Mount Fuji

Fuji, or Fuji-san (mount Fuji) as theJapanese say, is the most famous mountain of Japan. Well, it is a vulcano to be more exact. In fine weather you can see Fuji from downtown Tokyo and then it seems to be very close. Without doubt it is a sacred mountain.


In a long weekend the Fuji is a popular destination.



The highest bus stop.


Harold is, to his own saying, not very adventurous but always chooses the wrong friends. That is why only recently he was on the rim of mount Stromboli in the dark...
Todays adventure: coffee, in a can, hot.


The air is excetionaly clear and clean for our Tokyo standards.
Breathing is fun here!




Gladly Harold loves hiking, remember Stromboli, but he would have loved cycling even more. It would be a good option as Harold is a amateur cyclist and knows how to appreciate a good climb. The path here is that wide as in summer visitors truely come in hurds.


Quite some talking was required to keep track with a group of three. Because: the track to the top actually went down many times. Do we go on or should we return? It is a challenge to vacation with three project managers.


While mist flies over the slopes many things can be seen in the valley.


Soil on a vulcano is stilled lava. Lava has a cumbly structure and as the slopes are steep, erosion is continuous. Tree stand straight up for limited time. They tip over and grow further, upwards. After time nicely bent trees are the result.




Rare: pine in autumn colours!


Lava debris rolls down that quick that parts of the track a protected by concrete structures. When the slope is steeper than 35 degrees the lot starts rolling. Rain as well flushes down much of it.





Long ago this boy was an amateur geologist. He collected fossils in Zuid Limburg and de Achterhoek. Today is a field day.




By times it is an extraterrestrial landsape with bizar shapes.
But Frank is there, no worry.


An odd living tree.


Fuji-san is approximately 3700 meter high. We were at 2400 meter. On an accesible track climbing 400 meter per hour is feasible. Climbing to the top is possible, early rising provided. Let's say that in our case the path the top was closed for the winter season.


Next year then? It is said: "You are wise to climb mount Fuji, you are a fool to do it twice".