Climber Rescued From Mt. Fuji for Second Time in a Week After Returning to Mountain for Lost Phone

A 27-year-old Chinese university student living in Japan required rescue from Mount Fuji not once, but twice, within a four-day span this week, according to Japanese authorities. Both incidents occurred during the mountain’s hazardous off-season.

The individual, whose name has not been publicly released, first needed assistance on Tuesday, April 22. He was attempting a climb on the Fujinomiya Trail, located at approximately 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) above sea level on the Shizuoka Prefecture side of Japan’s highest peak. After losing his crampons, he called for help and was airlifted from the mountain in a rescue operation.

Mt. Fuji. Photo

Just three days later on Friday, April 25, the student returned to Mount Fuji, reportedly to retrieve his cell phone and other items he had left behind during the initial incident. However, this second attempt also went wrong.

Another off-season hiker found him in distress above 3,000m on Saturday, April 26, again on the Shizuoka side. After the hiker alerted authorities, a second rescue operation was launched. Rescue teams reportedly recognized the man from their earlier mission just days before. He was suspected of suffering from altitude sickness and was transported to a hospital, where his condition was reported as stable.

The Importance of Timing

These events occurred outside Mount Fuji’s official climbing season, which typically runs from early July to early September. Authorities strongly discourage climbing at other times of the year due to treacherous conditions. During spring, significant portions of the mountain remain covered in snow and ice, the weather can change suddenly and drastically, and essential facilities like mountain huts, toilets, and first aid stations are closed.

Furthermore, dedicated rescue personnel are not as readily available as they are during the busy summer season. Climbing outside the official season requires appropriate winter mountaineering experience, gear like crampons and ice axes, and a thorough understanding of alpine conditions — preparation that the student reportedly lacked for off-season climbing.

Following the second rescue, authorities in Shizuoka Prefecture reiterated warnings against attempting climbs outside the designated safe season. Climbers in Japan generally aren’t charged for search and rescue operations despite the considerable cost and risk involved.

The highly unusual circumstance of requiring rescue twice in such a short period draws attention to the critical importance of listening to official warnings, assessing your abilities, and being appropriately equipped before attempting to climb Mount Fuji, especially outside the limited summer climbing season.

Featured image: Alpsdake, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons