Mountain Day, a national holiday first enacted in 2016. In conjunction with this, the Mt. Fuji Trail Station, which is located at the Gotemba exit of Mt. Fuji and sponsored by Salomon, is running a campaign to get a special sticker. HOUYHNHNM decided to climb Mt. Fuji to get the special sticker! Led by a member with a wealth of climbing experience, Yamamoto, the deputy editor, and Nomura, a writer, accompanied the group. How is it right to enjoy climbing Mt. Fuji for the first time? Here is a report from a beginner's point of view.
Members of this year's group. In the upper row, from left to right, I am Nomura, a writer, Mr. Suzuki of Geiei, Mr. Takatoshi Akutagawa, an editor who coordinated the event, Mr. Jerry Ukai, an illustrator, Mr. Yamamoto of HOUYHNHNM's, and Ms. Ino, a model and a writer. The bottom row is, from left to right, Ms. Nomura of the agency Rin, model and TV personality Yuki Mihara, and Saki Inoue, a beautiful woman.
1. why choose the "Fujinomiya Route" to enjoy climbing Mt.
There are four major courses in the Mt.
Easy access from the metropolitan area.Yoshida routeand the distance is long and the elevation difference is large.Gotemba RouteEnjoy quiet mountain climbing.Susuru RouteAnd the Fujinomiya route we followed.
The Fujinomiya Route is characterized by the shortest distance of all the routes. Therefore, even those of us with limited mountaineering experience can reach the summit in a blink of an eye by taking one step at a time. However, because of the short distance, the ascent is rapid, and the risk of altitude sickness is high.
It is important to gradually acclimate your body to the high altitude by taking frequent breaks as well as at each mountain lodge.
The start time is 3:00 am. We climbed the mountain in total darkness with headlamps on.
As the sun gradually rises, visibility becomes clearer and you can enjoy the scenery.
Yuki Mihara and Saki Inoue take a nap. They are acclimatizing themselves to the high altitude while taking a rest.
2. be on your guard even in the middle of summer. Always be fully equipped.
Even though summer is relatively easy for beginners, the biggest mountain in Japan, Mt. Fuji, the largest mountain in Japan. The difference in temperature between the foot of the mountain and its summit is extreme, and in the mountain where the weather changes rapidly, it can suddenly get cold when the sun goes down. Therefore, even in mid-summer, it is important to be well-equipped for the challenge.
The first thing that is indispensable is innerwear with excellent water absorption and quick-drying properties. If the sweat you sweat early in the race does not dry, it will cause you to get cold. Then there are the waterproof shell jackets and long pants made for trails, and even down jackets. These are used according to the weather conditions and thrown into a rucksack when taken off.
It is also important to choose trekking shoes, boots, and other mountain climbing-specific shus. In addition, we will also have an assortment of snacks, such as drinking water and superfoods, to recharge our batteries frequently. It is also helpful to bring items to protect you from the strong sun, such as a hat, gloves, and sunglasses.
X ULTRA MID 2 GORE-TEX® trail shoes by worn by the members of the team this time. They boast excellent stability and grip, and we felt comfortable wearing them even on the rocky and gravelly trails of Mt. 18,850 yen
In recent years, many trail runners have been visiting Mt. In fact, I took on the challenge with Salomon's SKIN PRO 15 SET. The excellent fit allows for light and nimble movement. 18,000 yen (15L)
The ninth with down underwear and a shell as well.
At Kugo-5-chaku, I changed my appearance to a T-shirt and shorts.
3. Finally, the summit is reached! At the summit, we filled our bellies with cup noodles and chilled out with coffee.
After the long ascent, you will see the summit of Mt. Fuji every year to experience the special sense of accomplishment that only those who have completed the climb can feel. We, too, managed to reach the summit on time, and enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment as well as the wonderful air.
So, first, we had to eat. At the lodge, I ordered a cup of noodles without hesitation. Although it is only a cup of noodles, it tastes surprisingly good, especially after the fatigue of climbing up the mountain.
Afterwards, we found a suitable space and chilled out together. While enjoying coffee prepared by Mr. Takatoshi Akutagawa, everyone takes a rest or a nap in their own style, and nourishes their energy.
First, a commemorative photo!
The luxury of drinking coffee at the summit. Refreshed and ready for the descent.
I lay down on the ground with my sack as a pillow and took a nap.
Some people fall asleep in this extreme position.
Commemorative goods for the summit are sold in the lodge at the summit.
For those who still have plenty of energy, we recommend circling around the large hollow in the middle of the summit.
4. Lightly equipped, we quickly descended the mountain by "Osunanorigiri," running down the sand path!
After spending as much chill time as you want at the top, the descent awaits. This brief interval may cause a slight mental decline, but it is much easier than the ascent, so we change our minds and push ourselves to keep going.
This time, we chose the Gotemba route for our descent. Although it is the longest route among the main courses, we could reach the fifth station in no time by running down the famous "Osunagiri" (big sand run).
The thickly sandy mountain paths, where grain sediments called scoria that were ejected by the eruption have accumulated, are surprisingly soft and fluffy. The trail run-like sprinting of the climbers as they run past the goal point, the new fifth station at the Gotemba entrance, is a sight to behold.
Wearing a mask and sunglasses at this time will help prevent dust and sand from being blown up.
Another commemorative photo taken just before descending the mountain. He is ready to run.
You can see the dust cloud.
5. Be one of the first to get the special sticker at the Gotemba exit!
After everyone descended together, we visited the "Mt. FUJI TRAIL STATION," an exchange facility opened for a limited time at the Gotemba-guchi New Fifth Station, the entrance to the Gotemba route.
Here, limited edition stickers commemorating "Mountain Day" by Salomon, designed by Jerry Ukai, a member of this year's climbing team, are being distributed on a first-come, first-served basis! Of course, we all got one and took a commemorative photo.
I posted on my own account about the campaign, which is running until September 10 (Sat.) to give away Salomon goods to a total of 15 people who post on Instagram with the hashtag "# Salomon Trail. Do you think you can win?
Mt. Fuji TRAIL STATION" will also offer a variety of other services, such as immediate issuance of Mt. Fuji summit certificates and display of tools necessary for climbing Mt.
Whether you are planning to climb Mt. Fuji or not, why not take this opportunity to stop by?
Mt. FUJI TRAIL STATION
Address: Mt. Fuji Gotemba-guchi new fifth station (Nakahata, Gotemba City, Shizuoka Prefecture)
Opening period: July 10 (Sun) - September 10 (Sat)
Hours of operation: 5:00 - 16:00
How to access
By car: Approximately 40 minutes from the Gotemba IC exit on the Tomei Expressway
By bus: Approximately 40 minutes by mountain bus (local bus) from "Gotemba Station" of JR Gotemba Line *Only during the opening period of the mountain.
