Daring Mt. Fuji

Our first attempt to climb Mt. Fuji last August of 2006. It was actually unplanned. Though I managed to pack up some things (bottles of gatorade and water, lotion and insect repellent, wet tissue, chocolates and energy chips, flashlight, medicines to count a few) I knew would sustain us for this cause. A subject undebatable because I willed it.

First pit stop at the 6th Station. And the rest was history. Ok, I just hate to admit, that we got three cameras which ran out of batteries when we're almost there. You bet who's the jinx in this matter?

I thought this time I was ready. The time to mount and descend was all set. In fact, I had all the surveys of the easy way to traverse the mountain. And everything was fixed according to my timetable. Where I should take a stall to behold an astounding vista, or embrace the decline of sun below the horizon, and to inundate myself with the celestial bodies above... a complete surrender. September 30, 2006.

Despite the steepness of the slope, the falling rocks and the gust of frosty winds, I had to smile for my courage. At the 8th Station, where the Fujisan Eisei (Sanitary) Center, a temporary medical clinic with resident doctor during summer. The general period for climbing Mt. Fuji is from July when the mountain is open for public until the second week of August. Most of the public utilities, even lodges are closed after this season. There are buses run in spring and fall, but not as many. Since I was the climber wannabe, I had to stick with a league of real mountain climbers I met along the way. And it was on forecast that there'd be a slight precipitation of ice crystals the next day. So, good luck to me.

957 meters away from the summit, at the 9th. We moved ahead of time as we went through our course. Another pit stop. There was much camaraderie. They laughed; they sang; they cooked; they talked; they jested; and I cried. I thought I would die of hypothermia. Note that, temperature drops by 0.6 degrees celcius for every 100 meters up, and the temperature at the summit is 20 degrees lower than at the base. Sure it'll drop to 0 before sunrise or sunset. And that's for only at those periods of time I mentioned above. Next trip, I would wear a lot of thick doubles. Point well taken, guys.

I'm on top of the world! I rejoiced, exultant in happiness. I've reached summit, an ultimate point of a perfect experience. The totality of all the events in my life. Then, we made a complete circuit of the crater. And lo, the rising sun just nadir my vision.

Zenith beneath us.

Oh sunrise, my sunshine, I beckon you.

Fujisengen Shrine Okumiya; entrance to the summit.

I was frigid already. That day was a wintry welcome morning. (Right below is a concavely curved steep and rough slope.) And I could not beat anymore how many times I slipped and fell. I might be dog-tired yet the experience speaks itself for me. Altogether divine.