Just How Cold Is It At The Summit Of Mount Fuji At The End Of August?

TokyoJoeblow

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I know that I can check the temperatures and the weather online, which I have done:

http://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Fuji-san/forecasts/3776

http://www.accuweather.com/en/jp/national/weather-radar

Although the typhoon is way up in Tohoku now, the weather for Mount Fuji tomorrow is still reading that there will be clouds, rain and a risk of thunderstorms.

Has anyone hiked Mount Fuji around this time (I'm going tomorrow)?

I packed a lot of heavy winter clothes (jacket, sweater, long johns, beanie, gloves, etc.) but my backpack is getting pretty heavy. I would like to lighten the load, but at the same time not freeze to death at the summit. Would I most likely be alright with long johns, a thin but decently warm waterproof jacket and a long sleeve t-shirt and jeans?

I have been reading online that it can be really cold at the summit and you need to wear a lot of layers. I have read read that the thunder is insanely loud from on the mountain as well...should be quite an interesting experience lol.
 
It has been around three decades when I climbed in August (and according to the saying if you never climb it you are a fool and if you climb two times you are a fool too) and as far as my memory serves it was chilly but not really cold.

You definitely want to have a long coat and maybe even gloves but having several layers of winter clothes sounds to me like an overkill. When we climbed it was raining pretty much all the time so it made it even colder but still it's not like it is winter out there.

I think we had jeans (but no long johns), a long sleeve t-shirt and a jacket. It would have been more comfortable to have a bit more but you are not going to camp our on the top for that long and climbing there will keep you warm.

But then again I am from the North and winter starts at -30C so you may want to take this with a pinch of salt :D.
 
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When I summited last year I did a **day climb** ... I wanted to see Suruga bay and area around Fuji. 6am started climbing. Reached the summit, went clockwise on the crater, rest a bit then down. 6pm arrived at Fujinomiya 5th station. I was using some technical pants (meaning they wick moisture), a wool undershirt, a t-shirt, and fleece jacket. At times I had to remove my fleece jacket so as not to overheat.

You're climbing at night? (to catch the sunrise the following morning?)

Ditch the jeans if it rains! If it gets wet it will stay wet longer which will cause you to loose precious heat. If there are thunderstorms nearby the huts will strongly advice against going further for safety reasons.
 
I climbed Mt. Fuji with an overnight stay at the Old 8th Station last month, it was around 3C when we reached the summit before sunrise. I was wearing warm skins with long hiking pants, a warm long sleeved under shirt, regular hiking shirt + rain jacket and hat, and gloves, was warm enough, another layer on top would have been useful. So think about a fleece top. Woolen tops are good as you stay warm even if they get wet from sweat or rain. You can also use rain pants to keep warmer even if not raining.

As already noted, do not wear jeans. Make sure you wear correct hiking clothes. And don't forget a head lamp and energy snacks.

Was lucky enough to get perfect weather.

Enjoy.
 
It's cold at the top. In good weather it's 0C/32F, and in bad weather, well, you're covered head to toe in water. Don't be the dumbass that hikes up in shorts and a t-shirt.
 
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the weather for Mount Fuji tomorrow is still reading that there will be clouds, rain and a risk of thunderstorms.
Has anyone hiked Mount Fuji around this time (I'm going tomorrow)?
I'd suggest bringing an umbrella.

 
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When I summited last year I did a **day climb** ... I wanted to see Suruga bay and area around Fuji. 6am started climbing. Reached the summit, went clockwise on the crater, rest a bit then down. 6pm arrived at Fujinomiya 5th station. I was using some technical pants (meaning they wick moisture), a wool undershirt, a t-shirt, and fleece jacket. At times I had to remove my fleece jacket so as not to overheat.

You're climbing at night? (to catch the sunrise the following morning?)

Ditch the jeans if it rains! If it gets wet it will stay wet longer which will cause you to loose precious heat. If there are thunderstorms nearby the huts will strongly advice against going further for safety reasons.

I ditched the jeans for these waterproof pants from Don Quixote. This pair saved my life lol.

I did the hike from the afternoon into the night, slept at station 9 and hiked to the summit to view the epic sunrise in the morning.

My legs we're shaking by the time I got back down today lol.
 
Having climbed Mt. Fuji and almost been knocked on my ass and blown off the mountaintop by the high winds, I'd advise against bringing an umbrella.

So you tried to hike with an umbrella...wouldn't that make you Mary Poppins? lol
 
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