Denver Climbs Mount Fuji

After Holly climbed Mt Fuji last summer, Denver really wanted to be a mommy's boy and also climb Mt Fuji (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Fuji). We told him that if he trained hard then he could climb Mt Fuji when he turned eight. Denver took us seriously and practiced hiking, running, biking and swimming throughout the year. Last week, the long-awaited chance to climb Mt Fuji finally came...

Mount Fuji as seen from Camp Fuji

We stayed at Marine Corps Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji. The camp is located at the base of Mount Fuji and the kids really enjoyed watching all of the helicopters fly around. The picture above was taken from our room the morning before our climb.

Start Hiking (Sunday 9:00 p.m.)

There are five main routes up Mt Fuji and we went up the Fujinomiyaguchi trail. The trailhead starts at 2,400 meters (7,875 ft). We decided on the night hike option in order to see the sunrise and enjoy the cool nighttime air.

Lucky Coin Pole (Sunday 11:45 p.m.)

Off the side of the trail we found this "Lucky Coin Pole" where every crack in the wood has been filled in by hikers inserting coins. We have no idea why the coins were shoved into the pole so we just assumed it was for good luck.

9th Station (Monday 12:05 a.m.)

Climbing Mt Fuji is not your ordinary mountaineering experience to say the LEAST. Located along the trail at intervals of about every 500-750 feet in elevation gain are mountain huts or "stations". The size and amenities vary at each station, but they usually include pay toilets, sitting benches, vending machines, sleeping bunks, etc. No matter which route you take up the mountain, the starting trailhead is named the fifth station and the summit is named the tenth station, but that doesn't mean that each trail has five stations between the trailhead and summit. There are half-stations, old and new numbered stations, etc. Our trail had a total of eight stations, but they were all closed during our nigth ascent. The stations provide the heavily-panting Japanese climbers a chance to take a few puffs of oxygen from their bottles and then smoke a few cigarettes.

Tenth Station Torii Gate (Monday 1:30 a.m.)

Denver is not much of a complainer, but I think he was pretty tired by the time we arrived at the top. I mention this because when we arrived at the top I told him to stand next to the torii gate and I went down a few a steps to take a picture. By the time I took the picture a few seconds later, he had fallen asleep while leaning on the gate.

Nap Time (Monday 1:45 a.m.)

Denver taking a well deserved rest at the top.

Japanese Post Office at the Top of Mt. Fuji
Like I mentioned previously, climbing Mt. Fuji is not your ordinary mountaineering experience.

3,776 Meters or 12,388 Feet (Monday 2:00 a.m.)

Mt Fuji has an extensive caldera rim around the top of the mountain. I was a little wired when we reached the top so I hiked another 15 minutes to the highest point on the caldera rim where this marker and a massive abandoned weather radar station are located.

The View from Mt Fuji (Monday 2:05 a.m.)
Isn't is breathtaking?

Sunrise from Mt Fuji (Monday 5:00 a.m.)

Back Down at the Trailhead (Monday 6:00 a.m.)