At the end of August Mark and I climbed Mount Fuji. The climb was extremely difficult, but nothing that we didn't expect.... I smiled the whole way up and Mark frowned.
We started out at 5th Station, and climbed to 3,776 meters, that is 12,388 feet. The climb is 3.7miles but the elevation gain is almost 1500m (4900ft) in those few miles.
The most popular souvenir from Fuji the the walking stick. This is a pic
of our fresh stick. You have the stick stamped on your way up the
mountain.
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| Showing off the fresh stick. |
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| Mark at our first rest, we are already above the clouds. |
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| Getting the walking stick stamped. |
Below are some pictures of the climb. It is a steep and slippery climb, but it was such a beautiful day!
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| We made it! This is the center of the volcano! |
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| Mark is pooped. |
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| At the top. |
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| Final Stamp! |
After the climb Mark and stayed in Fuji and a Ryokan, or bed and breakfast with an onsen (Japanese jacuzzi bath).
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| View from our window at the Ryokan. |
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| Mark in his yukata, customary wear at a ryokan. |
The next day we drove around Fuji Five Lakes, a town at the base of the mountain that has, you guessed it, 5 lakes!
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| Mark is plugging up Fuji! |
Both days were beautiful and the climb was an amazing experience! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a challenge and some minimal body torture.
