Check out Barbara's excellently written account of climbing mount Fuji with Fuji Mountain Guides at her blog linked below:

http://texzen.blogspot.com/2008/07/mt-fuji-climb-under-construction.html

Our FMG guide on Mt. Fuji was Brent, a young, handsome, Japanese-speaking, American climbing guide that knows how to strike “epic” mountain guide poses - and is in such good shape that he can not only carry his own pack, but that of some un-named hiker. His motto covers it all: “Look good, and make sure you know where your people are.” He certainly does that. In addition, he is a superlative entertainer and provides us with the Mt. Fuji lore and legends along the way.<

Don’t believe everything you read on the internet….I know that I’ve learned my lesson. All of those stories featuring hordes of grandmothers, small children, and women in 4 inch high heels summiting Mt. Fuji are definitely urban legends… and, depending upon where you start your climb, four hours is not a realistic climb time.

I just wanted to thank you so much again for everything you did for us on the trip, and afterwards. We thought you went above and beyond to help us during the trip and with directions to our accommodation at Hakone after the climb.

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