A 27-year-old Chinese student living in Japan was airlifted with altitude sickness from near the peak of Mount Fuji last week, but returned to the mountain’s slope just four days later and was rescued again. Authorities are urging climbers to exercise caution during the off-season, warning of harsh conditions including low temperatures and snow.
The climber made an emergency call on April 22 after developing symptoms of altitude sickness, and was airlifted away with damaged climbing equipment. However, he returned to the mountain’s Fujinomiya trail to look for his lost belongings, and another climber found him unable to move due to a second episode of altitude sickness.
Mount Fuji is officially open only from July to early September, but there are no penalties for hiking off-season. However, the Chinese student’s case has sparked outrage on social media, with calls for him to be charged for his second rescue. The Shizuoka police have warned all climbers to use caution, citing the mountain’s challenging conditions.
The 3,776-meter-high mountain is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site and a symbol of Japan, attracting many hikers despite its risks. To combat overcrowding and safety concerns, local authorities have introduced an entry fee and cap on entrants for popular trails, with plans to implement similar rules on other main trails this year.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/japan-mount-fuji-rescue-climber-student-bc1fcc11150238dee96370697944991b