Trailwalker Japan is a 100km hike, starting near Japan's Pacific coast at Odawara and winding its way up through the mountainous Hakone region to end at Lake Yamanaka, at the foot of Mount Fuji. The total cumulative climb is a staggering (and we were by the end of it) 4000m - more than Mount Fuji - and you have to finish within 48 hours. It is said to be the hardest Oxfam Trailwalker (there are others in the UK, Hong Kong and Australia) because of the mountainous terrain. As well as the physical challenge, teams of 4 have to raise at least 120,000 yen for Oxfam.
After days of heavy rain, with more forecast during the event, the Team set off in good spirits, making steady though slower-than-anticipated progress. Each checkpoint provided welcome onigiri (rice balls) and hot drinks, and the smiling faces and encouragement of our support team. And little by little we counted down the kilometres.
The absolute horror of the first night on the trail came out of nowhere - it was pitch black, with swirling cloud decreasing visibility still further, with cold rain pouring down. Worst of all, the trail had become a 17km-long treacherous mud bath. Many teams made it no further, with only 80 of the original 174 teams finishing the course. However, if climbing up the mud slide was hard, coming down 1000m of ankle-deep sludge was almost impossible. We had hoped to reach the next checkpoint (a temple) by 2am to get some sleep, but finally made it as it got light at 6am, having walked through the whole previous day and night without sleep. Outside the rest area was a mound of barely recognisable boots, thickly coated in sticky mud.
Thankfully, this marked the low point of the experience. The following day, the terrain improved dramatically, leaving merely a fight against exhaustion, as we began an unexpected second night in the open. It was a beautiful starry night, and we were rewarded with views of the lights across the Kanto plain. As we summoned up our final reserves of energy, we could see the clear outline of Mount Fuji in the moonlight, reflected in the lake below. It was 3am on Sunday morning, and we'd been going since 9:30am on Friday....and we were finished in every way!
If you'd like to reward Oxfam for our death-defying exploits on their behalf, you can still do so for another 3 months through this webpage. Arigato!
Annette, Pip, Rachael, Simon
Tokyo/Osaka, 28 April
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Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.
The four of us, all living in Japan, have foolishly committed to Oxfam Trailwalker Japan 2010: walking 100km atop the 1000m+ foothills of Mount Fuji, from Odawara to Lake Yamanaka, on 23-24 April (yes, including through the night). Our recklessness is all in a good cause: Oxfam's unrelenting efforts to alleviate poverty in some of the world's poorest countries.
Simon completed Trailwalker Japan in 2007, so really ought to know better than to do it again. The rest of us ought to know better than to follow his example. You can see more about the event at http://fofa.jp/oxfamjp/c.p?62c2aQE3EH
We are part-sponsored by Berghaus Japan, who are generously providing some of their top-notch kit as well as some funding. But we need you to help us raise enough to make a real difference.
Donating through our webpage is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to Oxfam Japan and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - we raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for Oxfam.
So please donate now. Arigato! (approx exchange rates @ 23 March: £1 = Y135 / US$1.50 / Euro1.10 / A$1.64)
Annette, Pip, Rachael & Simon
