the end.

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July 22, 2007

today is just absolutely gorgeous!

just got back from climbing mt. fuji with aga.

we started out at 10pm taking a total of about 6.5 hrs to reach the top, stopping 1.5-2 hrs at the rest stops inbetween mostly because we didn't want to wait at the top; which is freezing if you didn't know.

oh yeah, and it was pouring rain and windy as hell ;P BUT there was one really nice moment when the clouds parted and you could see the stars, twas nice.

not much to say except that i've been up for about 26 hrs, and still running on a bit of an o2 high.

all in all, glad neither of us had altitude sickness, and glad we both got to finally do it.

we're both alive, in one piece, well minus the times i 'died' about 11.5 times and her 5.5 times (slipping on the rocks, and falling on our arses), i swear my ankles and knees are completely shot..., and the time when we completely went off trail with a group of japanese tourists and a veteran climber (3 times she said), but eventually forged our way back!

but despite the rain and wind, we got to see a sunrise and a feeling of accomplishment... and finding that there is a post office at the TOP of mt. fuji.

you've got to be kidding me.

but as we made our way down, and an interesting sense of comradery overcame most everyone on that mountain. that we were all bound into this one crazy idea that `hey, we can scale mount fuji!` whether it be coming to the top together with the veterans, the hardcore groups who are dressed from head to toe with rain gear and head lamps and full rucksacks, or greeting each other on the way down from the youngest of children to the oldest of grandparents, to the other foreigners and the japanese self-defense force (who are prime examples of politeness and respect for those older than you), or from returning from your all night trek and seeing all the eager faces tackle the monumental task that you just finished not so long ago.

there was this genuine-ness of everyone's personalities and demeaner that put nothing but the largest grin on my face as i realize that i truly am going to miss all of this as the days roll down.

and finally after the long journey back, i parted ways with my white k-swisses, the shoes that have been with me for the last two years, who have seen just as much as i have, who have climbed the great wall, scaled the temples of angkor, walked along the streets of thailand, and back again, have been retired into a bin outside of fujinoimya station labeled `burnable.` perhaps the only real fitting end.

Posted by Jeff at July 22, 2007 01:05 PM

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