Climbing Mt. Fuji

Mt Fuji (or Fujisan as the Japanese call it) is the largest mountain in Japan. It's a volcano that has been dormant since 1707 but is still classified as active. Fujisan rises 13,000 ft over the island of Japan and John and I are climbing it on August 27th and I'm nervous.

There's a type of sickness you get from being in thin air called altitude sickness. The oxygen levels at the summit of Mt. Fuji are less than what we're currently breathing now which means the air is thin.....which means your body has to work harder to do simple tasks like walk or breathe Some people may experience headaches, dizziness or general "loose" feeling much like waking up hungover and wondering if you're still drunk. Then there's another school of people with more serious altitude sickness. They may faint, fluid may enter their lungs and brain and they may have serious health complications from breathing thin air.

There's no test to tell if you will get altitude sickness. About one in four people feel these symptoms and the condition is genetic. So no matter how in shape you are, how old or young if it's in your genes, you're going to get sick.

Now let's flashback to the early 90's when my family went to go visit my Aunt and Uncle in Colorado. We decided to take the cog railroad up Pike's Peak. Pike's Peak is one of the highest summits in the Rocky Mountains stretching to a height of almost 15,000ft (2,000 ft higher than Fujisan). There's a train that will take you all the way to the top. Guess who was the only person out of their family to get sick? This girl.

Not only did I get sick, but it felt like someone was pressing on my head. Aside from giving blood and fainting once, it was the closest I've been to a complete faint session. I felt ill, my head was swimming, I couldn't catch my breath, I was pretty sure my lunch was about to be on display. Aside from getting sick I don't really remember anything about the summit. I vaguely remember looking out over the ledge of the summit lodge.  I remember spending a lot of time in an oxygen enriched room where a lot of moms and babies were hanging out. I remember laying down in that room and feeling better. Then I remember sleeping in the train on the ride back. The most complete and exhaustive sleep I have ever had.

So guess what, turns out I have the gene for altitude sickness. Hooray! Now I don't get the luxury of a train ride to take me up and back down. It's all done by walking. Guess what, if you're going to wretch you get to do it in front of everyone. There's no bushes. Most of the climb up Fuji is barren and covered in rocks. So everyone can see your shame. John and I are thinking of renting horses to make our climb easier because the whole climb on foot can take up to 9 hours.

I hope I'm not psyching myself out. I want to make it to the top and feel great. I want to show myself I can do this, but altitude sickness is crippling and worrisome for your loved ones that will make the climb with you. I'm going to take some Dramamine to help with the stomach symptoms so I don't yarf in front of horrified Japanese people. I'm going to take an ibuprofen to help with the headache and then just cross my fingers that I don't pass out.

I'm so nervous, but I really want to do this.