Some commentators will regret Geeklawyer’s visit was accident free. Not so much as a turned ankle. More perturbing was the earthquake that shook, no rocks landed on his head and the earth moved for women around him.
Mount Fuji is hard climb of that there is no doubt. It is some 3776 metres to the summit and Geeklawyer felt each and every damned metre. But he did, at least, make it while many don’t; those many months hillwalking in the UK paid some dividend.
Some of the difficulty was down to the rucksack load Geeklawyer chose. He had been told incorrectly that no water or food was available on the mountain, so he calculated for 24 hours of needs: lots of food & 9.5litres of fluid to combat 85 degree heat and 90% humidity - even discounting high altitude. In the end the pack was about 40 pounds all in. It turns out to have been a disastrous miscalculation and some bad information: food & water was available at the top five stations (rest huts) on the mountain: it was merely expensive. Geeklawyer has done some tough trekking but this damned near killed him: he carried the 40 pounds up about 2000 metres before deciding to give away half the pack to grateful Japanese nearby.
20 hours of climbing later, much of it done at night so as to hit the top by dawn, as Japanese religious tradition requires, Geeklawyer arrived. The guidance reckons around 11 to 12 hours from the base of the mountain so he was a little below par, but those 20 hours includes 5 hours sleeping at station eight at 3000 metres. And, mind you, that figure is arrived at by timing Japanese grannies, who all seem to sprint up the hill carrying their own bodyweight in supplies, so not too shabby.
While up the mountain Geeklawyer even met a very sweet Australian chick who expressed the desire for Geeklawyer to keep her company on the ascent. Geeklawyer wasn’t sure what to make of this: a) a hot Australian chick, and b) one who didn’t run away screaming notwithstanding the obstacle of the life affirming ascent needed to make good an escape. Perhaps she was mad? Perhaps he should rebuff her firmly. Still, he thought, never screw someone on the way up - you may need them on the way down. She retired from the mountain with her honour and sanity intact. Not many women can say that. Thanks Ailsa.
A once in a lifetime event he can’t wait to repeat. Was the view worth the effort?
More Mount Fuji pics here.
Good effort…. like the flag.
Impressive climb - You have boldly gone where no UK blogger has gone before. The authorities must be fairly pleased that you are sitting on top of a mountain!
Enjoyed the post.. restraint can be a many splendoured thing
Woo-hoo, very impressive climb, love the photos…moobs less evident in this one
Right. The harem will get a private photo as definitive proof of moobless-ness. Now, harem, shut the fuck up.
When did I become harem-laydee?
Is there not an initiation first?!?
You are lucky to have missed out on the initiation. Mine led to a short spell in Maudsley and I am still suffering terrible nightmares.
You became Harem Lady when I bought you from your father for a donkey, a parrot and a 1976 Suzuki moped (with bad gearbox).
the view is breathtaking…
are you still in contact with the Australian lass?
Emailed her today to let her know where pictures are. She may or may not find the blog - not very techy so I doubt it.
That is soooo beautiful! Did you meditate atop Fuji? Tell me it is so.
I did meditate lo-fi:
Or more specifically I prayed at the shrine at the top. You may decide for yourself the topic of prayer: “How do I make money out of this?“, “Dear Buddha, or whoever this goes to, can you get me laid up here?“, “Hey schmuck, Help persuade my bitches I have pectorals not moobs & I’ll bring you suckers/converts“
That is seriously the coolest thing. I want to pray to Buddha on a mountain top
Re: your heartfelt prayers - You had your eye on the lady in the pink jacket, right?
Re: your splendid moobies - I am already a sucker/convert.
To be honest, Its not so much the moobies as the apparent lack of a grabbable arse that I am worried about…….!
he has an arse, I’ve seen in when he was in a bathing suit. He just wears baggy trousers.
Oh Mary! did you recover from such a sight?!!
I did recover from the sight. Mostly because I knew he was about to go into a sauna and slap himself with some leaves.
Minxy, I got my Hello Kitty - I’m in 7th Heaven.
I shall be checking out the Hello Kitty Boutique here in Toronto and see if I can find a Nurse Kitty for you.
What Lovely pics of a truly stunning setting, my Dear Geek-perhaps you should hold an exhibition, with lots of white wine and things on sticks!
I have just uploaded a fuller set to the gallery:
http://blog.geeklawyer.org/photos/gallery2/v/Japan/Mount+Fuji/
Ooooohhhhhh! You lucky lucky boy! I’d have given my eye teeth to have been able to do that! I’ve gone the colour of green tea…..
Talking of which, don’t miss out on the Tea Ceremony.
Bloody Brilliant!
Also, why is it I can only comment within Safrie sometimes? Very irritating, I had written something exceedingly witty, thought provoking, etc, alas with transfer of web browsers and a failure to cut and past in time, you are left with “bloody brilliant.”
Really is though, bloody brilliant!
love,
another technologically challenged Oz lass
Oh, thats FAB, Mary - I hope she is as cute as mine!
Thnk you soooo much for offering to scour your local Hello Kitty Emporium for Nurse Kitty on my behalf!! 
[…] bloggers who share my taste for non-law posts. I am pleased, therefore, to be able to report that Geeklawyer has climbed Mount Fuji in Japan. he has some excellent photograps, including one of himself standing on top of Mount Fuji, […]
Certinaly looks a bit tougher than walking up Devils Dyke.