On the way down

 
I actually did not go to the very tippy top of the summit but figured I went far enough and did not care to see the volcano crater at the moment.
 
Here is what it is like walking down. You sort of fall/ ski-walk down from 4 to 6 hours. At first its nice because you use different muscles on the way down. Later, you wonder if you are ever going to get there and your calves and feet ache.
 

 
I was amazed to see a cloud pop up right in front of me while I was resting. I think I imagined seeing some shapes at the time of the photo but I don't see it now. 

At the Top

 
Here's me, Ch David Mansberger, Ch John Sacket & Ch Steven Nicolai celebrating at the top with some fancy cigars. I just got my last stamp and was rejuvenate with some hot coffee.
 
The warming hut at the top let us in and was wonderful on our cold bones.
 
Here is some of the gang gearing up ready to go down the mountain.
 
I played a quick hole of golf on the top before going down. 

Almost there...

 
It's morning now at about 0500 and I can see the top. The cutbacks are getting shorter but it still slow going all the way.
 
Just a couple more steps and thru the Torri gate and get past the lions and I'm there. I've been racing a Mammasan up the last leg and she is very quick but no match for my 36 year old legs. Although she is probably about 70 I am very impressed that she is up there climbing all the way to the top.
 
There is a monument with kanji that the Japanese are getting their pictures with. I don't know what it says but I saw the Mammasan very moved emotionally as she comes up to it and touches it. I figure it says something like now you've reached the top you will have many happy sunny days of life left....now get on back down the hill.
 
There are two lions perched on the top looking down towards the east. 

Stamps for your stick

 
Part of the touristy process of the climb is that at each hut or station up the mountain are warm huts where you can pay 200 Yen to get a stamp burned into your climbing stick. They all are different symbols and kanji that indicate the level you made and elevation. You can also buy some drinks or food for a steep price and if there is room you can pay about $50 bucks to sleep in one of the small bunks that might be available.
 
Here you can see the guys passing their sticks off and the nice Japanese burn the stamp onto the sticks. They are friendly but don't really want us in their hut that is warm. 

Are we there yet?

 
By now I'm pretty cold and tired after being up for almost 24 hours and the power of Fuji wind and elevation are beginning to demonstrate their forces. I made it above the 8th station area at 3250 meters and thought I was close because the top is only 3700 meters...oh how wrong I was.
 
The sun started rising at around 0430
 
It was a spectacular view looking down the mountain towards the east and seeing the city below.
 
By now I realized I'm in the clouds. I thought it was raining earlier in the night but I just figured out it was a very thick cloud. My hands feel like they are frozen so I popped open a hand warmer to ward off the frost bite. 

Mt Fuji Rules in Japan

 
I went with 8 other men from the chapel on a retreat to the Tokyo area and to climb Mt Fuji. Apparently if one does not climb Fuji then you get reassigned back in Japan as evidence by 2 of the 9 of us that were here before but did not climb it. Anyways, we spent the day traveling by bullet train, subway, & van to get to the base of the mountain at around 9 PM. You then actually drive up through the trees for the first 4 stations and arrive at the 5th station were you park and can get some supplies and souvenirs at some shops and a restaurant area.
I bought my Fuji climbing stick for 1200 Yen and was ready to go. I also had lots of gear on the climb to include boots, several layers of clothing, hats, gloves, headlamp, and a large backpack. In my pack I carried climbing food, batteries, first aid stuff, hand warmers, 2 liters of H2O, and many other things I cant remember.
 
I thought the trail would be sort of easy like the State parks back home. As you can see above, Rob Morgan is making his way up the steep rocky path.
 
By this point in the hike I'm starting to realize this is a much harder hike then expected. The lack of oxygen was not an issue yet at 2300 Meters but we did take several breaks along the way making our way to each hut.
 
May Peace Prevail on Earth... 

Japanese Beetle

 
 
We now have a pair of Japanese Beetles. Brock got a boy named MJ and Grace has a girl that burrows in the mulch named Midnight. It was an interesting experience just trying to communicate with the Japanese pet store staff on what I wanted or needed but they sent me home with a little case, some fruit flavored beetle jelly, & some mulch. We are not sure what any of the directions say but MJ likes to sit at his strawberry jelly and place his face in it for several hours. They are very strong and sort of hard to pick up. We are not sure if you take them for walks or give them baths but they definitely are not very cuddly.
4Vs 

Japanese Movies

Mike and I got to go to the movies today. Saw Mission Impossible III at the local Japanese mall movie theater. Tom Cruise and company were just the same as in the states...if you just ignore the Kanji subtitles at the bottom of the screen. For two hours, it seemed like we were back in the US!

Things are just a tad different here..... First of all, and I already knew this but forgot, Japanese movies are most expensive in the afternoon and have discounted tickets at the later evening shows. We had to pay 1700 yen per ticket for the 3:30 movie (about $15 each). The shows after 8pm are only 1000 yen (about 10 bucks). Mike and I were able to pick our seats for the theater. We picked two seats at the bottom of the main section so we would have the most leg room!

One of the strangest parts of the experience is your fellow movie goers. When Mike and I were walking into the movie, we thought we went into the wrong theater because we knew the movie would be starting, but we couldn't hear anyone at all. Once we came into the theater, we could see that the whole place was packed with Japanese folks....they were just absolutely silent. I have to tell you that there were times when it was so quiet I worried about chewing my popcorn too loudly!

In the end, a good time was had by all. Mike and I enjoyed our date and the kids enjoyed playing with the sitter.

I hope you all have a great week!

Love,

4Vs

LALALA

 
This is a new Karaoke and restaraunt bar that is being built on the corner just outside the main gate. The city of Misawa is building what the call American Village as an effort to spruce up the area outside the gate and stimulate the ecomomy. So the shops and landscape is being refurbished and renovated. There is talk of new American shops and restaraunts coming later. Grace V wants a Build A Bear shop. Brock wants an IHOP. MB wants a Starbucks & I would like a good Tex-Mex restaraunt.
MSV 

...more Fireworks

 
 
 
 
more fireworks... 

Fireworks

 
 
 
 
Here are some shots of the Fireworks. Our favorite was when the speed boat cruised by and dropped some very loud and colorful fireworks into the water. I missed the shot of the little red heart but got the Mother of all fireworks at the end.
MSV 

Yasumiya Manhole cover

 
 
 
This one is for Mom Cone. She likes the different man hole covers that each city has. On the east side of lake is Yasumiya where one can find the tour boat dock, bus station, and busy souvenier shops and hotels. The best way to enjoy the pristine beauty of crystal clear lake Towada is aboard excursion boats that cruise the waters April to November. About 27 miles of coastline put on a spectacular autumn show.
MSV 

Lake Towada Fireworks Festival

 
 
 
The kids had fun waiting for the fireworks to start. Brock ordered his mystery meat on a stick and I confused the ladies at the food stand trying to figure out if they were cooking scallops over a fire pit. It was warm and sunny when we left Misawa but when we got to the lake 2 hours away it was cool and rainy so we bought some one size fits all raincoats.
MSV