Twice-Rescued: The Student Who Needed Saving from Mount Fuji Two Times in Four Days | E 163

In this episode of The Crux True Survival Story Podcast, hosts Kaycee McIntosh and Julie Henningsen delve into the allure and dangers of Mount Fuji. They discuss the historical significance and the cultural importance of Japan's tallest peak, which attracts hundreds of thousands of climbers annually. The episode covers the tragic yet sensational story of a climber who had to be rescued twice within four days due to altitude sickness, along with other harrowing tales of fatalities and rescues on the mountain. The hosts also explore the symptoms and risks of altitude sickness, the importance of proper preparation, and the evolving role of technology in search and rescue operations on Mount Fuji. Through captivating storytelling and expert analysis, this episode underscores the delicate balance between beauty and danger in the wild.
00:00 Welcome to the Crux True Survival Story Podcast
00:28 Introduction to Mount Fuji
02:08 The Climbing Experience
02:55 Challenges and Dangers of Climbing Fuji
09:50 A Tale of Two Rescues
13:59 Understanding Altitude Sickness
18:09 Severe Altitude Sickness: HAPE and HACE
19:53 Hallucinations at High Altitude
20:46 Celebrity Climbing Companions
21:09 Altitude Sickness and Controversies
22:17 Acclimatization and Climbing Practices
26:26 Mount Fuji's Fatalities and Statistics
28:59 Tragic Stories from Mount Fuji
31:10 Lessons and Patterns in Climbing Incidents
33:39 Heroic Rescues and Technological Advances
36:03 Reflections on Climbing Mount Fuji
40:06 Podcast Conclusion and Listener Engagement

Resources

• CBS News: Mount Fuji climber rescued twice after returning to get phone
• Fox5 Atlanta: Mount Fuji Japan student rescued twice phone
• MSN: A man airlifted from Japan's Mount Fuji returns to the slope days later and is rescued again
• Brobible: Man rescued from Mount Fuji two times in the same week
• Global News: Mount Fuji climber rescued twice in Japan
• CBS News: Mount Fuji deaths - missing climber sent photos from summit to family
• Wikipedia: Mount Fuji
• Official Mount Fuji Climbing Website: Risks of Climbing
• Japan Facts: Mountain Mishaps - Record Rescues in Japan's Peaks
• Mount Above: Have People Ever Died Climbing Mount Fuji?
• My Tokyo Guide: Mt. Fuji Off-Season Climb
• Love Trails: Mt. Fuji Training
• Japan Starts Here: Climbing Mount Fuji (2025)
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