Access to Mt Fuji for winter ascent
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I went to Fuji last week and was surprised to find the trail access completely barricaded. I understand some still do Fuji in the winter for the added challenge, so I was expecting trail closures to be somewhat "passable". I got to the trail head with my crampons and ice axe and was turned around by this blockade. Do people have experience with Fuji in the off season? What has the access been for you? |
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Some guy tried a winter ascent of Fuji on livestream a while back and he fell on the summit and died. I don’t know for sure, but I imagine they took some steps after that to prevent something similar, I do not think he had any micro spikes. Someone working in one of the huts told me about it and you can find the video online if you have some morbid curiosity. |
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Ive been on Fuji outside the "climbing season" at least a dozen times, almost exclusively via the gotemba route on the SE side, but also via yoshida and fujinomiya routes. I can't quite tell from your picture what route, looks like yoshida, but not sure. You could reach out to the MWR Outdoor Recreation Center at Naval Base Yokosuka - they have a few Japanese folks on their staff and can help navigate potential confusing access issues. I personally usually drive to the below pin, park, and head uphill. https://maps.app.goo.gl/SqzP1jXFnv12wNYi7 I've spent a lot of time on Fuji with a real affection for it, HMU with any specific questions, Cheers, Dave 239-two-three-three-2oo2 Edited to add: Linked is a TR from TAY from April 2019 (via Gotemba), and below are a couple pictures taken three weeks later (via Fujinomiya) looking into the crater (I skied in to the bottom of the crater) and near the Tori Gate at the top. |
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Left sign clearly reads: Avalanche & falling debris. Deemed unsafe by the park's management team. It has nothing to do whether you wear the gear to climb K2 or a local hill in NYC. |
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I am more asking about people's experiences with winter ascents. It sounds like Dave has had no issue with winter access over the years. I'm wondering if this style of closure is new (in light of recent events) or has this always been case. |
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Wondering bump. |
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@Mulch I had just gone up in late November and the path wasn't barricaded. There was a excavator working on the path but we walked around them without objection. Conditions were great - we were fortune to have low snowfall, low winds and decent temperature (it was sub zero around 5th station). The road (Fuji Subaru line) to 5th station was closed on our way down due to snowfall/ice so we had issues getting back down to 1st station / nearby Kawaguchiko. I think late November (and this year's unusual warmth) is the cut-off for decent weather. I would not like to do it in December - you'd have to be dressed very warmly and have some experience of how to mitigate dangerous alpine conditions. |