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Hiking Mt. Fuji
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2013/4/9 01:41
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Hi! I'm thinking of climbing Mount Fuji in the beginning of May. Has anyone done that at this time of the year and can give some advice? How about conditions of the route and weather? Is is possible to hike through the night to reach the summit around sunrise in May? Or would that be too dangerous? Any advice will be appreciated! Thanks, Ralph
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by ralphfromberlin
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Re: Hiking Mt. Fuji
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2013/4/9 09:43
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In May the top of Fuji is still covered in snow, so you really shouldn't attempt this unless you are an experienced mountain climber.
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by yllwsmrf
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Re: Hiking Mt. Fuji
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2013/4/11 04:25
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I've climbed it in March and May. March was winter conditions. Beginning of May was a lot different. For safety you would need an ice-axe minimum in case you have to cross ice and hard snow. The time I went up in May, I carried an ice axe, crampons, and a bivy bag but didn't need any of them, but conditions vary a lot at that time of year. You would also need layered warm clothing. Wind chill can make it nasty at the top and there's no place for shelter except behind one of the closed shops along the trail. Weather can change fast so go equipped for the worst.
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by Anaguma (guest)
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Re: Hiking Mt. Fuji
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2013/4/11 11:02
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In addition to what aganuma has mentioned, the weather changes may include a freezing rain that makes walking on the volcanic scree an interesting challenge at times. The view is not that great since visibility will almost certainly be limited. Once you get above the cloud cover you may not see anything except for the cloud tops horizon to horizon.
A better hike may be Tanzawa at that time of year. Not as far from Tokyo and if you choose to spend a night you will have a better chance of finding a campsite with reasonable cover.
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by WSlifko
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Re: Hiking Mt. Fuji
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2013/4/11 20:58
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I've only climbed Fuji in February, July and September, but as previous responders have indicated, May conditions are a bit of a wild card. There might be snow/ice, there may not. Two or three years ago there was still snow in June. Just in case, you should have solid climbing experience using crampons and an axe without guidance, along with the self-sufficiency to make good survival decisions in a harsh environment. If you don't feel confident of this, I strongly recommend either refraining from climbing in May, or hiring a professional guide.
High-force winds are always a danger on Fuji, especially outside of the official climbing season, so regardless of snow/ice, you should check wind forecasts before going.
I believe Sato-goya at the fifth station of the Fuji-Yoshida route is the only mountain hut open in the off season, so that may be a good path to take for a bit of extra security. However you would need to call Sato-san ahead of time to confirm if he will be open the day you go. I don't know if he speaks English, but he's an all-around nice guy.
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by Kseye (guest)
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