doyoubi/nichiyoubi

[more photos]

I climbed Mt. Fuji.

From the second I got on the plane to Japan, I had it in my head that I would climb it (I mean, Kelly did it...so I just had to!). However, plan after plan fell through, and it seemed like it would never happen. Yet, I stand here today and can proclaim that I am a Fuji veteran (well, I am actually sitting in a lot of pain).

My weekend began at 5am. I met Yoko (Maekawa sensei - but that takes a lot longer to type) in Namba for a quick McDonald's breakfast and then we caught our bus at 7:30. After a few pit stops, we arrived at the 5th station of Fuji (about 2000meters) at 5pm. After dinner and changing, we got to work.

The first few hours were ridiculously slow even though we were basically walking up gentle slopes. Because we went with a tour group, we had to walk between our two guides at their pace (very slow in order to prevent altitude sickness, with frequent oxygen breaks). My muscles were in no pain at all the entire night...and the slow pace gave me great opportunity to take pictures and chat with Yoko.

By station 7, we were beginning to feel the burn. I was constantly dizzy, freezing cold, and fighting impatience as thousands of people inched along to the top. I have to admit, though, that I appreciated the traffic jams. They gave me so much time to absorb it all, think, and breath. For the first time since I've been in Japan, I saw stars. I'd never been so happy to see the Big Dipper...it felt so familiar. The constellations below were just as amazing - a river of lights zig-zagging up the mountain. I've never felt so much peace while surrounded by so many bodies.

After a pit-stop at station 8, we scaled the last two stations at an even slower pace. I wasn't feeling so grateful and reflective at that point. I was half asleep, freezing, and regretting the trip altogether. But by 4am just as the sun began to peak out, we were finally at the top. I can say it was the best sunrise I've ever seen, but maybe that's because 1) I never get up early enough to see the sun rise and 2) I earned this one.

The hike down was the worst part. Not only did I basically just skid down gravel (or lava remains) and try not to fall for four hours, I also had to stop constantly to dump rocks out of my shoes and take off layers. Beyond the weather and pain in my knees, it was slightly disappointing to turn my back on the mountain so soon. I don't think I was ready to be finished.

Of course, by the time I was at the onsen, I had changed my mind.