We started out the day in Arashiyama Bamboo Forrest listening [well reading] the stories about the different shrines and temples sheltered inside. While the bamboo forest didn’t span a great deal of land, its one of those panoramic moments your memory forever engrains into its walls. It’s hard to imagine that one can stand at the foot of a majestic mountain, such as Mount Fuji in this case, and speak words to yourself that would continue to propel you to its peak. Sarah and Paul were looking fearless compared to me. We boarded the bus and headed up to the 5th station which was just peaking above the clouds. Station-Five is where they say is the separation between Heaven and Earth. Once there, we were able to drop our backpacks off to the care of some restaurateurs [older and seemingly worthy of our day of trust]. At this point, our view of backpacking has begun to change from a worthwhile opportunity to a hunchback causing discomfort. Paying a mere ten-twenty dollars was a drop on the barrel compared to the assent we saw coming before us. Before leaving, we caught word from the locals that we should just make the climb up to station six and camp out fearing that we get caught in the dark.
Being full of energy, we made it to the first station with our vitality in tact and good spirits about us. “Why not try for the next one?” This was the ressounding thought on all of our minds. We continued this for the next 2 stations after. We finally stopped at Station 7B [there ended up being two station 7’s]. Much to our surprise, this was the newer of the two stations and had plenty of good people there to converse with. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a warm welcome and a nice hearty dinner of curry and rice. Throughout the night we entertained the thought of staying on and working for one of the stations on the FUJI. Little did we know that you have to stay up there for months at a time before going back down. One of the workers there [around our age] had been there for about 3 months. I liked the temperature or that station but I would fear GOING STIR CRAZY AFTER A WHILE. Plus, where were the showers?
The thought of staying the night as being the only travelers was soon dispelled after the next caravan of people came up and crashed there as well. An early night of 8pm bedtime turned into a restless night of tossing and turning to the constant chatter in the background. Ultimately, we woke up somewhat drained but fueled by our own adrenaline. The moonlit hike to the next station was breathtaking to say the least. There has always been something about the moonlit sky that invokes a sense of peace. I am reminded of a subtle part within the Benjamin Button movie where he wake up night after night conversing with a mysterious woman in the lobby for hours on end. One of his many quotable quotes I am applying to this moment: A place in the middle of the night can be a magical place. There's something peaceful,
even comforting knowing that the people you love are asleep in their beds
where nothing can harm them.[Man that sounded a lot more on target before I typed it. I’m keeping it for my own records]. The sun started to peak over the horizon as we rushed up to the 8th station. After our paparazzi like “click click” of the cameras, we continued on our quest to scale the mountain. Up til and including this point, we had already taken notice of the overall friendly nature of the people hiking around us. The locals and fellow conquesters were ready and willing to greet us with a friendly Good Morning and Good Luck. Not something readily available in Korea.
Passing station after station, it seemed the like top would be just as far away as when we first began. Somewhere between the hours on my watch and the short stops to catch a breath, it snuck up on me. That second wind and “The Little Engine that Could” encompassed my person and got me to the top. It was almost like Joshua standing on the mountain and looking out over the land of Canaan. The Promised Land. It was as the guide books and locals had said- this was a glimpse into Heaven. There was nothing but clouds and mountain peaks for miles and miles around you. No noise pollution.
Maybe I should stop and consider that job position at station 7 once more. Ill just chow down on the sushi and seaweed until I convince myself otherwise.
