Each year, I go through a thought process questioning how this year's birthday should be spent, unsure with who and how I'd like to acknowledge my day. After 2 years in Guate, it dawned on me that I would enjoy a return trip to Japan, 3 years since leaving the land of great personal intrigue and fascination. A night climb up Mount Fuji presented itself as an opportunity I couldn't resist and a brilliant way to spend this year's birthday. Details spared, it was quite a challenge with 16 hours up and down and no sleep, but I did it!
With my new Nikon D5000 in hand, it was a remarkable exploration of the constantly changing landscape on Fuji-san, the ever-evolving weather conditions, and a personal struggle between stopping for rest and the determination to reach the summit. Only a small percentage of Japanese ever manage to know Fuji-san on such an intimate level, so it truly is considered a pilgrimage of sorts.
At sunrise, I met an 85 year old Japanese man, strong and smiling. At the summit, I watched a group of about 25 seniors smile for a photo to celebrate their accomplishment of reaching the top of a 3,776m/12,390 ft dormant volcano. The concept of age was suddenly taking on new meaning and by the time I had finally completed the steep 3 hour descent, all I could think about was that I had climbed Fuji-san all night, and had witnessed the sunrise from above the clouds, topping any airplaine window seat view I'd ever seen.
And so, this birthday afforded me a new perspective on so many levels. 本当に良かったです！
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