In brief
A Chinese student was rescued twice after deciding to climb Mount Fuji outside the designated climbing season. Despite receiving safety warnings, he returned to the mountain for his phone and suffered from altitude sickness during his second rescue.
A 27-year-old Chinese university student in Japan has raised eyebrows after he was rescued twice from Mount Fuji within a span of four days. The climber ventured onto the mountain outside its official climbing season, which runs from July to September, to search for his lost mobile phone. The student's first rescue occurred on Tuesday from the Fujinomiya trail, situated at an altitude of approximately 3,000 meters (9,800 feet). He had lost his crampons – the crucial spiked devices that attach to climbing shoes for better traction – leaving him unable to safely descend. However, despite the inherent dangers, he returned to the mountain days later to retrieve his belongings, including the phone he had lost earlier. Unfortunately, this return trip led to a second rescue on Saturday when he experienced altitude sickness. Fortunately, he is now reported to be out of danger. Authorities in Shizuoka prefecture have reiterated warnings against climbing Mount Fuji outside the official season, citing rapidly changing weather conditions that can hinder rescue efforts. The harsh off-season conditions also mean that medical facilities along the trails are closed, which poses additional risks to climbers.Public reaction to the student’s decision has been mixed, with several users on social media criticizing his choice to ignore safety advice. Some have suggested that he should be held accountable for the costs incurred during both rescue missions. Mount Fuji, renowned for its symmetrical cone shape, is more popular than ever, drawing over 220,000 climbers during the climbing season in 2023. Authorities have implemented measures to combat overtourism, including raising climbing fees, but the allure continues to attract adventure seekers year-round.
