Kesia's Ultimate Guide to Climbing the Infamous....
Mount Fuji
(Yoshida Trail)
After living in Japan for exactly 1 year 9 months and 20 days .... I finally mustard up enough courage to plan my climb to the top of Mount Fuji's Summit. As with any adventure big and small, I made sure to do my research. I attended the mandatory safety brief through the military base, read a countless number of blogs and online articles, and of course picked the brains of those who have conquered the climb themselves. Although, having done this research, I honestly feel that no-one has truly did this climb any justice...at least from my perspective. As I'm sure you can tell from my other post, I try and provide as much detail as I possibly can so the readers are able to feel and visualize what they are embarking on. My hope is that after reading this entire post, you will feel as though you have taken the journey with me to the top and that you will feel confident in your climb and know what to expect before you embark on your own journey.
First, I feel it's only fair to provide you with some background information about my personal fitness level so you can have an idea about where I'm coming from. What makes this post even more awesome is that you will have two perspectives on the intensity from my point of view and also my husband (Daniel) who was my climbing partner. Tip #1 (I would highly encourage having a climbing partner. Someone who isn't pessimistic, would encourage you, and someone you can be with for a 24 hour period and not get annoyed if they slow you down, or speed up ahead of you...who else is going to take your award winning photos on your journey?)
My Stats Daniel's Stats
Female Male
115 Pounds 215
5"3 5"11
Based on the scale below:
Sedentary--->Light--->Moderate--->Active--->Vigorous
I would describe myself a having a sedentary lifestyle, not very active. The closest I would get to working out on a regular basis is taking trips to Tokyo where there is a lot of walking involved, and the occasional Zumba classes.
Daniel lives a more active lifestyle. He bikes to and from work every day, and works out 2-3 times a week in addition to bicycling.
Fuji 101: A brief introduction to Mt. Fuji
"He who climbs Mount Fuji is wise man, he who climbs it twice is a fool"
-Japanse Proverb
Last Volcanic Eruption: 1707Elevation at top : 3776m / 12,388 ft/ 2.34 mi
Walking Distance: From 5th station ~ 10mi / 16km
Other Alias: Fuji-san, "The Beast"
Climbing Season:
Before you continue, answer the following questions:
- Do you have sickle-cell anemia, carry the trait, or have a family history of it?
- Do you have asthma?
- Are you prone to altitude sickness?
- Do you have acrophobia (a fear of heights)?
If you have answered yes to any one of these questions...you should seriously re-consider your plans to climb Mt. Fuji.
