100 Summits – Susan Spann, Mystery Author

Let The Quest For 100 Summits Begin!

Susan Spann 100 Summits, Blog May 17, 2018#100Summits2018, 100 Summits, hyakumeizan, Japan, Tokyo 1 Comment

My husband, our cat, and I arrived in Japan on Wednesday afternoon so I could begin the 100 Summits project. As always, Japan was beautiful from the air: The patchwork quilt of green fields interspersed with towns and villages, looks similar to other agricultural areas from thousands of feet in the air. But the plane descended, the curved tile roofs, bamboo groves, and sparkling, water-filled rice paddies of Saitama revealed their distinctive details. We passed through customs and animal import inspection quickly, and hopped on the N’EX (Narita Express) for the 90-minute ride to central Tokyo. (Haneda airport is closer to the city

Countdown to Japan and the Hundred Summits!

Susan Spann 100 Summits, Blog May 11, 2018May 11, 2018#100Summits2018, 100 Summits, cancer, courage, dreams, fear

Today my husband and I moved out of our temporary apartment and into the hotel that will serve as the final “staging point” for our departure to Japan. We’ve (mostly) packed our suitcases… and the international delivery service will show up Monday morning to take them away.

We Interrupt This Program…

Susan Spann 100 Summits, Blog April 18, 2018April 18, 2018#100Summits208, 100 Summits, cancer, hyakumeizan, survivor

… for an update on the 100 Summits project and my cancer treatment. I completed my last chemotherapy infusion two weeks ago today. My side effects are mostly gone, with the notable exception of my nearly-bald head, which will likely remain almost completely hairless for at least another week before I start getting “baby fuzz.” If everything goes as expected, I’ll have a little “real hair” within six weeks.

Kōya, Part 2: A Walk to Danjo Garan

Susan Spann Blog April 13, 2018April 20, 2018100 Summits, autumn, Buddhism, danjo garan, foliage, Koya, Koyasan, Shingon

Danjo Garan, the primary temple complex on Kōya, sits about two blocks from the “main street” visitor center, shops, and restaurants. Although all of Kōya is considered a single temple complex, Danjo Garan acts as the beating heart of Kōyasan Shingon Buddhism. (To start this series on Kōya from the beginning, click here.)

Heading For the Chemo Finish Line – and Japan

Susan Spann Blog March 21, 2018100 Summits, chemo, chemotherapy, dose-dense, Japan, taxol

Today I had my penultimate infusion of Taxol chemotherapy. Now that I only have one more to go, I’m starting to reflect on this journey and the things I’ve learned, and to make more solid preparations for the upcoming move to Japan.

Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo!

Susan Spann 100 Summits, Blog March 19, 2018March 18, 2018100 Summits, cherry blossom, sakura

I’m flying back from Tokyo today. Although I only had a week to spend in Japan this time (I have chemo Wednesday morning, and need to keep the infusions on track) I consider the trip a resounding success.

Ginza, Visas, and the Start of the 100 Summits Quest

Susan Spann 100 Summits, Blog March 13, 2018March 13, 2018#100Summits2018, 100 Summits, chemo, chemotherapy, Japan, travel

Yesterday afternoon, I arrived in Tokyo to begin the first official step toward the #100Summits Project: filing my visa application. Japanese residence visas can be difficult to obtain, but I’m hopeful my plans to climb the hyakumeizan and my publishing contract for 100 SUMMITS–a nonfiction book about my quest to scale Japan’s most famous peaks in a single year–will be sufficient for me to obtain a one-year visa.

Preparing to Hit the Mountain Roads

Susan Spann 100 Summits, Blog February 19, 2018February 19, 2018100 Summits, Ekoin, hiking, Japan, Koyasan, Mount Koya

Although I’m currently only halfway through chemotherapy, I’ve already started planning my 100 Summits climbs. The hyakumeizan are scattered across all four of Japan’s major islands, meaning each mountain presents not only a physical challenge but a logistical one as well.

100 Summits: Nihon Hyakumeizan 2018!

Susan Spann 100 Summits, Blog January 1, 2018December 31, 2017100 Summits, hyakumeizan, Japan, New Year, Nihon Hyakumeizan

Happy New Year, everyone! Now that 2018 is upon us, I’m officially launching My 100 Summits Project: Nihon Hyakumaeizan 2018! As I mentioned in December, I’m under contract to climb and write a book about the Nihon Hyakumeizan (100 Famous Mountains of Japan) as described in Kyūya Fukada’s 1964 mountaineering book by the same name. Fukada’s book has inspired generations of Japanese mountaineers (and many from other countries around the world) to climb his “Hundred Famous Peaks” – which Fukada selected on the basis of their history, beauty, and essential “Japanese” character. The world record for climbing all 100 peaks is

100 Summits, Plus 1 More: Chemotherapy (Day 1)

Susan Spann 100 Summits, Blog December 28, 2017December 28, 2017100 Summits, breast cancer, cancer, chemotherapy doxorubicin, infusion, OnlyOneNinja, port-a-cath

In 2018, I will attempt to become the first American woman over 45 to climb the Nihon hyakumeizan (100 famous mountains of Japan) in a single year. Given my recent cancer diagnosis and surgery, I believe I’ll also be the only person of any age to climb them within a year of completing chemotherapy. My oncologist described the journey as “100 summits, plus one more.” I started up the first one yesterday – even though I didn’t walk a step. Since I plan to chronicle the entire 100 Summits experience here on the blog, I’m including my “climb” through chemotherapy also