Thundercat 60 Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 Well, it had to be done again. I'd been sitting around the house the last few weeks noticing some really beautiful clear skies in the morning and thought it would be a good chance to hike the summit. Friday night (August 27) looked like the most promising weather forecast of the week so we set off for the 5th station on the Fujinomiya side at about 9pm. Driving through Fujinomiya we were hit by a massive rain storm with lightening streaking through the ski... but we pressed onward in the hopes that the cloud cover was low enough that it wouldn't effect us during the hike. Score! Beautiful clear skies right to the top. We also had the (almost) full moon high overhead which meant that we didn't need to use a flashlight for the entire hike... something very peaceful about using moonlight to guide your way. I couldn't help but think about the power of the sun considering it's reflection off the moon still provided enough light for us to comfortably find our way. We set off at 11pm taking an hour long nap among the boulders near the 8th station (3250m) and it was cold... but not cold enough to stop me from sleeping! Reaching the summit at 4:45 we made our way to an area free of people to enjoy the rising sun. It was an incredibly clear morning with views all the way to Tokyo in the east and Hamamatsu in the west. The Izu Shoto islands were clearly visible as was the Izu Peninsula... it was stunning. I don't think I could have imagined better conditions. To get back to the car we had to retrace our route back down the Fujinomiya side... even though it is the shortest route to the top the descent on this side is probably one of the most difficult because of it's steepness. We made it down in under 3 hours wobbly knees and all and already at 9:30am it was scorching hot. Considering the day I'd had (Friday morning 6am wake up followed by 5 hours of meetings and last minute prep. for the hike) I felt surprisingly good... Would I do it again? ... Gotemba City with some torch lights in the foreground. Slept on the cold cold ground not far from here... a sleeping bag would have been a fantastic idea! Light starting to invade the horizon. View from the 9th station. At the top waiting for the sun. Still waiting Sun hits the horizon Almost there! Yatta! I caught it! View of Numazu (if you look hard you can actually see my house! ) Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 Wow that looks brilliant mate. Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 Wow that looks brilliant mate. Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 Wow that looks brilliant mate. Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 an awesome feeling when you get to the top. Link to post Share on other sites
Jynxx 4 Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 I love that pic holding a sun ray in your hand Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 Great threads you got going BM - sweet pics! Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 Bet it was nice and cool up there. Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 Numazu.... I've been there, I think. That's where Kato Gakuen is, right? Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted August 30, 2010 Author Share Posted August 30, 2010 Yep, Katou is just down the road! C'mon back for a visit any time! Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted August 30, 2010 Share Posted August 30, 2010 I don't know if I'll be in Numazu anytime soon but I'll be out and about a bit this winter. Probably hit the usual spots... Link to post Share on other sites
SantaCruz 0 Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 Nice! Link to post Share on other sites
Schneebored 0 Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 Fantastic...nothing like a night hike!..very jealous Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 sun in hand. Brilliant Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 Originally Posted By: thursday sun in hand. Brilliant makes me think of the Happy Mondays for some reason Link to post Share on other sites
Ezorisu 0 Posted September 1, 2010 Share Posted September 1, 2010 Nice pics, BM! Link to post Share on other sites
stemik 14 Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 great photos!.....but they don't make me want to climb it again Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Good one mate. So climbing at night is a popular way of doing it hey? How many other people were at the top? Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted September 3, 2010 Author Share Posted September 3, 2010 Night climbing is definitely popular. Although I was surprised at how many people were climbing up in the morning as I was coming down. There were quite a few people at the top... impossible to say how many but I'd guess over and hundred but less than two hundred. I've hiked it mid-week in July and it was pretty empty... and also during the Obon holiday and had to queue up to get to the top. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 You know what the old saying is, if you dont hike Mt. Fuji you're a fool, if you hike it more than once you're a fool Mt. Fuji seems like the most boring hike (Ive never been any higher than 5), but just dont see the appeal in actually hiking it; but the views from the top do look spectacular but prolly arent any different than the other famous peaks like Kitadake, Hotakadake, Yarigatake etc... Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 cut. Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 What? Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 I posted something without thinking about it. So I deleted it before anyone else could read it. Link to post Share on other sites
Thundercat 60 Posted September 8, 2010 Author Share Posted September 8, 2010 I know you are probably just trying to wind me up but... no one would ever argue that I'm not foolish enough to climb Mt. Fuji several times! It's funny CB because I've actually climbed 2 of the 3 mountains you mentioned and there is actually a massive difference between them and Fuji. What makes Fuji unique is that it's not part of a mountain chain so there are unobscured views... not to mention being able to see Tokyo, Yokohama, Hakone and the pacific. Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted September 8, 2010 Share Posted September 8, 2010 Oh, I do that from time to time. So what did you say, anyway? Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts