A couple of days ago I hiked up Mount Takao with my camera hoping to get a shot of Mount Fuji at sunset. I hiked up from the back side. There is a more isolated trail there with free parking. I think I was the only one climbing at that time. I realized on the way up that I hadn’t brought a flashlight. Dumb, I thought, but I knew there would be at leasat 30 minutes of light after sunset — enough time to descend safely.
The sunset was nice, but Mount Fuji didn’t become visible until after the sun went down. Actually, another photographer showed up about that time, looked at his watch, and said Mount Fuji would be at it’s best in 20 minutes. I decided to go with the moment, so I waited.
I took lots of pictures, and I like the colors in this one. The other photographer took some shots, but he was disappointed. He was hoping for a “red Fuji” (when the last rays of the sun cast a red glow on the peak). It didn’t happen, thanks in part to a pesky cloud. Before I left, he told me the best time to photograph Mount Fuji from Mount Takao is after the weather turns cold. I’d like to go back and try my luck again soon.
By the time I turned to leave, it was quite dark. I said goodbye, gave my new friend a business card, and declared boldly that I would be climbing down without a flashlight. A few minutes later, my confidence had drained away. The moon was obscured by clouds, and my trail went down through trees that blocked most of the remaining light. I almost turned back, but that would have meant going down the front side of the mountain and abandoning my car until the next day.
So I pressed on. I had a hiking pole in one hand that I used like a blind man feeling for roots and steps ahead. In my other hand, I had my cell phone. Whenever I couldn’t see a thing, I would press a key. Then I would take about five steps forward using the light from the screen. I didn’t know how long the battery would last, so I used it sparingly.
Honestly, I felt pretty stupid by the time I was halfway down. Besides being alone in the dark with a dubious light source, I was imagining running into a wild boar. When I finally reached my car, I was genuinely relieved. Twenty years ago, I don’t think I would have made such a mistake. From now on, you can be sure I’ll bring a flashlight when hiking in the forest at night!
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