A Chinese student who is 27 years old and living in Japan was rescued twice from Mount Fuji within a week after trying to get his belongings, including his mobile phone. The first rescue happened last Tuesday when the student, climbing through the Fujinomiya route at some 3,000 meters elevation on the Shizuoka Prefecture side, lost his crampons — indispensable equipment affixed to climbing footwear.
Stranded and unable to come down safely, he was evacuated by a helicopter. News reports state that he had gone for the climb during the off-season, which is considered to be a risky time because of harsh weather conditions.
Second Attempt Results in Altitude Sickness
Even after the initial rescue, the student revisited Mount Fuji days later to claim his belongings, which he had left behind. For Kyodo News, another climber informed officials at about 12:50 p.m. on Saturday upon observing the student exhibiting signs of altitude sickness.
Shizuoka prefectural police’s mountain rescue officers located him at the 8th station and transported him back down to the 5th station using a stretcher. From there, he was handed over to the fire department for further medical attention.
Off-Season Climbing Dangers on Mount Fuji
Regulations always advise mountaineers against climbing Mount Fuji during the off-season, i.e., between July 1 and September. The extreme and volatile weather conditions during the off-season greatly increase the chances of injury or fatalities. Over 200,000 individuals try to climb Japan’s highest and most prominent mountain within the specified season every year.
In recent times, the growth in visitor numbers has brought concerns about overcrowding, environmental degradation, and rowdy behavior. In answer to these, Japan revealed new steps in March to bring in a ¥4,000 (£20) admission charge for all four of Mount Fuji’s primary routes from this summer.
Cultural Significance of Mount Fuji
Aside from being a tourist attraction, Mount Fuji is deeply rooted in Japanese culture. Dreaming of Mount Fuji is said to be an omen of good luck, according to the World History Encyclopaedia.
There are more than 13,000 shrines in Japan dedicated to the sacred mountain, most of which have small replicas so that those who cannot climb the actual summit can make a symbolic pilgrimage.
