What are YOUR thoughts on Climbing mt. Fuji? Want to do it? Already did it? No Way!? lol - Let me know in the comments!! I have also linked a bunch of gear and info in the description box! So feel free to check it out! AND... Did a podcast episode for this too! bit.ly/2zMDUMN
My failures became a great story of my Mt. Fuji climb. A night hike where its was rainy/foggy until the the 7th station. Started getting altitude sickness around the 8th or 9th station. Crawled into the closest huts around 11pm then got awoken at 2:30 am to wait in a line to get to the top. No sunrise because it was too foggy. Rained heavily on the way down. I also ran down those zigzag trails to get out of said rain. The pro of climbing at the beginning of the season is not needing to reserve huts but the con is it’s probably going to rain on you.
Aw man, story time. I went to climb Mt Fuji with part of my exchange class a good while back. I was, I thought, in decent shape but not aware of what to expect. Thankfully our teacher took care of us getting started, bus to .5, chill out for a while, got some light rain gear cause a storm was coming in, and of course walking sticks. I didn't have much cash on me though and probably not enough water to start. The plan was to climb to .8 or .9 sleep, wake up early to catch the sunrise on top so we all knew where to meet. As we started the climb people moved at their own pace a bit and we ended up getting spread out. Climbing the volcanic rock dust is hard. I ended up in the rear with two of the guys and after a bit the sun was starting to set. We realized we were going too slow and figured we should stop at the next inn and then try to hike up the next morning, or wait for our class to come down, but when we got to the .7 inns they were all full. Our only option at dusk in what was turning into a wind storm was to keep climbing. It took us a long time to get to the next inns. We lost the trail in the dark and ended up following the light to the next station. When we got there we had just enough money to rent bed space for the three of us and get some instant noodles to share. It got very cold, the futons were very thin, and one of the guys was terrified by the raging wind storm. We huddled up and tried to sleep as much as we could. At dawn there was a lot of fuss as apparently the top of the mountain was closed due to the storm which up top had been a snow storm. Lots of people going down. One of the guys talked to this marine who was on leave and was like 'we should follow him.' As we stumble our way back down I notice the lakes seem to be moving below us to be.. not where they were when we went up. We weren't just going down we were going around too. When we got to the .5 we were on the Tokyo side of Fuji (Having come from Kyoto). We had to wait until our teacher was back in cell service, for him to tell us how to get back to everyone else. Getting back was a challenge as our Japanese was still somewhat minimal and this was before the age of smart phones. It was a crazy adventure but I will say in some ways we lucked out. Because of the storm the rest of the class was freezing and miserable at the top, but we had a perfect view in the morning of the sky between two layers of clouds. There were even rainbows. It was pretty stunning and I do hope to go back again one day with my partner and actually make it to the top. TLDR: Got Lost with classmates and ended up on the wrong side of the mountain after getting caught in the dark in a storm. If you read that block of text, nice job and thanks ^.^
I attempted my first climb of Mt Fuji this year. I ascended on the 5th of July. Due to bad weather, I was advised not to climb any further than the seventh station. I was told the wind is so bad, I may get blown off the trail. The view was blocked by a thick layer of cloud, but I found the mountain to be stunningly beautiful. I am overweight and almost never exercise, so I found the climb exhausting. I was shocked when people younger, fitter and faster than me gave up. I found the climb exhilarating. It took 3 hours to climb from the fifth station to the seventh station, but felt like 30 minutes. It was a wonderful experience. The beds at 7th station are warm and comfortable. The ramen was the most delicious I have ever eaten. It was pure ambrosia.
My one personal tip is actually to look into equipment rental rather than trying to bring your own. When I went I rented a kit that included everything from super solid (and broken in) boots to a big water proof bag/backpack to climbing poles. (Willer Express were the ones who I did my climb with and they included a kit rental option)
I climbed Mt. Fuji for my 50th. I climbed the Subashiri trail, but didn't realize until now that it was one of the harder ones... I just thought it was hard for me! I chose that one because my brother was a tour guide for years and that was the trail he took. I made it up - slowly. I was passed by so many people, including a man who had a camera man following him. On the way down, I slipped on the rocks and sprained my ankle so my boyfriend had to help me down. Suggestion - bring an extra pair of hiking socks for the way down. The ones I wore on the way up were nasty so I changed in to a pair of regular socks and got blisters on the way down.
I would LOVE to climb Mt. Fuji some day!I enjoy hiking so much. And I definitely know how important pace can be. One brutal summer (108 heat index in humid Alabama, USA) 5 friends and I went backpacking. BUT instead of hiking back out the next morning, someone decided to take the loop of around 10 miles (maybe?) and then walk back to our cars. Unfortunately, someone got sick (from bad water) and we almost didn't make it back before dark. Not good with spotty cell service to say the least. We made it back tired, dehydrated, and covered in poison oak... and seed ticks. I wouldn't trade the experience though. It will always be one we remember!
It's hard to pick one favourite summer sound, there's so many! I really love the sound of water rippling against a rowing boat, the cries of arctic loons on a lake and several different bird sounds (my favourites are a sound of a cuckoo, whooper swan and a trush nightingale). And of course the ambient sounds that exists in the summery nature.
_SEVEN TIMES is absolutely incredible! I'm so impressed! These tips are great, I've climbed it once and it was definitely worth having coins when you come up, I was SO thankful to have those hot chocolate cans at the top!_
Out of all the things that I'd like to do, when I visit Japan for the first time, climbing Mt. Fuji is top 3 priority (next to onsen and best ramen). I love mountains, I've climbed almost all the Tatra mountains in Poland a few years ago
Climbed Mt Fuji early '80's ran into a big storm around Sta 7....but needed to get to Sta 8 where we was to stay overnight. it was pitch black out, couldn't see hardly anything in front of us. the wind swept rain/sleet didn't help at all. after a while all we could see was lights from Sta 8 Huts. it was now thundering and lightning, could not see the trail now. so we just crawled/climbed/trekked straight up towards the Hut Lights at Sta 8. We were the last to get to the Hut from our group. We were soak and wet freezing too. many had gone to sleep in the bunks, rest was hunkered around a fire pit. About the time we got close enough to the fire to warm up, most everyone went to sleep. There wasn't enough bunks to go around, so us unlucky ones had to sleep on a wooden floor near kitchen section. heck maybe it was the kitchen!! We were bunched like matchsticks, I couldn't sleep at all, clothes still wet and cold! About 2 or 3 am Japanese girls were waking everyone up, so we could start going up to the Summit to watch the sunrise. I wasn't budging, still in wet clothes, hadn't slept a wink. The girls kept coming back to get us up...yu miss sunrise!!! told my friend, man! I ain't in the army now, I'm not going. Glad I stayed....it was so over cast couldn't see the sunrise anyway. Later on going down the mountain those lil rocks these guy talked about were like small ball bearings. it was harder going down then going up. One guy kept sliding...showing off....the fool almost slid off the path...from then on he stayed on the mountain side away from the edge. Though it sounds like a terrible experience, I've been through worse 12 yrs Army and I'm glad to have had that experience. Several yrs later found myself back in Japan, friends wanted to climb Mt Fuji, told them...been there done that and there is a Japanese saying: “If you never climb Mount Fuji, you're a fool; if you climb it more than once, you're a crazy fool.” All in all, once was enough for me! P.S. at Station 5 you can get Fuji Sticks with Flag and bells and each Station you can get a stamp burned on the stick to show you had reached that station. Beware when you reach the overnight spot, hang on to your stick. most ppl were leaning their sticks against corner walls. before you know it... you won't know who's stick belongs to who. Just make sure you grab a stick, if you hadn't kept yours safe. One more thing, those bells on the sticks, after the first 15 mins on your trek, those bells will drive you crazy, everybody takes those bells off the stick and toss them off the mountain. If you go...HAVE FUN! Loved Japan, The People and Mt Fuji.
I followed the Japanese saying! I climbed it once and never again! Lol! BUT I did the first open season weekend in July and it was snowing , windy, raining , freezing cold! I went with a group of 30 people. 3 women, 27 men. I was the only women who made it to the top, and my husband was only 1 of the 12 men that made it summit with me. It was so brutal!!! But it’s an experience I will never forget! My husband however went on and 2 more climbing seasons later ended up being a Fool and has been up and down summit of MTN. Fuji 10 more times. Haha!
Tokyo Lens yes I really really want to!! I am extremely unprepared though! 😂 I realise just how much now! I was like hiking boots?? I have vans 🤷🏼♀️ hahaha I am in Japan for a month so I do have time! I also didn’t even recognise victor! I’ve watched so many of his videos! Hes the churro guy!! 😂
You can tell its hot and not just by the sweat on Norms forehead but the cicadas in the back ground. Thanks for another informative video and interesting guest. Will for sure climb mount Fuji when I get to Japan.
I look over to a bookcase, and leaning against it is the walking stick, with the brands and 2 red ink stamps on it from my climb back in July 2016. Watching 御来光 (Goraikō) ((I hope I got that right)) from the summit is one of the most amazing experiences of my life. To add to the list I’d say to also bring a large bottle of water with you, some gel energy drinks (to save on weight, you’re not carrying the fluid, you can get a few gel packs and they’re easy to hike back down with), when you buy an item try to by it lower down the mountain because the prices go up the closer to the summit, and use a smaller bottle you can fill from your larger water bottle when you set off for the summit (when you stay in an overnight hut, you can leave some of your items at the hut and collect them on the way down). For the top, you should, of course, bring your camera, small water bottle, bundle up (it was cold up there, even in late July) and just find a good spot facing East.
Wow, looks like a warm day. It's +32 C here in Edmonton, but the humidity is only 21% so not too bad. All really good tips (especially since they are apparently coming from a "fool" who climbed Mt. Fuji more than once!). I never would have thought about the 100 yen coins. Wouldn't want to panhandle in order to use the restrooms! What's my favourite summer sound? Probably the robin who likes to sit on the topmost branch of one of our enormous blue spruces and serenade the neighbourhood. That sound early in the morning or late at night is very evocative of summer for me.
When I was on bot scouts, we climbed Blood Mountain. Near Atlanta, GA on the Apaplachian Trail. On a cleat dsy you could see Stone Mountain, but it was overcast. We stayed in a open stone cabin (no windows or doors) where at the top eere a number of Native American trinkets laying or hanging about. The cabin was full of spiders, and the mountain was named after the blood red clay that would run down when it rained. I also hiked the Ocala National forest while it was still partially still on fire during fire season here in Florida. Being my feet barely survived Inari... Seeing Fuji-san from a far is how it probably will stay.
We just climbed it a month ago and had a similar story. My husband got SUPER altitude sick, and we ended up missing the sunrise at the summit all together. Overall it was still gorgeous!
Ahh climbing Mt.Fuji would be so cool! My two boys LOVE hiking. I hope someday we can visit there someday. These were interesting and great tips. Even for someone not even interested in the topic would find this video interesting and educational.
The fact that you made it down the mountain with a ripped shoe AND broken bone is wild. You’re a far tougher man than me; that sounds like it was exceedingly painful!
I climbed it being 300 pounds lol, although it took me like 14 hours of "climb" and about 6 hours to descend (Most websites say it takes 6 hours to climb 3 to descend) because I went at my own pace (taking long rests whenever needed) BUT in hindsight I definetly do not recommend to do it if you are super out of shape like me, I genuinelly felt like I could have died lol
Every single video that you upload, when i watching it it's transmits me some kind energy to me of some way of positivism and a smile (i dont know why im so excited xD)
Victor without the beard :o I have to get used to this, that surprised me :D But I'm glad to see him again. I missed him. Also, an interesting video even though I'll probably never climb Fuji-san :D
Climbing Mt. Fuji is one of many things I'd like to do. Until then I'll just keep climbing mountains in the Adirondacks. Favorite summer sound is a tie between crickets and rain fall.
"Don"t pull a Norm" haha!! Two friends and I climbed last summer. Was an incredible experience, but so much more difficult to breathe & climb near the top than I expected! Great tips in the video!! We took a portable oxygen air can with us, and it really helped near the top with altitude sickness! (I also had some little oxygen tablets too). Would recommend!
Excellent video, I climbed up to the 7th Station in 2015 and was turned back due to very bad weather. I left Japan before my second attempt. I will try again in 2019. You got yourself a new subs.
Aloha, Very awesome! I used to live at S.Lake Tahoe, California. We had mountains about 8,000 feet or more. There are other tips for high altitude. The tourists would come to Tahoe, ski, drink alcohol, get dehydrated, get fluid in the lungs, and ugh... get very sick. The ears can get messed up too. Never climb with an ear ache. The middle ear, and ear drum can mess you up with altitude building up pressure. It can make you dizzy too. If your ear gets stopped up and desalvoing your ear doesn't work, you can maybe use real sudefed. It isn't ok for everyone though. Do you think your ear condition might have added to the challenge of the hike? Be careful of your ears. Please get better with your toe. Take care, Kai
„Don’t pull a Norm“ good tip in this case! xD I loved the background noise from the cicadas, reminds me of summer :) Now I‘m a bit scared of just that thought of climbing Mt.Fuji, it sounds way harsher than I thought but I somehow really want to climb it at least once in my life!
So I'm in bed, with the flu and sore throat, feeling like shit, and here comes Norm, talking about whatever. And at the end of the video I have a smile from ear to ear, just because. Your cheerfulness (is that a word?) is so contagious! Love it! (Ouch on that toe, though!)
Like I said on Twitter, I had the chance to do the climb a couple of years ago and was lucky enough to be able to see fireworks way way down below when we were taking a short break around the 7th station. It was a magical moment. And it gave me solace later on when I had to sleep crammed into a bed of about 10 other people, half of which who snored, as we rested up for the final climb to the summit for sunrise.
Great video, thanks for sharing Norm! A few of us have been asking about hiking in Japan, so I’m glad we got to hear a bit about it today 😊 I hiked a few mountains while I was there in May but decided to skip Mt Fuji, and I’m glad i did - with those tips in mind, I can now confidently take on the hike next time i head to Japan 😁
with the background noise, there seems to be a sense of urgency with this one. However, it comes across as very sound advice and defintiely something I would reference again should I choose to climb a live volcano
I would recommend doing some sort of exercise at high altitude if at all possible, like a few hour test hike or a run to get acclimated the day before you start. When I did a 10 day hike through the New Mexico Rockies, the day before at base camp didn't help me acclimate much and the first day of real hiking was brutal.
great vid...I climbed Slieve Donard (Northern Ireland ) when I was younger, practically ran up most of the way...but I hobbled down it - feet sore and blistered, knees hurting...good advice Norm for most hill/mountain hiking 🗻
OMG Norm, are you tapping into the KW psychic network? My friend Andrew just suggested that we climb Mount Fuji while we're in Japan next April, and here you are with Victor, helping avoid the noob mistakes. Helpful and entertaining as always.
Favourite sound is the rain ^_^ or waking up early mornings to the sound of birds chittering. Id like to climb mount fuji atleast once for the experiance
Tokyo Lens Taking my bag everywhere, showing it off, and telling everyone about your chnnl! Talking you, Shar, Greg, Emma & Taylor B. up! Love you guys! ❤
Thanks so much for that video. Perfect timing as will try my second attempt in August. (Last year there was a Taifun so we had to give up at 8 station)
I'm in Japan now and really want to climb MT. Fuji but i have no one to go with and I live so far from MT. Fuji. I have all my walking gear except my tent and walking poles as I wasn't allowed it on plane.
I've thought about climbing, and seeing the sunrise would be amazing, but then my sanity resumes - lol. When I was in Kawaguchiko in 2014, it did nothing but rain. You didn't even know Fuji was there. Same area in 2016, and the days started sunny, but then clouded in and rained. Coming from CO where we climb 14ers all summer having to watch out for afternoon thunderstorms, I've always felt Fuji was a supreme challenge, one I'm not ready to take on - yet?
Im going to assume that you are asking about a route! Unfortunately no. The climb is actually quite tough and the higher you get, the more of an actual climb it turns in to. I did see youth and seniors on my trip, but both were quite high-energy. You can take a bus or drive to the 5th station though!
Thanks for the info guys! When I come next year, I am coming with my brother and he is dead set on climbing, I’m going to share this with him so he gets an idea of what to expect. Does it get very cold near the summit?
I would love to climb(walk up) mt. fuji .... If only i was in japan =j My favorite summer sounds is rain falling onto the rooftops... Which incidentally woke me up this morning, not actually rainfall but more like a deluge which hasn't let up for the past hour and a half...still it's nice =j
Wow! This was a great video. Terribly sorry about your toe. 😨I have to admit, I never had a desire to climb Mt. Fuji. However, after seeing this video, I REALLY don't have a desire to climb it. 😂 It was fun to listen to both of your stories and tips though.
Nr 10 Yeah Fuji......I am really hoping that willer express will again offer tours to fuji (like they did for example in Sharlas fuji video) and while this would break the rule of "not using new boots" because you rent them, it would for sure not lessen the experience too much. If they wont offer tours i will still probably try the climb with my own gear and reaaaally take my time and hydrate enough to prevent altitude sickness as much as possible. Maybe we see each other on the summit next year :)
If I ever make it to Japan again I want to climb Mt. Fuji. I didn't get to on the university trip I took. One of my goals is to visit Japan again, and Mt. Fuji is definitely on my list! I would probably do one of the easier trails (I'm not the most sporty of people), but I also like the idea of doing sea-to-summit and taking my time. Like a whole day, or more to do it.
Oh dear, dear me... I was laughing so hard the entire second half of this video...and having flashbacks to the time my brother and I climbed Mauna Kea together. Our failures and experiences were surprisingly similar to yours. thanks for reminding me! 🤣🤣🤣🤣😄😄😄😄 I had altitude issues and he didn't realize and kept trying to make me hurry because we had to get back to Kona by a certain time. Somehow we survived it and are still talking to one another, but a mildly unfit somewhat overweight woman should never climb a mountain in the company of a hyperfit younger male athlete. Talk about not going at your own pace! So, I absolutely agree with you about acclimatization to altitude. It's key. And even knowing that it might be troublesome for me, I still would absolutely love to climb Mt. Fuji.
Favorite things of summer lighting bugs, spray suntan lotion(smells like the beach),thunderstorms and playing in them. Making smores and weiners over a firepit. The smell of neighbors grilling steak. Water fights and walks on the beach at sunset.
lol my simple rule of thumb dont go any bigger than I NEED to memory cards DO fail. I usually stick to 64gb forces me to dump the card sooner. the more space I have, the more potential for loss!
Thanks so much, that makes sense def need bigger than what I have though, prob get 64 gb. And thank you so much for explaining basic settings for me. Your explanation was super easy to understand and gave me a good base to start with!
Sea to summit is not a normal climb It means climbing from the ocean, through the city, up the base, and then the mountain It’s a 3-4 day climb Either way I’d recommend staying in a hut Victor’s Instagram has a lot of great information about this
haha even Mt. Fuji gets crowded on the top? That's crazy. :'D I'm not much of a climber, but an easy route up Mt. Fuji seems doable. Maybe some day! :)
Went up in running shoes, started at 5th station at 8 p.m., no rest, wore a jersey and a windstopper. 1h in it starts to rain, 4h in I rest at some station (prob 8th), soaked and freezing until 3 a.m. Continued to the top in a line and freezing winds and thought to myself that if I stopped, I'd probably die, which would suck. Anyway, didn't see sunrise cause clouds, so I turned around. I emptied my shoes once, then gave up for the rest of descent. Got to 5th at 9 a.m. where a nice lady gave me some miso soup that was the best thing ever. Got back to Tokyo in the afternoon. That was in late September. I'll be the wise man and never climb it again.
Victor helped us film a Mt Fuji video recently.... I WOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT WITHOUT THIS BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN MAN! If my fat-ass can make it up and down, anyone can. Also Loving Clean-shaven Victor.
What are YOUR thoughts on Climbing mt. Fuji? Want to do it? Already did it? No Way!? lol - Let me know in the comments!!
I have also linked a bunch of gear and info in the description box! So feel free to check it out!
AND... Did a podcast episode for this too! bit.ly/2zMDUMN
Tokyo Lens I would love to climb mt.fuji I'm already use to boots because I wear cowboy boots and military combat boots all the time
My failures became a great story of my Mt. Fuji climb.
A night hike where its was rainy/foggy until the the 7th station. Started getting altitude sickness around the 8th or 9th station. Crawled into the closest huts around 11pm then got awoken at 2:30 am to wait in a line to get to the top. No sunrise because it was too foggy. Rained heavily on the way down. I also ran down those zigzag trails to get out of said rain. The pro of climbing at the beginning of the season is not needing to reserve huts but the con is it’s probably going to rain on you.
Tokyo Lens I'd climb in one of those chairs that take you up the mountains. Can't remember what they are called.
Gondola or lift
Would love to climb Mt. Fuji!!!
Aw man, story time. I went to climb Mt Fuji with part of my exchange class a good while back. I was, I thought, in decent shape but not aware of what to expect. Thankfully our teacher took care of us getting started, bus to .5, chill out for a while, got some light rain gear cause a storm was coming in, and of course walking sticks. I didn't have much cash on me though and probably not enough water to start.
The plan was to climb to .8 or .9 sleep, wake up early to catch the sunrise on top so we all knew where to meet. As we started the climb people moved at their own pace a bit and we ended up getting spread out. Climbing the volcanic rock dust is hard. I ended up in the rear with two of the guys and after a bit the sun was starting to set. We realized we were going too slow and figured we should stop at the next inn and then try to hike up the next morning, or wait for our class to come down, but when we got to the .7 inns they were all full. Our only option at dusk in what was turning into a wind storm was to keep climbing.
It took us a long time to get to the next inns. We lost the trail in the dark and ended up following the light to the next station. When we got there we had just enough money to rent bed space for the three of us and get some instant noodles to share. It got very cold, the futons were very thin, and one of the guys was terrified by the raging wind storm. We huddled up and tried to sleep as much as we could.
At dawn there was a lot of fuss as apparently the top of the mountain was closed due to the storm which up top had been a snow storm. Lots of people going down. One of the guys talked to this marine who was on leave and was like 'we should follow him.' As we stumble our way back down I notice the lakes seem to be moving below us to be.. not where they were when we went up. We weren't just going down we were going around too. When we got to the .5 we were on the Tokyo side of Fuji (Having come from Kyoto). We had to wait until our teacher was back in cell service, for him to tell us how to get back to everyone else. Getting back was a challenge as our Japanese was still somewhat minimal and this was before the age of smart phones.
It was a crazy adventure but I will say in some ways we lucked out. Because of the storm the rest of the class was freezing and miserable at the top, but we had a perfect view in the morning of the sky between two layers of clouds. There were even rainbows. It was pretty stunning and I do hope to go back again one day with my partner and actually make it to the top.
TLDR: Got Lost with classmates and ended up on the wrong side of the mountain after getting caught in the dark in a storm.
If you read that block of text, nice job and thanks ^.^
amazing story~ Thank you
I attempted my first climb of Mt Fuji this year. I ascended on the 5th of July. Due to bad weather, I was advised not to climb any further than the seventh station. I was told the wind is so bad, I may get blown off the trail. The view was blocked by a thick layer of cloud, but I found the mountain to be stunningly beautiful. I am overweight and almost never exercise, so I found the climb exhausting. I was shocked when people younger, fitter and faster than me gave up. I found the climb exhilarating. It took 3 hours to climb from the fifth station to the seventh station, but felt like 30 minutes.
It was a wonderful experience. The beds at 7th station are warm and comfortable. The ramen was the most delicious I have ever eaten. It was pure ambrosia.
My one personal tip is actually to look into equipment rental rather than trying to bring your own. When I went I rented a kit that included everything from super solid (and broken in) boots to a big water proof bag/backpack to climbing poles. (Willer Express were the ones who I did my climb with and they included a kit rental option)
I climbed Mt. Fuji for my 50th. I climbed the Subashiri trail, but didn't realize until now that it was one of the harder ones... I just thought it was hard for me! I chose that one because my brother was a tour guide for years and that was the trail he took. I made it up - slowly. I was passed by so many people, including a man who had a camera man following him. On the way down, I slipped on the rocks and sprained my ankle so my boyfriend had to help me down. Suggestion - bring an extra pair of hiking socks for the way down. The ones I wore on the way up were nasty so I changed in to a pair of regular socks and got blisters on the way down.
I would LOVE to climb Mt. Fuji some day!I enjoy hiking so much. And I definitely know how important pace can be. One brutal summer (108 heat index in humid Alabama, USA) 5 friends and I went backpacking. BUT instead of hiking back out the next morning, someone decided to take the loop of around 10 miles (maybe?) and then walk back to our cars. Unfortunately, someone got sick (from bad water) and we almost didn't make it back before dark. Not good with spotty cell service to say the least. We made it back tired, dehydrated, and covered in poison oak... and seed ticks. I wouldn't trade the experience though. It will always be one we remember!
It's hard to pick one favourite summer sound, there's so many! I really love the sound of water rippling against a rowing boat, the cries of arctic loons on a lake and several different bird sounds (my favourites are a sound of a cuckoo, whooper swan and a trush nightingale). And of course the ambient sounds that exists in the summery nature.
Climbing mt. fuji is absolutely one of my bucket list items! Thanks for the tips!
_SEVEN TIMES is absolutely incredible! I'm so impressed! These tips are great, I've climbed it once and it was definitely worth having coins when you come up, I was SO thankful to have those hot chocolate cans at the top!_
I am planning on travelling to Japan and ascend Fuji this coming summer. Thanks for the nice and informative video!
Out of all the things that I'd like to do, when I visit Japan for the first time, climbing Mt. Fuji is top 3 priority (next to onsen and best ramen). I love mountains, I've climbed almost all the Tatra mountains in Poland a few years ago
Climbed Mt Fuji early '80's ran into a big storm around Sta 7....but needed to get to Sta 8 where we was to stay overnight. it was pitch black out, couldn't see hardly anything in front of us. the wind swept rain/sleet didn't help at all. after a while all we could see was lights from Sta 8 Huts. it was now thundering and lightning, could not see the trail now. so we just crawled/climbed/trekked straight up towards the Hut Lights at Sta 8. We were the last to get to the Hut from our group. We were soak and wet freezing too. many had gone to sleep in the bunks, rest was hunkered around a fire pit. About the time we got close enough to the fire to warm up, most everyone went to sleep.
There wasn't enough bunks to go around, so us unlucky ones had to sleep on a wooden floor near kitchen section. heck maybe it was the kitchen!! We were bunched like matchsticks, I couldn't sleep at all, clothes still wet and cold! About 2 or 3 am Japanese girls were waking everyone up, so we could start going up to the Summit to watch the sunrise. I wasn't budging, still in wet clothes, hadn't slept a wink. The girls kept coming back to get us up...yu miss sunrise!!! told my friend, man! I ain't in the army now, I'm not going. Glad I stayed....it was so over cast couldn't see the sunrise anyway. Later on going down the mountain those lil rocks these guy talked about were like small ball bearings. it was harder going down then going up. One guy kept sliding...showing off....the fool almost slid off the path...from then on he stayed on the mountain side away from the edge.
Though it sounds like a terrible experience, I've been through worse 12 yrs Army and I'm glad to have had that experience. Several yrs later found myself back in Japan, friends wanted to climb Mt Fuji, told them...been there done that and there is a Japanese saying: “If you never climb Mount Fuji, you're a fool; if you climb it more than once, you're a crazy fool.” All in all, once was enough for me! P.S. at Station 5 you can get Fuji Sticks with Flag and bells and each Station you can get a stamp burned on the stick to show you had reached that station. Beware when you reach the overnight spot, hang on to your stick. most ppl were leaning their sticks against corner walls. before you know it... you won't know who's stick belongs to who. Just make sure you grab a stick, if you hadn't kept yours safe. One more thing, those bells on the sticks, after the first 15 mins on your trek, those bells will drive you crazy, everybody takes those bells off the stick and toss them off the mountain. If you go...HAVE FUN! Loved Japan, The People and Mt Fuji.
I followed the Japanese saying! I climbed it once and never again! Lol! BUT I did the first open season weekend in July and it was snowing , windy, raining , freezing cold! I went with a group of 30 people. 3 women, 27 men. I was the only women who made it to the top, and my husband was only 1 of the 12 men that made it summit with me. It was so brutal!!! But it’s an experience I will never forget!
My husband however went on and 2 more climbing seasons later ended up being a Fool and has been up and down summit of MTN. Fuji 10 more times. Haha!
This could not have come at a better time!! 🙌🏻
You are the best Norm!!
thats amazing! Are you planning to climb?
Tokyo Lens yes I really really want to!! I am extremely unprepared though! 😂 I realise just how much now! I was like hiking boots?? I have vans 🤷🏼♀️ hahaha
I am in Japan for a month so I do have time!
I also didn’t even recognise victor! I’ve watched so many of his videos! Hes the churro guy!! 😂
You can tell its hot and not just by the sweat on Norms forehead but the cicadas in the back ground. Thanks for another informative video and interesting guest. Will for sure climb mount Fuji when I get to Japan.
lol yea it was about 35 Celcius when we were recording this haha
a bit of a warm day!
I'm glad you made a video on this ! My dream is to climb Mt. Fuji and this is very helpful !
Great Video, useful Tips if i ever get the Chance to climb Mt. Fuji i will definetly keep them in mind.
You always share the most interesting adventures that you have! this one is Awesome!
Thank you Caren!
Hey I tweeted a couple Questions to you lol, somethings I have been curious on lol
DEFINATELY bookmarking this video. Doing the sea to summit Mt. Fuji hike is actually one of my bucket list things to do xD.
hope it helps!
Great tips mate. I'm climbing May 4th, in the off season, all in one day. Hope we find good weather, looking forward to it :)
I look over to a bookcase, and leaning against it is the walking stick, with the brands and 2 red ink stamps on it from my climb back in July 2016. Watching 御来光 (Goraikō) ((I hope I got that right)) from the summit is one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
To add to the list I’d say to also bring a large bottle of water with you, some gel energy drinks (to save on weight, you’re not carrying the fluid, you can get a few gel packs and they’re easy to hike back down with), when you buy an item try to by it lower down the mountain because the prices go up the closer to the summit, and use a smaller bottle you can fill from your larger water bottle when you set off for the summit (when you stay in an overnight hut, you can leave some of your items at the hut and collect them on the way down). For the top, you should, of course, bring your camera, small water bottle, bundle up (it was cold up there, even in late July) and just find a good spot facing East.
Wow, looks like a warm day. It's +32 C here in Edmonton, but the humidity is only 21% so not too bad.
All really good tips (especially since they are apparently coming from a "fool" who climbed Mt. Fuji more than once!). I never would have thought about the 100 yen coins. Wouldn't want to panhandle in order to use the restrooms!
What's my favourite summer sound? Probably the robin who likes to sit on the topmost branch of one of our enormous blue spruces and serenade the neighbourhood. That sound early in the morning or late at night is very evocative of summer for me.
Wish I had Victors Tenacity! I dont think Ill do a second climb lol
Sooo helpful! Climbing Fuji this year!
Amazing! I hope its an awesome climb!
When I was on bot scouts, we climbed Blood Mountain. Near Atlanta, GA on the Apaplachian Trail. On a cleat dsy you could see Stone Mountain, but it was overcast. We stayed in a open stone cabin (no windows or doors) where at the top eere a number of Native American trinkets laying or hanging about. The cabin was full of spiders, and the mountain was named after the blood red clay that would run down when it rained. I also hiked the Ocala National forest while it was still partially still on fire during fire season here in Florida. Being my feet barely survived Inari... Seeing Fuji-san from a far is how it probably will stay.
The subtle sounds of cicadas in the background 😊
love it so much!
We just climbed it a month ago and had a similar story. My husband got SUPER altitude sick, and we ended up missing the sunrise at the summit all together. Overall it was still gorgeous!
Ahh climbing Mt.Fuji would be so cool! My two boys LOVE hiking. I hope someday we can visit there someday. These were interesting and great tips. Even for someone not even interested in the topic would find this video interesting and educational.
The fact that you made it down the mountain with a ripped shoe AND broken bone is wild. You’re a far tougher man than me; that sounds like it was exceedingly painful!
My favourite summer sound is hearing all of the birds singing. It's like nature's choir.
Thanks super helpful - climbing on the 14th of August, really looking forward to it x
I would love to climb Mt. Fuji! I'm so out of shape though, so maybe later in the future haha!
I climbed it being 300 pounds lol, although it took me like 14 hours of "climb" and about 6 hours to descend (Most websites say it takes 6 hours to climb 3 to descend) because I went at my own pace (taking long rests whenever needed) BUT in hindsight I definetly do not recommend to do it if you are super out of shape like me, I genuinelly felt like I could have died lol
Every single video that you upload, when i watching it it's transmits me some kind energy to me of some way of positivism and a smile (i dont know why im so excited xD)
Victor without the beard :o I have to get used to this, that surprised me :D But I'm glad to see him again. I missed him.
Also, an interesting video even though I'll probably never climb Fuji-san :D
lol yea it was odd to see~
Climbing Mt. Fuji is one of many things I'd like to do. Until then I'll just keep climbing mountains in the Adirondacks.
Favorite summer sound is a tie between crickets and rain fall.
"Don"t pull a Norm" haha!! Two friends and I climbed last summer. Was an incredible experience, but so much more difficult to breathe & climb near the top than I expected! Great tips in the video!! We took a portable oxygen air can with us, and it really helped near the top with altitude sickness! (I also had some little oxygen tablets too). Would recommend!
Excellent video, I climbed up to the 7th Station in 2015 and was turned back due to very bad weather. I left Japan before my second attempt. I will try again in 2019. You got yourself a new subs.
Aloha, Very awesome! I used to live at S.Lake Tahoe, California. We had mountains about 8,000 feet or more. There are other tips for high altitude. The tourists would come to Tahoe, ski, drink alcohol, get dehydrated, get fluid in the lungs, and ugh... get very sick. The ears can get messed up too. Never climb with an ear ache. The middle ear, and ear drum can mess you up with altitude building up pressure. It can make you dizzy too. If your ear gets stopped up and desalvoing your ear doesn't work, you can maybe use real sudefed. It isn't ok for everyone though. Do you think your ear condition might have added to the challenge of the hike? Be careful of your ears. Please get better with your toe.
Take care, Kai
Thinking about doing it now. Thx for the tips
That's a lot of helpful tips ❤✌🏻
I had horrible altitude sickness climbing Mt Fuji...wish i had had these pro tips!
All good tips. Thank you!
„Don’t pull a Norm“ good tip in this case! xD I loved the background noise from the cicadas, reminds me of summer :) Now I‘m a bit scared of just that thought of climbing Mt.Fuji, it sounds way harsher than I thought but I somehow really want to climb it at least once in my life!
So I'm in bed, with the flu and sore throat, feeling like shit, and here comes Norm, talking about whatever. And at the end of the video I have a smile from ear to ear, just because. Your cheerfulness (is that a word?) is so contagious! Love it! (Ouch on that toe, though!)
youre too kind~ thank you
Like I said on Twitter, I had the chance to do the climb a couple of years ago and was lucky enough to be able to see fireworks way way down below when we were taking a short break around the 7th station. It was a magical moment. And it gave me solace later on when I had to sleep crammed into a bed of about 10 other people, half of which who snored, as we rested up for the final climb to the summit for sunrise.
What an awesome video! Great tips 👍🏻
Thank you for the information. Looking to climb Mt. Fuji 2021.
Great video, thanks for sharing Norm! A few of us have been asking about hiking in Japan, so I’m glad we got to hear a bit about it today 😊 I hiked a few mountains while I was there in May but decided to skip Mt Fuji, and I’m glad i did - with those tips in mind, I can now confidently take on the hike next time i head to Japan 😁
with the background noise, there seems to be a sense of urgency with this one. However, it comes across as very sound advice and defintiely something I would reference again should I choose to climb a live volcano
I'm from Alaska so I am used to crazy climbs, but that sounds fun and you should totally do it again!
Don't pull a NORM! Awesome! lol Great video. Victor's Instagram is amazing, your amazing ....thanks for this Norm!
I would recommend doing some sort of exercise at high altitude if at all possible, like a few hour test hike or a run to get acclimated the day before you start. When I did a 10 day hike through the New Mexico Rockies, the day before at base camp didn't help me acclimate much and the first day of real hiking was brutal.
Great Video! Definitely will be using these tips
fantastic!
Thanks for the tips! I definitely want to climb Mt Fuji.
Notification squad: *smash that like button!!!*
Love you Norm, haha.
lol killing me haha
Tokyo Lens We’re never letting it die Norm. Just accept it 😂😂😂
Please advise on booking a hut for the night stay...
great vid...I climbed Slieve Donard (Northern Ireland ) when I was younger, practically ran up most of the way...but I hobbled down it - feet sore and blistered, knees hurting...good advice Norm for most hill/mountain hiking 🗻
OMG Norm, are you tapping into the KW psychic network? My friend Andrew just suggested that we climb Mount Fuji while we're in Japan next April, and here you are with Victor, helping avoid the noob mistakes. Helpful and entertaining as always.
lol that is amazing...
Can you climb in October. Will be there for the rugby World Cup and want to do it between matches
i've been waiting for this video for a while
glad i could put it out!
Favourite sound is the rain ^_^ or waking up early mornings to the sound of birds chittering. Id like to climb mount fuji atleast once for the experiance
My sticker and tote-bag arrived!
Omg it's so cute! 💜 I love it!
You need one in reversed colors. Black with white print. 👍
I like that idea!
Tokyo Lens Taking my bag everywhere, showing it off, and telling everyone about your chnnl!
Talking you, Shar, Greg, Emma & Taylor B. up!
Love you guys! ❤
Thanks so much for that video. Perfect timing as will try my second attempt in August. (Last year there was a Taifun so we had to give up at 8 station)
Great tips. I plan to climb when I turn 50.
I'm in Japan now and really want to climb MT. Fuji but i have no one to go with and I live so far from MT. Fuji.
I have all my walking gear except my tent and walking poles as I wasn't allowed it on plane.
I live vicariously. I climb mountains, take great photos and play a mean shamisen. All vicariously😁
What are your thoughts about hiking Mt. Fuji in December? Even if you don't make it to the summit, can you still do some hiking?
very good to know thanks for that Norm and victor :)
I've wondered why no one has meantioned altitude sickness in other videos.
I love your videos so so much! And I hope to see more from you two, too. Much love from Germany
thank you so much jessi!
so much more to come~
Tokyo Lens can't wait for it :)
I dont think I will ever climb Mt Fuji because of my health but it's still cool to hear about. I'll definitely have to check out Victors instagram.
I've thought about climbing, and seeing the sunrise would be amazing, but then my sanity resumes - lol. When I was in Kawaguchiko in 2014, it did nothing but rain. You didn't even know Fuji was there. Same area in 2016, and the days started sunny, but then clouded in and rained. Coming from CO where we climb 14ers all summer having to watch out for afternoon thunderstorms, I've always felt Fuji was a supreme challenge, one I'm not ready to take on - yet?
So is there a senior section?
senior section? Like a route?
Tokyo Lens Oo! O would love to hear about that, I want to take my mother.
Im going to assume that you are asking about a route!
Unfortunately no. The climb is actually quite tough and the higher you get, the more of an actual climb it turns in to. I did see youth and seniors on my trip, but both were quite high-energy. You can take a bus or drive to the 5th station though!
I'd love to climb Mt. Fuji one day. These are great tips, and things that you usually don't think about when you're going to climb. ❤
@@TokyoLens How far above the 5th station does it change from a walk/hike to an actual climb?
Thanks for the info guys! When I come next year, I am coming with my brother and he is dead set on climbing, I’m going to share this with him so he gets an idea of what to expect. Does it get very cold near the summit?
I would love to climb(walk up) mt. fuji .... If only i was in japan =j
My favorite summer sounds is rain falling onto the rooftops... Which incidentally woke me up this morning, not actually rainfall but more like a deluge which hasn't let up for the past hour and a half...still it's nice =j
nice choice~
I love the summer thunderstorms
The dry ones, without rain lol
Wow! This was a great video. Terribly sorry about your toe. 😨I have to admit, I never had a desire to climb Mt. Fuji. However, after seeing this video, I REALLY don't have a desire to climb it. 😂 It was fun to listen to both of your stories and tips though.
Nr 10
Yeah Fuji......I am really hoping that willer express will again offer tours to fuji (like they did for example in Sharlas fuji video) and while this would break the rule of "not using new boots" because you rent them, it would for sure not lessen the experience too much. If they wont offer tours i will still probably try the climb with my own gear and reaaaally take my time and hydrate enough to prevent altitude sickness as much as possible. Maybe we see each other on the summit next year :)
If I ever make it to Japan again I want to climb Mt. Fuji. I didn't get to on the university trip I took. One of my goals is to visit Japan again, and Mt. Fuji is definitely on my list! I would probably do one of the easier trails (I'm not the most sporty of people), but I also like the idea of doing sea-to-summit and taking my time. Like a whole day, or more to do it.
The vlogs are getting more extreme I swear climbing a mountain lol love the vlogs btw ❤
I'm thinking about climbing it 15 November (tomorrow) from Fuji Azami Line 5th station. What do you think? Is this road even open this time of year?
Don’t think you can mate
Did you get a permit!
It’s out of season now
Climbing season for Fuji is finished
Oh dear, dear me... I was laughing so hard the entire second half of this video...and having flashbacks to the time my brother and I climbed Mauna Kea together. Our failures and experiences were surprisingly similar to yours. thanks for reminding me! 🤣🤣🤣🤣😄😄😄😄 I had altitude issues and he didn't realize and kept trying to make me hurry because we had to get back to Kona by a certain time. Somehow we survived it and are still talking to one another, but a mildly unfit somewhat overweight woman should never climb a mountain in the company of a hyperfit younger male athlete. Talk about not going at your own pace!
So, I absolutely agree with you about acclimatization to altitude. It's key. And even knowing that it might be troublesome for me, I still would absolutely love to climb Mt. Fuji.
Loved this video too !
Thank you~
I definitely would want to do that.
Favorite things of summer lighting bugs, spray suntan lotion(smells like the beach),thunderstorms and playing in them. Making smores and weiners over a firepit. The smell of neighbors grilling steak. Water fights and walks on the beach at sunset.
In your opinion what would be the drawback if any of getting the 256 GB version of the memory card you recommend? I have a Canon EOS T6 Rebel
lol
my simple rule of thumb
dont go any bigger than I NEED to
memory cards DO fail.
I usually stick to 64gb
forces me to dump the card sooner.
the more space I have, the more potential for loss!
Thanks so much, that makes sense def need bigger than what I have though, prob get 64 gb. And thank you so much for explaining basic settings for me. Your explanation was super easy to understand and gave me a good base to start with!
Well this might be useful if I ever climb a mountain. Thanks for bringing in cool people.
thanks for joining!
I would love to climb Mt. Fuji. I don't think I'll be able anytime soon, but maybe one day
fingers crossed~
Wind chimes in summer!
me too!!
Which toe did you break? My senior year of high school, I broke my smallest toe on my left foot.
big toe. it sucked. lol
Victor!! Glad you featured him. You should climb with him next month. Haha :D
lol Meg... you know thats not going to happen lol
great tips, thanks!
I hope to learn English to understand you as required because your channel really wonderful
thats so sweet of you
thank you~
What a good tips !
Just watch this video and loved it. Sea to summit? Can that be done in one day? Or should I stay in a hut and finish it the following day?
Sea to summit is not a normal climb
It means climbing from the ocean, through the city, up the base, and then the mountain
It’s a 3-4 day climb
Either way I’d recommend staying in a hut
Victor’s Instagram has a lot of great information about this
I'm going to be in Japan in two days! :D Hope to bump into you. :D
fingers crossed!!
I would say, because some of my friends didn't know, bring winter clothing. It's 0°C up there.
haha even Mt. Fuji gets crowded on the top? That's crazy. :'D
I'm not much of a climber, but an easy route up Mt. Fuji seems doable. Maybe some day! :)
insanely crowded. like the last hundred meters will take an hour or so to climb lol
Would love to see a video of both of you guys going on the climb together as a team! :D
You could be like the Ice Climbers except rock climbers. lol
That's great idea. Maybe Norm can do it again if he has a pro guide :D
lol fantastic Idea. But I dont see myself ever ending up climbing Fuji again lol
Went up in running shoes, started at 5th station at 8 p.m., no rest, wore a jersey and a windstopper. 1h in it starts to rain, 4h in I rest at some station (prob 8th), soaked and freezing until 3 a.m. Continued to the top in a line and freezing winds and thought to myself that if I stopped, I'd probably die, which would suck. Anyway, didn't see sunrise cause clouds, so I turned around. I emptied my shoes once, then gave up for the rest of descent. Got to 5th at 9 a.m. where a nice lady gave me some miso soup that was the best thing ever. Got back to Tokyo in the afternoon. That was in late September. I'll be the wise man and never climb it again.
"...I'd probably die, which would suck"
This is my favorite quote
Victor helped us film a Mt Fuji video recently.... I WOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT WITHOUT THIS BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN MAN!
If my fat-ass can make it up and down, anyone can.
Also Loving Clean-shaven Victor.
Much love back, pudding
Victor looks sooooo young here!!!!