Japan - Don't try hiking Mt. Fuji in January

Or you risk ending up like this guy:

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/01/michigan-man-missing-on-japans-frigid-mount-fuji/

I think we have a Darwin Award contender here.

Yeah. I certainly hope he is ok and don't wish anyone ill but this sure looks like evolution in action.

Maybe he just wanted to disappear.

Who the heck climbs a northern hemisphere mountain in January anyway?
It's a recipe for disaster.
It's a great excuse to simply disappear and start somewhere new.

Just sayin...

Maybe he just wanted to disappear.

Who the heck climbs a northern hemisphere mountain in January anyway?

Mt. Haleakala seemed fine when I climbed it in January. :p

Taking into account a number of factors, Mt Fuji can be climbed successfully at anytime of the year.

Whether he was experienced enough, had the appropriate equipment as well as giving himself enough of a window, is unclear to make an ignorant comment.

Hope they locate him.

Taking into account a number of factors, Mt Fuji can be climbed successfully at anytime of the year.

Whether he was experienced enough, had the appropriate equipment as well as giving himself enough of a window, is unclear to make an ignorant comment.

He apparently went alone without telling anyone. If so, that is enough to say that what he did was stupid regardless of how prepared or experienced he may be.

Taking into account a number of factors, Mt Fuji can be climbed successfully at anytime of the year.

Whether he was experienced enough, had the appropriate equipment as well as giving himself enough of a window, is unclear to make an ignorant comment.

Hope they locate him.

The article makes it sound as if he went up by himself. If he did, and was not well-prepared (which one would assume if he went to Japan on "business") we're talking nominee for the Darwin Award.

Here is something from a climber's website:

A few words about climbing Mt. Fuji in winter - be fully prepared for hard ice and high winds from at least 1000m below the summit. Early season ice is still hard, but very thin, with just a wisp of neve underneath. It can and does blow climbers off their feet, with no possiblity of self-arrest. Almost every year one or two lives are lost this way or from slipping unroped or unprotected.

The article makes it sound as if he went up by himself. If he did, and was not well-prepared (which one would assume if he went to Japan on "business") we're talking nominee for the Darwin Award.

Here is something from a climber's website:

Yes. I'm familiar with it myself (http://fujiclimb2010.blogspot.com/).:D

You have to be crazy to do that in the middle of winter on your own. Asking for trouble.......

Yes. I'm familiar with it myself (http://fujiclimb2010.blogspot.com/).:D

Cool! The first time I climbed Mt. Fuji, the radome was still active and manned, and as the sun rose, because of the oblique angle, it would throw a massive shadow of the dome on the clouds below.

I've climbed it in when it was snow covered but still early in the season before the hard ice set in and I have a lot of friends who have climbed it and skied down late in the season when the sun softens up the ice. Mid-winter though with the hard ice it is serious technical winter climb. Unless you're roped if you slip and fall it's bad news. There are people at the fifth station all winter and they should never have let him go. Very sad for his family and friends.

There are people at the fifth station all winter and they should never have let him go.

If that were possible, they would have also stopped this guy:

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20120116p2a00m0na005000c.html

Which 5th station specifically?

There are 4.

Which 5th station specifically?

There are 4.

The one on the trail from Fuji Yoshida. I think it's the only one open in the winter, but I may be wrong.

The one on the trail from Fuji Yoshida. I think it's the only one open in the winter, but I may be wrong.

So he took that route?

http://www.wwmt.com/news/family-1401059-matt-johnson.html

Well, at least he did make it to the top (http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2012/06/last_photo_of_matt_johnson_por.html).

A lot of people underestimate Mt. Fuji because it is seen as a popular tourist attraction. Even in mid summer it can get pretty cold especially when most people climb at night to catch the sunrise.

Since it's a perfect cone, there have also been people blown off the side while still sleeping inside their tents. This makes it a lot more dangerous than other mountains of similar altitudes.