Remington Ramblers: Climbing Mt. Fuji, Part 5

Our group really didn't get acquainted until a bunch of us formed a circle while we ate. Everyone exchanged their goods, which varied from canned herring to peanut butter and crackers. One of the schoolteachers reached into her bag and emerged with a bottle of Italian brandy liqueur that topped off the rather fancy dinner. I enjoyed my hot dinner over the assortment of cold goods of my climbing partners. As we sat exchanging jokes of what had happened, the room became crowded with Japanese hikers -- some ordering rice while others removed chow from their packs. We were about 10,000 feet above sea level and the small amount of the brandy I had made me feel even more lightheaded.