So, my birthday is officially done and it was the first one I had in the States...in a very long time. I think the last time I had one in the States was back when I was 17, all other years were in Tokyo, Saudi Arabia, Europe, or Pakistan.
Looking back, I think the birthday that will never leave my head is the one I spent climbing Mt. Fuji in the damn hail. Keep in mind, I had no plans to do it in hail, and it just randomly happened during the trip.
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The pictures on the top were on the train to get to Mt. Fuji, which alone is a feat of it's own. That's me many years ago, still a kid...I think I was a junior back in Business School then. The train is one of those steamy "choo-choo" trains, and it gives you a pretty nice few of the country side of Japan. Keep in mind, I'm a city guy, and I dislike anything that's green.
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When you get to the location from train, you need to take a bus to the 5th Station of Mt. Fuji, and there's 10 or 8 Stations all together. The 5th Station is the highest the bus will take you, and the rest you need to climb. I heard you can climb up to the 5th Station but it takes a couple days, and requires legit camping gear with buddies to truely enjoy. This is was a trip for myself on my Birthday, so I couldn't do that. The 5th station is crowded with merchants, fog, people screaming, horses, and whatnot. It's a nice calm before the storm, and a nice peace knowing of all the people who tried or will be trying to climb Mt. Fuji.
The Entrance, Warning Signs, and A Message of Hope For Those Who Enter Yup, that's the last warning sign to let people know checkpoints from here on out are sparse, and should have proper food and water if you plan to go higher and higher. Most people just take the smaller route that can be finished in an hour and then walk back, it's nice and romantic. Sadly, it wasn't meant for me...there were other things planned, things I had to do alone.
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This was the path I tooked, it was already foggy, and few people willing to take the road I was taking. Yet I knew I had to do it, something in my heart was burning for it, and my soul knew it had to connect with the heart. My heart was racing, I was really doing it...I was really starting the climb. I was scared, but at the same time, something in my body was pushing for me to go...like I was meant to make it to the top on that very day.
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Moving on up, not yet above the clouds, yet I was about to be embraced by them. The cold, the oh so very cold on a hot summer day. A guy climbing asked if I was Japanese, and I told him no. He told me I was the first "gaijin" to climb that he had seen, which took me back a bit. He asked to take my picture and I said sure why not. I don't remember the full details now, but I do remember I told him it was my birthday, and he laughed and said that "kami" would have a surprise for me.
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Moving up higher, and higher. Finally being able to touch the clouds. There was no turning back now, I spent a few hours already walking it, I couldn't give up. I kept moving, I kept believing in myself that I could do it. This was a hard hill to climb.
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I took a break at a high up station, I think it was the 7th. I stopped for some corn soup, and met with some workers who lived on Mt. Fuji, and some other hikers. They were singing songs, and talking, and some stared at me. They asked what I guy like me was doing climbing Fuji-Sama, I just told them I had to. Something was calling for it. The workers liked the story so much, they didn't charge for the soup. Things weren't this good though, and it would get a lot worse.
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It started to hail, and I had to keep walking. This was also the time my iPhone started to lose it's charge due to me dropping it in the hail (had to change tracks to pump me up). So I was stuck without music, and a dying phone. So I can't show how the path leads on, but let me tell you...it's hard and you need that walking stick I had.
Oh, this was the last thing I ate that day. Rice, fish, miso-soup, and salad. Was it worth it? All this climbing? What would I gain from it? Would I better myself as a person, or would I just ignore it like any other day?
Before I show you the climax, I want to ask you...what drives you to do something. For me, I just randomly decided to climb it, and I was faced with storms of hail, a bitter cold, and friends I could only meet once...but ones I would remember forever. Is the climax worth all this? Here I was, a kid, unknown to the world, climbing the biggest mountain in Japan...in the bitter cold hell.
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I saw a sunrise, the most beautiful sunrise in my life. During the sunrise, I saw something even more grand. I saw a bird flying off in the distance. I know what I saw, and I know I'm mocked by friends and family about it...but in my heart, I know it to be the truest of truths. I was above the heavens for the first time in my life, I was higher than clouds, and could feel the warmth of the sun. I wasn't shivering anymore...I was so resolved. Sorry about the picture being upside down, for some reason...the iPhone started to screw up when I got to the top.
That's my story of my best birthday, ever. It's something that everyone has to try, and it's worth it. It's a lot of pain, a lot of suffering, and a lot of hardships.
Many years ago, people used to climb Fuji-Sama to clean their sins from the ashes. To clean their hearts from evils, and to give them a second chance.
EDIT: Oh, I had to climb that bastard back down too! >.>
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So, my birthday is officially done and it was the first one I had in the States...in a very long time. I think the last time I had one in the States was back when I was 17, all other years were in Tokyo, Saudi Arabia, Europe, or Pakistan.
Looking back, I think the birthday that will never leave my head is the one I spent climbing Mt. Fuji in the damn hail. Keep in mind, I had no plans to do it in hail, and it just randomly happened during the trip.
Gallery
The pictures on the top were on the train to get to Mt. Fuji, which alone is a feat of it's own. That's me many years ago, still a kid...I think I was a junior back in Business School then. The train is one of those steamy "choo-choo" trains, and it gives you a pretty nice few of the country side of Japan. Keep in mind, I'm a city guy, and I dislike anything that's green.
Gallery
When you get to the location from train, you need to take a bus to the 5th Station of Mt. Fuji, and there's 10 or 8 Stations all together. The 5th Station is the highest the bus will take you, and the rest you need to climb. I heard you can climb up to the 5th Station but it takes a couple days, and requires legit camping gear with buddies to truely enjoy. This is was a trip for myself on my Birthday, so I couldn't do that. The 5th station is crowded with merchants, fog, people screaming, horses, and whatnot. It's a nice calm before the storm, and a nice peace knowing of all the people who tried or will be trying to climb Mt. Fuji.
The Entrance, Warning Signs, and A Message of Hope For Those Who Enter Yup, that's the last warning sign to let people know checkpoints from here on out are sparse, and should have proper food and water if you plan to go higher and higher. Most people just take the smaller route that can be finished in an hour and then walk back, it's nice and romantic. Sadly, it wasn't meant for me...there were other things planned, things I had to do alone.
Gallery
This was the path I tooked, it was already foggy, and few people willing to take the road I was taking. Yet I knew I had to do it, something in my heart was burning for it, and my soul knew it had to connect with the heart. My heart was racing, I was really doing it...I was really starting the climb. I was scared, but at the same time, something in my body was pushing for me to go...like I was meant to make it to the top on that very day.
Gallery
Moving on up, not yet above the clouds, yet I was about to be embraced by them. The cold, the oh so very cold on a hot summer day. A guy climbing asked if I was Japanese, and I told him no. He told me I was the first "gaijin" to climb that he had seen, which took me back a bit. He asked to take my picture and I said sure why not. I don't remember the full details now, but I do remember I told him it was my birthday, and he laughed and said that "kami" would have a surprise for me.
Gallery
Moving up higher, and higher. Finally being able to touch the clouds. There was no turning back now, I spent a few hours already walking it, I couldn't give up. I kept moving, I kept believing in myself that I could do it. This was a hard hill to climb.
Gallery
I took a break at a high up station, I think it was the 7th. I stopped for some corn soup, and met with some workers who lived on Mt. Fuji, and some other hikers. They were singing songs, and talking, and some stared at me. They asked what I guy like me was doing climbing Fuji-Sama, I just told them I had to. Something was calling for it. The workers liked the story so much, they didn't charge for the soup. Things weren't this good though, and it would get a lot worse.
Gallery
It started to hail, and I had to keep walking. This was also the time my iPhone started to lose it's charge due to me dropping it in the hail (had to change tracks to pump me up). So I was stuck without music, and a dying phone. So I can't show how the path leads on, but let me tell you...it's hard and you need that walking stick I had.
Oh, this was the last thing I ate that day. Rice, fish, miso-soup, and salad. Was it worth it? All this climbing? What would I gain from it? Would I better myself as a person, or would I just ignore it like any other day?
Before I show you the climax, I want to ask you...what drives you to do something. For me, I just randomly decided to climb it, and I was faced with storms of hail, a bitter cold, and friends I could only meet once...but ones I would remember forever. Is the climax worth all this? Here I was, a kid, unknown to the world, climbing the biggest mountain in Japan...in the bitter cold hell.
Gallery
I saw a sunrise, the most beautiful sunrise in my life. During the sunrise, I saw something even more grand. I saw a bird flying off in the distance. I know what I saw, and I know I'm mocked by friends and family about it...but in my heart, I know it to be the truest of truths. I was above the heavens for the first time in my life, I was higher than clouds, and could feel the warmth of the sun. I wasn't shivering anymore...I was so resolved. Sorry about the picture being upside down, for some reason...the iPhone started to screw up when I got to the top.
That's my story of my best birthday, ever. It's something that everyone has to try, and it's worth it. It's a lot of pain, a lot of suffering, and a lot of hardships.
Many years ago, people used to climb Fuji-Sama to clean their sins from the ashes. To clean their hearts from evils, and to give them a second chance.
EDIT: Oh, I had to climb that bastard back down too! >.>
Maybe I missed it but how many hours did it take you? I like taking long walks up mountains too. I don't know how the culture is for that in the US, but in Norway it's normal to take walks on sundays (maybe not as much these days). It's been a while since last time though.. about a month. I walked up Kjerag, which was 3,5 hours up I think, and 2 hours back down. Not as long as godamn Fiji, but I don't think I'm in shape to walk up any country's largest mountain. Not even Denmark's.
Some nice photoes, but also some... blurry? :P Getting in touch with our artistic sides are we? Oh, and the iPhone was screwing around, because you were so high up that the gravity of the sun was starting to affect the sensors inside the phone (yeah I'm hilarious).
@foggel: Holy shit dude. I saw something on the news about a guy who did a handstand ontop of 4 chairs on that rock but I wouldn't want to tempt fate by even standing on it. Wouldn't want to become famous for being the guy who pushed it down...
@foggel: Damn, that one photo with with that boulder I'd probably have a heart attack.
The highest mount I've been on, outside of a car, was one in the cascades right across from Mt St. Helens I forget the name of it but it was like 5000 ft high or something.
@foggel: It takes about 7 hours, if I remember correctly, but just getting to the base from Tokyo took about 3 hours for me...and then the bus. The trip down is 4-6, depending on how you walk it...and what time of day....and pending weather.
That last picture, the one with the layer of clouds, is breath taking. I would love to be somewhere like that, feeling completely disconnected from the world below me. Now I see why monks are always portrayed as at the tops of high mountains. Tranquil and all.
" That last picture, the one with the layer of clouds, is breath taking. I would love to be somewhere like that, feeling completely disconnected from the world below me. Now I see why monks are always portrayed as at the tops of high mountains. Tranquil and all. "
It really can't be put to words just how it feels, even with pictures. The silence of the wind, and knowing you're so high up off the ground. It's hard to breathe so you panic for a second, but realize just to calm the hell down...and it just clicks.
Yes i am a wuss, so i would panic being that far up even if its safe :( Props though, climbing that thing and being able to get that view sounds amazing.
Hopefully i get to do the same one day and not panic :P
@thebatmobile: I don't get it.. @Resident4t: Dude, it's not even that hard. Sure after the 7th Station there's no real set path made by humans, but its a steady climb. Only takes 7 hours from where I started, and it's just taxing on your legs and lungs. But I heard stories of kids doing it with ease. It's completely do-able...people just give up their mental strength to go on. :(
" So did you get your walking stick branded at each station? "
Hah, nah. I got mine back from the 5th and just kept it with me without branding it. It did have a kick ass bell that let people know I was coming. >:]
good job on that :) i hope you had a great birthday. it sounds like fun to do that. a camp that i use to go to we would climb up a mountain. the mountain is Powder Ridge for people that might have gone there. during the winter time it's a ski mountain. it was fun.
when i went to italy, alfai coast we climbed a lot of stairs to the next town over. last time we climbed a mountain like.
@foggel: Damn you!!!! I've always wanted to do that. And because you asked, I'm 20 and live in the US, and I've never seen someone as young as me out hiking, unless they were visiting from another country or were with their family. I personally love hiking. I actually went on about 4 hikes in the last two weeks. It's a shame that most of the time the trails are largely empty when I go. I'm gonna hold back my insults and just say that I don't know why most Americans don't regularly hike.
26 Comments