Fuji-san Climber's Log
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[ Sign the Climber's Log ]
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| Bobkylaka | Route Climbed: Kawaguchiko - Gogome Date Climbed: 14 July 2005  | |
| Excellent climb. Started out from 5th Station at 11:30am, in mild conditions. However, temperature dropped about 30 degrees F between 8th Station and summit - went from synthetic Tshirt to sweatshirt and jacket in the last hour and was still cold at the top! Unfortunately, summit was very cloudy (2:30pm) - couldn't even see into the crater... but, had good views during the ascent and descent. Path down allows for very rapid descent and easy on the knees - but requires you stop and empty your shoes 3-4 times. Roundtrip took just under 5 hours - in time to wash up and catch the 5pm bus out. Was expecting hundreds of people, but I'd estimate a max of 50 climbers on the mountain that afternoon - most on the lower half. | ||
| Posted Jul 20, 2005 1:56 pm | ||
| bbirtle | Route Climbed: From Kawaguchi-ko Gogome Date Climbed: Apr 6, 2002 | |
| Unfortunately had to turn back at around hachi-ten-go-gome ("8.5 station") to make sure to catch the last bus back, as no mountain huts are open this time of year and we didn't have bivy gear. Fuji-san is definitely possible in winter and spring, but you do need crampons and an ice ax. Not too steep, no need for belays -- I'd rate it F+ on the French grading system. | |
| Posted Jul 7, 2005 1:25 pm | ||
| bbirtle | Route Climbed: Direct from Kawaguchi-ko train station to the summit Date Climbed: May 4, 2002 | |
| Interesting experience, unfortunately did not reach the summit. Took the last train from Tokyo to arrive late Friday night. Hiked straight from the train station, through town, and after a long time reached a parking lot at ichi-gome ("first station" - you usually *start* at the go-gome ("fifth station")!!). Kept going, and finally laid down the sleeping back in an old deserted shrine building at I think around san-gome ( "third station"). Early morning but not early enough -- reached up to hachi-ten-go-gome ("8.5 station") and had to turn back because otherwise would have meant missing the last bus back to Tokyo. Unfortunately, as weather was great and I was feeling perfectly fine. For anyone wanting to do this route, it's 2700 vertical meters (8500ft) gain from town to 8.5 gome, a little more to the summit! | |
| Posted Jul 7, 2005 1:23 pm | ||
| bbirtle | Route Climbed: From Kawaguchi-ko Go-gome Date Climbed: Oct 8, 2000 | |
| Completely different experience than the summer and thank god for that. No huts open. Only a couple dozen on the route. Really peaceful. Lots of little toris (Shinto wooden gates) and shrines along the way. Quite cold, but really not a problem. Don't listen to anybody that tells you "the mountain is closed" -- you can climb Fuji all year round. Just mind the bus schedules. | |
| Posted Jul 7, 2005 1:15 pm | ||
| ahaass | Route Climbed: Stage 5 to summit from south Date Climbed: July 2002 | |
| Cool experience! Gotta do it! Take a jacket. | |
| Posted Feb 19, 2005 9:42 pm | ||
| wwells | Route Climbed: Kawaguchiko Date Climbed: Mid-July, 2001 | |
| The most culturally iconic climb I will ever do. After taking an early evening bus from Shinjuku in Tokyo, we left Kawaguchiko 5th station at about 9:45 p.m. Arrived at the summit around 4:15 a.m. in time for an unforgettable sunrise. Call me a fool, but I'll do Fuji-san again. | |
| Posted Feb 4, 2005 11:21 pm | ||
| Bryowan | Route Climbed: Kawaguchiko and Gotemba Date Climbed: September 2004 | |
| My eighth and possibly last ascent of Fuji-san. Three in the summer of 2004, and once each in Nov. '03, April '02, May '01, Sept. '96 and Aug. '96. I've been hiking in the area many times but was never able to climb from Sengen Shrine. Someday I would love to complete the beautiful old approach route through the forest from Fujiyoshida. | ||
| Posted Jan 20, 2005 12:48 am | ||
| maxcz | Route Climbed: Normal Ascend Date Climbed: Aug 1990 | |
| Climbed Fuji during the Obon vacation, hence the mountain was unbelievably crowded. Set out at 10 pm from the bus stop, and managed to overtake most of the crowds on the way up. The last hour I was practically on my own until the top, which I reached at 2am in the morning. After 2 hours sleep in the (expensive) refuge on the top I woke up to a spectacular, memorable sunrise. | ||
| Posted Nov 14, 2004 1:52 pm | ||
| Hector Garcia Hevia | Route Climbed: Kawaguchi-ko Date Climbed: September 11th, 2004 | |
| Went to Japan for a short work trip, so no much time to spare. I took the 08:45 bus from Shinjuku station, arrived at 11:15 at the 5th station and made it to the summit in just under 3 hours. Sliding down took roughly one hour, to make just in time for the last bus to Tokyo. Weather was quite good, with a sea of clouds around 2500 meters. Most of the huts were closing for the season, and some were selling out the drinks for 200 yen, instead of the regular 500. | |
| Posted Sep 23, 2004 1:10 pm | ||
| telesis1 | Route Climbed: from Kawaguchi-ko Date Climbed: August 7, 1999 | |
| A mid-August storm hit, preventing the promised sunrise views. The all-night ascent just wasn't worth it, as I never got to see the mountain nor the surrounding vistas--between the stormy darkness and the morning fog! | ||
| Posted Jul 21, 2004 9:52 pm | ||
| 2hansen | Route Climbed: Ascend from tourist station, Descend along tractor track (due to very bad weather) Date Climbed: July 2002 | |
| Climbed in fine weather, slept in cabin near summit, next day very bad weather with heavy rain and no visibility. Next day again mountain could be viewed from Tokyo! | |
| Posted Jul 7, 2004 10:48 am | ||
| jstanley | Route Climbed: normal Date Climbed: 4 July 1959 | |
| I climbed this as a boy with my parents. The last two thousand feet was all snow. We circumnavigated the crater, briefly getting lost in the mist, and doing a loop interior loop. | |
| Posted Apr 19, 2004 9:07 am | ||
| roadsidefire | Route Climbed: Tourist route Date Climbed: June xx, 2002 | |
| Followed tourist route suggested by Lonely Planet. Raining and lot of elderly tourist. Quite pleasant on the way down. | |
| Posted Apr 14, 2004 3:48 am | ||
| neocrash | Route Climbed: normal route via subaru line road. Date Climbed: Oct 2 2003 | |
| It may have been clear. but it was frezzing! with the wind blowing you off the your feet, almost made me turn around. but I'm glad I didn't, what a view from the top. and the best part about climbing this mountian in the off season, was that we had it almost to ourselves. | |
| Posted Dec 14, 2003 11:56 pm | ||
| Deb | Route Climbed: no route Date Climbed: 12 May 2003 | |
| Hey, John you got the date wrong, remember I left Japan on 14 May? Too foggy and tons of snow, nevermind we didn't have the time to go for the summit but we stood on the darn thing anyway! | |
| Posted Dec 9, 2003 9:54 pm | ||
| Rockopotamus | Date Climbed: 16 April 2003 | |
| Pulled into Japan for a short port visit and only had a few hours to spend on the mountain. It was the wrong time of the year, but did get so good photos. Maybe next deployment! | |
| Posted Sep 25, 2003 9:56 pm | ||
| HawkeyeHufford | Date Climbed: August 26, 2001 | |
| Met my friend Jim Lundgren and his daughter Ashley from Moscow, Idaho to hike up Fuji. We arrived at the mountain about 7pm on Saturday, August 25th after four hours in trains/bus from Tokyo. After climbing for awhile at a healthy pace we realized we needed to slow way down, taking long stops at the various stations, to arrive at the top for sunrise (We didn't want to be exposed at the top for several hours waiting). Met people from USA, Europe, Australia and Asia. I was surprised at the number of people who smoked during rest stops! Trail was somewhat steeper than I expected. We got to the top just after sunrise at 6am. Visibility was pretty poor - it is more days than not I'm told. Descending trail was in great shape and we got down pretty fast. " Steve Hufford Anchorage, Alaska USA | |
| Posted May 2, 2003 12:44 pm | ||
| frankm | Route Climbed: Ancient Road & standard ascending route Date Climbed: 25-26 August 2002 | |
| The Ancient Road begins at Fujiyoshida and adds about 5000 feet to the climb through forest. The first four stations are along this route, long abandoned and fallen into disrepair. It's quiet, peaceful and not used much. Left 5th station (visitors center) for the top at 11pm to be at the summit for the sunrise. | |
| Posted Oct 2, 2002 3:00 pm | ||
| Dave Daly | Route Climbed: Standard Tourist Route Date Climbed: July 1990 | |
| Ka Nichi Wah! The highlight to Fuji: Saki to warm the soul and Japanese hospitality to warm the heart! | |
| Posted Oct 1, 2002 10:35 pm | ||
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