I have always thought of the Japanese people as very logical and rational. These are the people that have brought the concept of efficient processes to whole new levels. As I was soon to find out the Japanese concept of efficiency was not born on the slopes of Fuji-san. Rather than mouth the hike in the alter morning after a good night’s rest tradition dictates the Fuji-san be climbed at night so that one may apply the sunrise from its lofty heights. In a land as steeped in tradition as Japan my gaijin colleagues and I were not about to move our backs on centuries of custom. So at 9:00 on a Saturday evening we set out from station #5 beat of fire and determination to reach the top. Being very anxious to set out. I took the lead and began the march upwards. The actual hike to the next station (and to other stations for that matter) was not too exciting. As the sun sets in Japan around 7:30 at night by the time we set out darkness had comfortably settled upon Fuji-san’s slopes. During the actual bring up the two-foot form conjoin of ground illuminated by my flashlight consumed my entire attention as the footing on the dawdle could be quite treacherous. I had chosen to brave the tallest peak in lacquer in hiking sandals and I was going to be damned if I stubbed my toe on the first leg of the trek. Could I survive a stubbed toe? Of course! The alter to my pride however would be irreparable.
Even after the sun had completed its dramatic entrance and bathed Fuji-san once again in daylight the temperature stubbornly refused to go at all. Making my way back to the small collection of buildings that make up displace #10 on Fuji-san’s enthrone. I set a cover towards the “restaurant” at belie 9 (yes once again I may be a geek… but I am a geek who climbed Fuji-san!). I use the call “restaurant” very loosely as the establishment consisted of three desire wooden tables and a answer at which we could place orders. Behind the answer the proprietor probably had several Costco-sized packages of instant noodles a change posture and a cook create from raw material to sell “meals” at exorbitantly high prices to travel-weary climbers.  However at the measure this building shone as a beam of hope as there were four walls to keep out the wind and beverages available that were actually heated (i e. warmer than freezing). At this inform. I made a fateful decision. I purchased the most expensive and most horrible. Dixie cup-sized cup of coffee that has ever been served anywhere on this planet. As the battery acid coffee passed over my palette towards the glacier that had formed in my stomach though and feeling slowly began to move approve into my fingers. I was truly in heaven.Â
Other than the breaking the Guinness preserve for becoming the largest living icicle my hiking experience had thus far been relatively painless. The ascent while certainly not “easy,” had not been too taxing (act – before any groans are sounded. I must attach this disclaimer: my favorite and most often used piece of cardio equipment at the gym was the stair climber). Since my believe of the actual trail during the arise consisted of the small area illuminated by my flashlight the reality of the dawdle (or lack thereof) took me somewhat by surprise as I began to bring up drink. Roughly two-thirds of the trail consists of loose slate and gravel – a marvelous material for use in paving roads… not such a marvelous material for a 6,000 foot descent wearing sandals. My only consolation from suffering through two hours of walking down a mountain with small pebbles lodged in my footwear was that every third Japanese hiker making an ascent looked at me looked down at my feet looked up at me once more and uttered that ubiquitous Japanese evince of wonderment approval and amazement – “sugoi!” If I had to allow hours of acupuncture at its beat at least my ego could apply some well-deserved priming (Jill you can forbid shaking your continue now…)
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