Czech adventurers set world record with 3.5-hour ascent of Mount Fuji

A group of six Czech adventurers has become the first to reach Japan’s Mount Fuji summit in a record-breaking 3 hours and 36 minutes, braving sub-zero temperatures and high-altitude winds in minimal clothing.

The daring expedition, led by mental coach Ondřej Petr and mountaineering expert Dominik Luks, reached the 3,776-meter peak on Friday, Nov. 8, enduring temperatures as low as -7°C (19°F) and wind speeds up to 50 km per hour (31 mph).

The climb follows the group’s success on Mount Kilimanjaro last year, where they set a world record by summiting in just 23 hours and 12 minutes, despite the mountain’s high altitude of 5,895 meters and drastic temperature shifts. Both climbs were accomplished without oxygen equipment or extensive protective clothing. This year’s feat adds another record to their name as they prepare for even harsher conditions on their next destination—Antarctica.

The expedition faced extreme conditions, with a “feels-like” temperature of -18°C (0°F) and the challenge of Japan’s tallest peak’s steep terrain. With no snowfall on Mount Fuji in 130 years, the group confronted barren, windswept conditions. As Luks shared on social media, “This was no ordinary climb. The wind was relentless, and every step was a test of mental and physical endurance.”

Climbing in only boots, shorts, caps, and gloves, the team of athletes pushed their limits. Luks, who also organizes strength-focused hikes and coaches top athletes in the Czech Republic, described the feat as an intense mental and physical test that showcased the power of resilience.

The team’s six members, each with a myriad of athletic backgrounds, brought their expertise to the climb. Stuntwoman and combat sports trainer Kateřina Lisová, strength and conditioning trainer Dominik Hřib, extreme athlete Filip Malý, and Police Academy student and fitness trainer Zbyněk Vlček completed the ascent with Luks in 3.5 hours. Petr, the team’s mental coach, reached the summit slightly later at 3 hours and 59 minutes.

The group’s rapid ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2023 marked the first time any team had summited the peak in under 24 hours without oxygen and acclimatization. The thermometer swung from over 30°C at Kilimanjaro’s base to below freezing at the summit, adding a severe test of endurance.

The team is scheduled to return to Prague on Nov. 17, where they will regroup and prepare for their expedition to Antarctica. With an impressive track record of record-breaking climbs, they hope to further test the limits of human endurance in one of the world’s most challenging environments.