Four Bruneians conquered the summit of Mount Fuji in Japan, demonstrating courage, determination and physical endurance to scale the 3,776-metre (m) peak and a testament to the spirit of adventure and resilience of the Bruneian people.
Team member Aida Saidin said the feat is a source of pride for the nation and serves as an inspiration to aspiring mountaineers.
According to Aida, there are different ways to climb Mount Fuji and four main routes differing in difficulty and the time needed to make the journey. Climbers can also make reservations to overnight at stations on the trails, she added.
Day hikers can catch the sunset view while overnight hikers can watch the sun rise. The ascent typically takes around five to seven hours with three to five hours for the descent, totalling an 11.7-kilometre moderately-difficult hike.
Only around 4,000 hikers are permitted per day during the climbing season from July to September.
The team of four, comprising Aida, Rose Azahari and two others, chose the Yoshida Trail and began their climb at Station 5, around 2,300m, at 9.30am, resting at each station up to Station 8.5 and overnighting at Station 8 at 3,100m.
“Our team members began our summit push at around 12.45am and reached the peak at around 6.30am.”
Aida said that climbing Mount Fuji was like climbing their own soul with each step finding their own self and shared their story in the hope it would contribute to the promotion of outdoor activities and adventure tourism in the future.
Being active in mountain activities on solo trips, Aida said climbing Mount Fuji was one of the items on her bucket list.
Aida is also a business owner while fellow climber Rose works in the private sector.
Though their activities can be limited due to work, she said they have both climbed several mountains abroad and are active in other sport recreational activities in the Sultanate such as jungle trekking in Labi and the Temburong District. – Lyna Mohamad
