Original
text by
Ahmad Arif, adapted
by Darmansjah
Night before, bringing the wind blowing
hard. Half moon emerged from behind the thick clouds. Cold air
and rain can
suddenly dim down no desire crowded
climbers getting ready in Pos V Kawaguchi-ko, on the
slopes of Fuji.
Window climbing Mount Fuji, Japan's highest
mountain with an altitude of 3,776
meters, which is only
open during the
summer months of July-August,
staying another day. Many climbers are reluctant
to miss.
"It's been
almost three years in Japan
I have never climbed Fuji. Well, I come, "said Fathia Anzilni, old friend who
was taking doctoral education in Japan, welcomed my invitation.
During July-August, the snow is usually blanketed peaks Fuji has disappeared. The
weather is considered more friendly and warmer temperatures, although sometimes
drop to near freezing. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people climb Fuji during
these two months. Based on data from Japan's
Ministry of Environment, the climbing season in 2012 Fuji climbers to reach 319,000
people. When averaged, there were 5,316 people a day who climb this mountain for
two months.
Post Kawaguchi-ko, at an altitude of 2,300
meters, including the most popular for
hikers because it can be accessed
by bus from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo
to 2,600 yen
one-way fare. In
addition, along the ascent route
to the summit Kwaguchi known as the Yoshida line there are many stalls that provide food
and beverages, room
for a break, until the oxygen tube.
Than through Kawaguchi, actually there are three
other climbing gates,
namely Subashiri, Fujinomiya, and Gotemba. We
choose a bus that
departs at 04:50 PM from Shinjuku and
arrived at Pos
V Kawaguchi at 07.50
pm.
Still enough time. Ascent of Pos V Kawaguchi to Pos X
or Peak Fuji estimated
six to eight hours.
After filling the
stomach with hot udon noodles, then meet
with a water bag
and two packs of
onigiri (rice ball type), we were preparing to catch the
morning sun on top of Mount
Fuji.
Almost at 09.00pm.
The climbers one by one disappeared in the dark hiking trail. We followed the directions
they disappear. About 15 minutes walking, hiking trail from Pos V still flat, even
then declined.
While waiting for other climbers, we capture the views of a settlement in the
form of flickering lights at the foot of Fuji, who disguised thousands of
fireflies.
A
man who came from the direction
of Pos V emerge
from the darkness. We stopped him and asked.
"It looks just like this,"
he said friendly. "I just climbed Fuji
once."
The
man continued
to talk while walking. "After the age of 50 years,
I was also finally
able to Fuji. It's my goal before I
die, "he said.
Protected figure dark of night. I do not
want to bother him with questions
that are personal. We choose to enjoy a conversation without introducing themselves
to each other. "At least once in life Japanese
people have climbed
to the summit of Fuji," he said before disappearing
in the dark.
Exceptional mountain
For the Japanese, Fuji was special. Hundreds of years, the highest mountain in
the country has been a source of inspiration. Many poems, writings, paintings inspired
by the charm of Fuji. The
mountain is also one of the followers of the
spiritual orientation of the center of Shinto, the traditional religion in
Japan.
Some Shinto shrine established in Mount Fuji, reminiscent of the many temples and
shrines built on volcanoes in
Indonesia.
Fuji is
actually an active volcano located at the junction of three tectonic plates collision
active: Amurian plate (Eurasia), Okhotsk Plate (America), and the Philippine Plate.
When last erupted in 1707, Fuji ash falls to Tokyo which is about 100 kilometers.
In June 2013, the Mount Fuji established as one of the eight world heritage by
the United Nations. The climb to Fuji this year also added crowded. Not only teenagers,
but parents until the children were mostly found in Fuji climbing lane.
In contrast
to the
mountains in Indonesia,
which tracks mostly left natural and often
misleading, hiking trail Fuji packed into
convenient for tourists. Some roads have been
made and braided rope ladder stone fence off
a cliff.
Exhausted climbers can stay and eat at the many found in almost every
stop. Toilets were available at the peak of the tariff ¥ 200
per person. Not
only that, in each
post, climbers can
get souvenirs typical Fuji,
the stamp is
engraved on wooden
sticks to mark we
had to get there. These sticks can be
purchased at Post V for ¥1200 and ¥200 for one stamp.
Windchill
Hiking trail to Mount Fuji is like a night market alone. Climbers
snaking, hand in hand along the steep ascent
that starts from
the Post VII. Several times we had to wait in line.
04.30 am. Fuji
peak closer, but
the uphill road
and dense. The
cold wind blowing dust flew faster and faster, even gravel stinging
during grabbing face.
Some of the exhausted climbers choose to rest
in the flat land surrounding-gate wooden torii gate, usually painted red which
connects to a sacred
place-not far from
the summit. They crouched behind a thick
jacket and a shoulder
to each other, while waiting for
the sunrise.
05.00.
a.m, a
thick fog suddenly came. Temperature of 4 degrees
Celsius and the
wind rushing attacks. However, the climbers who
had been waiting at
the top did not move. "The
sunrise was incredible moment for the Japanese. Remember Our country is often
called 'the City of Sunrise, "Masahide
Sasaki said, solo
climber from Tokyo.
"Waiting for the sunrise atop Fuji more special."
So special sunrise from Fuji, the Japanese
have their own terms to call it, is goraiko.
Lavender
color finally
painted sky on
the eastern horizon. And at about
5:20, the sun-awaited
emerged. Solar rays
led to a row of the
lake at the foot of the original
Fuji disappeared. Lake surface reflects the
color silver. Only a few seconds the sun disappeared
again. Then came back again a few
seconds and disappear.
As soon as the sun rose, people cheered.
"Goraiko
... goraiko," said Sasaki.
He then offered
to photograph me with the background goraiko. In return, he asked me to take a picture with the same background. "Sorry, I did not
bring a camera. Allow
you my photo and
then sent to Facebook or e-mail to me? "He said
repeatedly utter arigatou and
bowed.
Ah, one photo
shots can make new friendships. Fuji is full of inspiration, but it all ultimately
depends on how we interpret it. Fuji winds are roaring and painful skin can be a
valuable souvenir, as written haiko poet
of the Edo period, Matsu Basho (1644-1649); The
wind from Mt Fuji - I put it on the fan - Here, the souvenir from Edo ...
