Mt. Fuji international friendship hikes 2008
Mt. Fuji climb dates: Aug 23~24 • Sep 6~7
See the breath-taking sunrise and make new friends while scaling Japan's highest and most famous mountain.
A brief description of what will happen on the hike:
Saturday
• Meet in Shinjuku at 10am • Get on the bus • Arrive at Kawaguchiko 5th station at around 1pm • Have lunch at Gogoen Rest House • Rest/sleep/acclimatize for 2hrs • Orientation • Distribution of supplies • Pairing • Safety briefing • Stretching • Group photo (the "before" photo) • Start the overnight hike at 5:30pm • Arrive at the 6th station at around 7:30pm • Arrive at the 7th station at around 9:30pm • Arrive at the 8th station at around 11:30pm
Sunday
• Arrive at the 9th station at around 1:30am • Arrive at the summit at around 4am • Have breakfast at one of the huts • See the sunrise at around 5am (if weather permits) • 2hrs crater walk (optional) • Start the descend at 6am • Arrive back at Kawaguchiko 5th station at around 11am • Have lunch • Rest/sleep on the bus • Bus departs at 1:30pm • Arrive back in Shinjuku at around 4pm
How much: 18,000yen
Price includes;
• Private bus transportation (round-trip) • Seafood/meat nabe lunch • Headlights • Spare batteries • Oxygen canister • Hand gloves • Energy drink • Energy snack • Accident insurance • Professional hike guides
Take note the following:
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• Itinerary may vary due to the weather, traffic condition & other unavoidable circumstances • Mt. Fuji is 3,776 mts above sea level while Kawaguchiko-gogome is 2,305 mts • We will use the Kawaguchiko hike trail for both ascending and descending way • The weather up there will be very cold even in the summer, around 0~5-degrees celsius minus wind factor so be well prepared • Our goal is to reach the summit between 3~4am to avoid getting stuck in a ridiculous procession. You'll be exposed in a strong wind for an hour at the summit before they open the huts so make sure to bring extra layers • We reserve the rights to refuse participants w/o proper hiking attire • Reasonable fitness required • Hiking experience not necessary but an advantage • Oxygen will be provided to help prevent altitude sickness • Buddy-buddy system will be strictly applied. You and your partner should look out for each other throughout the hike • Only bring the stuff you need for the hike, the lighter the backpack, the better • You can leave some of your stuff (e.g. spare clothes) in the lockers at the 5th station • The average hike takes about 5~7 hours (standard for fairly fit people) but we will do it at a slow pace, around 9~11 hours, to avoid the risk of people getting sick (worse case, collapsing) due to thin air. This way, even people without any hiking experience have a great chance of making it to the summit, and it should also take out some of the sting from continuous hiking • If your only goal is to reach the summit, arriving at 6am will be just fine • If the weather permits, you can hike around the crater for about 2 hours, go to the post office (at the summit) and send some postcards to love ones from top of Japan • The views at different sides of Mt. Fuji are spectacular • Hiking stick for sale at the 5th station (1,000yen or 1,500yen w/ flag) • Stick stamps available at every stations for 200~300yen • Final details will be sent to the participants two days before the event
What to wear/bring:
• Ski/jacket & pants (highly recommended) or rain coat • Warm clothes (fleece/thermals) • Spare clothes • Hiking shoes or trainers w/ ankle protection • Soft/thick socks • Hiking stick • Waterproof backpack • Hat • Sunglasses • Suncream • Light food (for dinner) • Snacks • Mineral water or sports drinks (2~3 liters recommended) • Small thermo bottle (filled with soup, coffeee or tea) • Cellular phone • MP/iPod player • Book • Camera • Cash
Check URL's for:
• Meeting spot • Train times & connections • Mt. Fuji climbing information & guidelines • Gogoen Rest House • Photos from previous hike