We recently had the incredible opportunity to climb Mt. Fuji when we traveled to Japan on a trip with my Son's High School Martial Arts Club.  Following is a copy of a journal entry that I made upon completing the climb of Mt. Fuji in Japan along with a copy of the email I sent back to my wife the next morning after we had descended.   I know much more about the need for proper equipment (especially warm and water proof clothing) then I did when my 16 year old son and I made this climb.  Had we been better equipped this would not have been nearly as difficult.

Mt. Fuji - The absolute worst and the absolute best combined. It was terrible and it was great.

We started the climb at around 7 P.M. It was cold, windy, rainy and misty but everyone was excited. Once we started we hadn't gone far when it became clear that we had a slow group and a fast group. We split and I went with the fast group. At some point our fast group split into two groups and again Jason and I stayed with the advance group.

I was surprised at how hard the climb was. The rain made it very difficult. The climb from station 7-8 was the most rugged with no switchbacks.

I was feeling strong but felt concerned about the others (especially those in the two slower groups) being able to make the climb. (very steep in several places) Jason and the other youths were like machines with no sign of fatigue. Somewhere in the eighth station area my upper thighs both cramped up and I could barely make the last ten feet to a flat area - It really surprised me and it also really hurt!! After a few minutes rest I was able to go on and while I did have more cramps later nothing as bad as the first attack.

It was so wet and cold!! The rain and wind showed no mercy and constantly attacked us and made the climbing very difficult. Our group took shelter for a few hours in a hut called Hotel Fuji. At that point the other four decided to stay for a while longer and Jason and I went on by ourselves (now we were four groups) leaving the relative safety and warmth of the hut behind. We had no experience, no map, no radio to call for help but it mattered not to us at the time. Never had I imagined that it would be me and Jason climbing completely by ourselves to the summit. The rain was everywhere and the wind was blowing. The high altitude also made our hearts beat faster and our breathing harder. We stopped for breaks at each switchback but only for a few minutes since it got cold quickly when you stopped. We had several places where it looked like big drop offs but we kept going and we both knew we would not quit. We would reach the summit or perish in our attempt.

The Japanese say that you leave your troubles behind on Mt Fuji and that was true. After climbing for a while the only thought and purpose was to reach the top. In a strange way it became the most important thing to do and the only purpose in our life. Nothing else existed or mattered. It was more of a man against himself then it was man against nature. We did not conquer Fuji but instead became one with it and conquered our own weakness. We became bigger then that which had been bigger then us.

Although the incredible cold we suffered during the night did diminish our spirits we survived and as we climbed down we were both filled with a sense of accomplishment that cannot be explained but can only be experienced.

Pam,

Both Jason and I survived the climb and made it to the top!!!!! Conditions were very bad and we ended up climbing by ourselves for the summit. (Felt like we were the only two people on the Planet Earth ... expected many other climbers but saw none as they had all sought shelter because of conditions.) Reached the top at around 2:00 A.M. and were the only two climbers at the Summit.  Some confusion as it is our understanding that the Fuji Safety Office recommended that climbing be suspended due to weather conditions. (We did not know this so that explains why we were the only two people on the Mountain top!) We discovered after our descent that the "Szewczyk party" was reported missing to the authorities that night since they realized that we had not stayed at one of the "hut" shelters.

Jason and I had the mountain top to ourselves. It was very hard, very cold, extremely wet (heavy rain for the entire climb) and also dangerous given the conditions. We both survived and hopefully will not be worse for the experience after a few days of recovery. (Both experienced some hypothermia from being on the Summit without adequate shelter. Near freezing temps, high winds and we were soaked to the bone. Never been that cold in my life and both had uncontrolled shivering)

Several others of our group of 22 made it to the top after conditions improved this morning. Jason and I will explain more when we get home. No more mountain climbing for us. One was enough.

John