Japan - Mt.Fuji

Looks like a simple mountain, but Mt.Fuji is nothing usual.  One of the highest free stand mountain in the world - the weather is a constant battle, the gradient of the slope causes easy exhaustion, the strong wind which can blow a human away, there is no cover the whole way means sun exposure is extreme. However, Mt.Fuji is a most climbed mountain with more than 300,000 climbers each year.

I choose the most popular Yoshida Trail. Not the longest nor the shortest trail from the north east corner, it is brighter if sunny and start at the 5th station which is at 2300M height.  The reason is I am climbing alone and want to complete the summit and down in a single day.  The normal climb takes 2 days 1 night as most climbers want to experience the sun rise.  I prefer to climb at day time so that I can enjoy the view all the way up and down.

Fuji-San, view from Kawaguchiko, Aug 2011.

It was a perfect day, clear and sunny.  I was real lucky as Mt.Fuji weather is famous for un-predictable. From Kawaguchiko Rail Station, I took the 7.20am bus to the Fuji Subaru 5th Station.  Once arrived, I started the climb right away at 8.30am.

The first section before the 6th station was easy with covered forest, making it very pleasant with lot of green and fast as there is no wind here.  I was ahead of schedule for 30mins.

From 6th to 7th station, it is all zigzag trail.  Some more, this is not a natural trail as it is a man-made trail.  The trail is covered with small rock, in which in my opinion is hiker worst nightmare as it could hurt ankles easily.  I prefer solid ground as it helps to balance my body weight.  I took the same amount of time as the guideline, and almost exhausted as I needed to stop every 5 minutes to adjust to the altitude.

Mt.Fuji 7th station onward, Aug 2011.

The gradient of the slope is one of the toughest kind - 45degree. Addon the strong chill wind and sun the same time (absolutely no cover), makes 4 death before climbing season start. 

From the 7th station onward, the trail is with volcanic rock - sharp and steep making it required hand to climb.  This section is the toughest as steep altitude, narrow trail, dangerous as no mistake allowed.  If not, it will definitely get hurt.  It took me more than the usual time to get to the 8th station, I am merely making my schedule.

Mt.Fuji 8th Station at 3250M, Aug 2011.

The higher I got, the more I needed to stop and adjust to the altitude and catch my breath.  Once past 8th station, there is no turning back. For a short height of 700M, it took 2 hours to cover from 8th to 9th and 9th station to the summit.  I passed the final Torii Gate at 2.23pm.

Mt.Fuji Torii Gate, Aug 2011.

Mt.Fuji Summit, Aug 2011.

On the summit, it is like a little city and even got vending machine for drink.  Below the row of souvenir shops, it lays the crater.  It is allowed to hike around the crater, about 1.5 hours.  Well, Mt.Fuji it is an active volcano but "low risk".  There are two more little hills behind, but the view is better around for photograph. I took my time with all the photos.  Then, I took a seat, enjoy the view, have my sandwich, drink my little can of coffee I braught all the way up.  Still enjoy my coffee anytime and everywhere I go :-)! Having the best time of my life.

Mt.Fuji Summit, Aug 2011.

As the way up, I didn't feel my legs, ankles nor feet hurt.  And yoga training help with the breathing on high altitude.  But on the way down, the going down trail is worse.  As I needed to keep up with the speed to reach the foothill before sun down.  First, I used my left leg a lot when I hike up and I can feel the ligament is pulling when I hike down.  Then, I used my right leg a lot and the 4th tose on my right foot got a big blister, break and the whole skin tear off.  Last, the 3rd tose on my left foot, the nail is bruise.  I keep going till I got to the starting point at 5.30pm.

Well, it is worth it for Mt.Fuji.  My sock has a big hole, my boot is completely out.   My legs, ankles and feet are totally not mine. Hey, but I am safe and mission completed!

After note - I realise how fortunate and lucky I was, daring to climb Mt.Fuji alone.  With the number of death and injury, on top, the cost to be moved down the mountain is huge if it ever happen.  After I completed the climb, only I thought of all the consequences that could have happened.  I was alone, with no special equipment, no water or wind proof jacket, not even grove.  I just climb, as I love it!

Sepilok RainForest Discovery Centre (RDC)

Is it a myth?  Not really.  If you were me, growing up next to a 400+hectars of the oldest (150 million year old) virgin equatorial rainforest in the world, then living with nature is not a myth.

The Sepilok RDC, previously for many years when I was a kid, was served as the backbone to the nursery of the forest department of Ministry of Forest in Sabah.  It had, still has, a big pond, which was used as the reservoir for the workers live around there.  Well, for some, was a fishing pond, now a beautiful lake.  A 400+hectares of rainforest, now with many marked trails; a forestry school/college for the rangers, now as part of the University of Sabah; a research department with many international programs where many came here to research the rainforest. Also near by, the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabitation Centre.  Now, RDC is the most famous ground to watch birds migration too.

I had been there countless times, still going there every time I go home.  Every time, there is something new.

April 30, 2011, I am determined to hike to see the Sepilok Giant. Sepilok Giant is a Yellow Seraya tree which is 800-1000 year old, height with 65 meters like a 19 storey building, girth 7M with a 2.2M diameter.  Total to around 28 tonnes. This is the biggest tree in the reserve.

In the morning, I saw a flock (counted around 10) of Oriental Pied Hornbill flying through my own front yard, a good sign since the birds are in migration.  In the afternoon, walk over, it was a real quiet day, low season.  Paid the fee, got the map and start the trail.  The reserve now is having so many trails that we can have many bypass. Sepilok Giant is in the middle bypass, it takes 45mins hike to get to the tree.

It was a nice hike and I spent 2 hours going around the 3-4KM of the trails.  Also promising myself, I will do a full day program with the full outer loops of trek to the Hornbill Tower , when I am home next time.

Entrance to RDC, Apr2011.

Map of the treks in RDC, Apr2011.

The oldest virgin rain forest in the world, 150 million year old.

Sepilok Giant - the largest tree in the Sepilok Forest Reserve,

 5th largest tree in the tropical rainforest.

Every journey starts with the 1st thought!

For the longest time I wanted to start my own travel blog, but I always thought I am not that good a writter after all. And I get pretty emotional whenever I read or write.  So, I have always reluctant because I am not so sure what so much to write.  On top, I have done most of my traveling already.  It is more the time to go back to work more than any other things.

Then, a couple days ago, I was reading a friend's blog.  His blog only have photoes and captions. But the blog has really described his journey well and I enjoy it.  So, it makes me go back to review the photoes for my very 1st epic journey in which I backpacked.

I realize that even my journeys might be over, but I can still blog about the most interesting aspect of traveling, the people I met along the journey.  They are the jewels, forever and will not be changed because of the moment of caption with me and them.

Thus, from here on, it is the journey to tell their stories, food, culture and most of all, the memories they had given me. :-)

Herve, thanks for making me realizing the thought!