Mount Fuji and the mother who bore him Mount Fuji
there. I know because I've been to the top. But I would not have imported still think is a giant mural painted for me to see people from afar. Up to
Fuji-san (Fuji-yama
"is a misreading of the ideograms) is a fairly popular with tourists who come to Japan. Not so much between Japanese: while some will climb every year, most do not bother.
"There must be some", I thought, and stood in my seventh year in Tokyo without ever having gone to Fuji. For something was.
Akira, whom I met in Tibet, I proposed to crown the summit on Saturday July 31, year of our Lord 2010. Said and done. Well, no
!!!!! ¡¡¡¡¡ Said and done for you, damn readers! (For 10 followers I have, up insulting you.) Said and done for you, you read it easily from the comfort of home or at work! It took me an experience between life and death.
really exaggerating. What does that crossed my mind countless times, was "I know I live out of this mountain, but when?"
The plan was simple. Akira came to pick me up at my house in Tokyo at 3 am. I could sleep in the car. We arrived at 6 am on the fifth station, we stopped the car and climbed. The rise of the road Subashiri (pq there are 4 paths that lead to the summit) would take about five hours, according to the website who consulted Akira. At noon we were there, and 14h later if rested enough. We went down in 3 hours, and 18h, before sunset, down. As a reward, bathing in hot springs at the foot of Fuji, to relax, and relieve the stiffness predictable. At 22h in Tokyo without problem. Paco's friend was fiestazo at home was an option to take into account whether the laces were not excessive. (You probably would.)
What Happened: Akira arrived at 3h45. He missed pq is not Tokyo. I did not know (we) where was the entrance to the highway that would take us to the foot of Fuji, which were looking for, and my 3 hours of sleep in the car went to hell. But we very soon at the foot of Mount Fuji, before 6 (one hour after sunrise). We had to leave the car well below the fifth season, particularly in the third, because the fifth parking was full. 6h
least five, we parked the car and climbed up the road. We are approx. 1600 meters. 7.30 thing we got to the fifth station, where there are a few shops. Is 2000 meters high. We took a mushroom tea and breakfast, and Undertake road past 8am. We walk through a grove, but then we are walking up a steep stone path.
We have to go through the seasons sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth, before the summit. We
the sixth season. We have been more than an hour's walk from the fifth, and of course with a nice uphill. Come, another hour of walking. We arrived at the sixth train station and ... "Sixth? Again? It turns out that the former was the "new sixth", and this is the "Sixth." Good to know. We take the first dose of medicine that we left over from our trip to Tibet, specifically against altitude sickness. Regular readers of this blog will remember the trip does A couple of years.
After another hour's walk uphill, we reached the seventh. All right, take everything, and after another hour we reached the "seventh!? Almendruco same trick. First is the "new", then "authentic." We've been very noon.
Another hour, and finally arrived at the eighth station. Is already very steep slope. Another tough time and we are in the "eighth? station. With the grace it is duplicate stations is making me the way everlasting. How many hours do we? Should not we have arrived?
We arrived a. .. No, we do not. Rest along the road. An old man with a mochilón gives us a drink of gelatin to each. I do not need, nor want to be rude, I accept it gratefully. Total, soon reached the top and as there is no question of filling the stomach at random.
arrives ... We ... to the ninth ... station.
do not know if I'm tired or fed up. I have better things to do to climb mountains that never ends. I do not care that this is the most famous mountain in Japan.
Ascent ... until ... the ... top ... What ... long ... is ... ago.
¿1 hour? Time becomes meaningless. We take
the second and final dose of Tibetan medicine. It works in all my heart.
We note as if we lacked oxygen in the blood, but we all head hurts. Around us hope they keep cans of oxygen. Junkies.
the top! No emotion, no joy, only relief. And hartanza. And tired.
Think you already have something fun to write on the blog. "
course, that is if I get down. For now we must go down.
First I eat a bowl of rice with meat, it ... "They feed only those staying at the hostel? Too bad, because the next restaurant is 1 hour walk.
are 18.00! Let's go
, Akira.
starts down hard. I find it hard to go but up, it is harder in the calf.
We got an hour, and as noodles (yakisoba ) instant.
are 19h, and practically it is night. Saco
normally carry the torch on the bike. I had brought "just in case." I also bought at the eighth station batteries "just in case." For without this basic flashlight'd be dead. We went down illuminating where we stand. We went down, another hour. And another. And another.
lights are down so far. My conception of space-time has nothing to do with what is normal. Sure I'll get out of here alive, but I do not know when. Perhaps no choice but to lie down and sleep. Do not see anything, it is hard not knowing where you're going to take the road. A break, another break, another break. One every 20 minutes, and there are no forces, no encouragement. At least the phone works, but little for me.
finally arrived. On the way out. The fifth station is midnight least 10. We have spent just 18 hours, almost all the way up and down the mountain. Sometimes resting. I am so glad ... We arrived in Tokyo at 4 in the morning.
Moral: Fuji, best by far.
and stop to say hello to my cousin George, q birthday day 3. A hug!