A Woman in Her 50s, First Time Climbing Mt. Fuji - Preparation Edition

Hello. This is Kabutomushi no Haha (Beetle Mom).

How is everyone doing?
I've been swamped with work for the past week, and before I knew it, it was already August.

Well, this is sudden, but I am planning to climb Mt. Fuji next week.

This past January,I heard the phrase "(Even if you say you'll do something someday when you have the money or time) Someday never comes!" at Emichika-san's seminar, and it flipped my motivation switch.

First, as one of the things I wanted to do, this past April,I was able to stay at the hotel I had always wanted to visit, Marina Bay Sands.

↑ I'm saying "Well, this is sudden" here too (lol).

It was a 3-day trip, but I'm so glad I took the plunge and went!
It was so much fun that I ended up writing over 10 articles about it.

After experiencing this trip, I thought to myself,
I should do the things I want to do, especially those that require physical strength, while I'm still in my 50s.

And so, the next challenge that popped into my head wasclimbing Mt. Fuji.

I thought that as a Japanese person, it's something I should climb at least once in my life.

Mt. Fuji, a mountain I want to climb at least once in my life

I previously had no interest in mountain climbing at all.
I thought Mt. Fuji was something to look at, not something to climb.

I started thinking that mountain climbing is fun only after I turned 40.

That said, the only mountains I've climbed are low ones like Mt. Takao, Mt. Mitake, and Mt. Haruna.

So, I know it would be better to challenge myself with higher mountains first, butfor someone who has passed 50, "today is the youngest I'll ever be."

If I keep saying I'll wait until I have more experience, my body might start to break down, or I might be unable to go due to things like caring for my parents. Even if my family and I are fine, who knows when another major earthquake might occur or another pandemic like COVID might spread... when I thought about things like that,

I realized it really has to be now!

Signing up for a tour

With that in mind, I looked for a tour that advertised itself as "safe for women" and signed up around May.

I did try asking my family and friends, but not a single person said they would climb it with me 😭 (everyone around me is more of an indoor type).

However, there is a possibility that I might have to retire midway due to altitude sickness or lack of stamina, so I might end up being a burden if I have a companion.
Thinking about that,it's more relaxing to go alone.

I don't own much in the way of serious climbing gear, so I signed up for a 12-piece rental set.

My accommodation is at the 3450m mark, the mountain hut closest to the summit,"Goraikokan."

I thought it would be better to climb as much as possible early on and have an easier time in the second half.
However, when I read blogs by experienced climbers, they said that beginners are more prone to altitude sickness if they stay at high altitudes, so I might have made a mistake.

Buying hiking boots

I hadn't done any preparation for the two months after signing up, but I started preparing at the end of July and bought hiking boots.

Hiking boots were included in the rental set, but I havesevere bunions, so I thought it would be a nightmare if I ended up renting shoes that didn't fit, and decided to buy those at least.

They were on sale for15,000 yen.
I thought they would be more expensive, so I was lucky.
(I checked later and it seems they were cheaper online.)

However, the insoles recommended to keep my feet from hurting were6,000 yen.
I hesitated, but since I won't be able to walk once my bunions start hurting, I bought them.

Besides that, I bought sports sunglasses at a sports shop, a quick-drying The North Face shirt and oxygen canisters during a Rakuten sale, and a light jacket at Workman Joshi.

Climbing Mt. Fuji, when you try to prepare thoroughly, it surprisingly costs a lot of money...

Ideally, I wanted to climb some lower mountains before Mt. Fuji, but I was too busy to go.

I had no choice but to wear the heavy hiking boots while walking my dog to break them in a little.
They go up to the ankles and I chose a slightly larger size to accommodate my bunions, so they feel strange.

Will I be able to walk on mountain paths for hours in these?
I can only pray that I don't get blisters that pop or that my bunions don't start hurting.

Neuralgia?

What I'm more worried about than the shoes is my leg, which started hurting a while ago.

I had a mild slipped disc in May, and perhaps as a sequela, I have an uncomfortable feeling from my lower back down to the back of my right thigh.

I started going to a chiropractor, hoping to get it fixed in time for the Mt. Fuji climb.

Then, I was told that my whole body was distorted in various places, so in addition to massage, I ended up getting acupuncture treatment as well.

The massage was covered by insurance, but acupuncture and adjustments are not, so it cost quite a bit. Moreover, I was told to come twice a week for a while...

I carelessly mentioned that I was planning to climb Mt. Fuji in August, so they said, "Let's get you fixed up by then!" and I became a total easy target.

I didn't want to spend money on things like this, which is why I've been going to hot yoga for a year, but it seems it hasn't been very effective.

I've been four times now, but unfortunately, I haven't fully recovered.
On the contrary, another part of my leg has started to hurt.

Even though it hurts, it's not so painful that I can't walk, but
I don't know what will happen if I'm climbing mountain trails for a long time.
Shouldn't I just cancel this already?

There's no turning back now

However, considering the tour cancellation fees, the gear I've already bought, and the treatment costs for the chiropractor and acupuncture, I can't bring myself to quit now.

It would be a waste and frustrating, so I intend to go for now.

Reaching the summit might be impossible, but I want to at least make it to the mountain hut somehow.

That said, people have died climbing Mt. Fuji.
Pushing yourself is forbidden.

Altitude sickness, pain in my legs and lower back... I'm just filled with anxiety now...

I've paid a lot of money, what am I doing??
Is this some kind of ascetic training?

I don't really understand what's going on myself, but
this is the time for the "Over the Sun" motto

"I won't lose!"

Hang in there, me!

Thank you for reading again today.

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