29/08/2026
It had been a minute since I’d climbed a mountain, and this is one I know I’ll remember for a long time. You don’t really remember the easy climbs, do you?
Asahidake. 2,291m above Hokkaido and the highest peak on the island.
We woke up expecting a beautiful day, took the ropeway up to Sugatami Station at around 1,600m and stepped out into pouring rain, thick fog and the very quick realisation that we were completely underprepared for the conditions.
Once at the station, we checked the trail map, noticed the brown bear warnings scattered around the area, looked at what we were wearing… and somehow still convinced ourselves that we’d just do a little loop and see where it took us.
Famous last words.
Somewhere along the way, that little walk turned into half of the group deciding to keep going all the way to the summit.
The higher we climbed, the wilder it became. Visibility dropped to barely ten metres. The rain didn’t stop, everything we owned was soaked through, and the smell of sulphur grew stronger as we passed the steaming volcanic vents disappearing into the fog.
There wasn’t much of a view waiting for us at the top. In fact, there was barely a view at all. But somehow, that didn’t matter.
Because what I remember most isn’t the summit.
It’s the laughs along the way. The moments of wondering what the hell we were doing. The struggle. The tears on the descent. Being cold, exhausted and completely drenched, yet somehow laughing through all of it.
It was messy, uncomfortable and nothing like the day we had imagined.
And maybe that’s exactly why I’ll remember it. One of those stories I know my family and I will still be talking about years from now.
Sometimes the best adventures begin when the plan goes completely out the window.
Get out of your comfort zone… just maybe check the forecast and pack the right gear first. 😂⛰️🇯🇵
