountain in the rain, and turns out my jacket is not actually waterproof.

But we somehow did make our way up all the way to the top, after taking many many rest breaks.

And indeed, it felt great to feel as if we were at the top of the world.

I did not think I would have to worry about warmth once I reached the cabin, but WRONG. the cabin on the mountains do not have heating! I really thought I was going to die or something then and there, because my head was splitting in two, and I couldn’t control my movements from being so cold. But once I got warm, I had to start worrying about how I was going to thaw my soaked clothing that would then be frozen in the morning. But morning wasn’t too slow to come. All the climbers woke up around 4 AM to see the “sunrise” and the cabin also kicked us out, those bastards. However, it was far too cloudy for us to be able to see anything amazing, and the post office at the top of the mountain was not due to open till about an hour later, so Joanne and I started our descent. I would just mail my letters at the base of the mountain and no one will know! shhhh.

Definitely work the hike and the trip, but try to find a day where you can actually travel dry! It’s a bit difficult because if you want to stay the night, you have to reserve the huts in advance, and it is often difficult to find space in the huts! If not, make sure everything you own is waterproof.