The theme of course was “Walking at the Foot of Daisetsuzan: The Old Growth Forests of the Ishikari River.”
It involved an observation tour of a place where many large trees can be seen along the Ishikari River that is near the Sounkyo Rikuman national park entrance.
Although the trees can be seen from National Route 39, the scenery changes dramatically just by walking away from the road a short distance. There, a magnificent forest waits to be enjoyed.
The weather on the day of the course was snowy with high winds. However, the wind calmed within the old growth forest, and the freshly piling snow made for a pleasant walk on snowshoes.
This low-wind environment is home to a variety of large trees, including Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Fraxinus mandshurica, Betula maximowicziana, Populus suaveolens, Abies sachalinensis, and Picea jezoensis.
In 1954, a typhoon known as the “Toya-maru Typhoon” blew through Sounkyo and knocked down a great many trees. However, damage in the area visited by the course was slight.
The course considered the effects that topography and wind have on trees.
It should be noted that heavy snow fell in Sounkyo for several days prior to the course. The day of the course alone had snowfall of up to 45 cm. It may be too early to say for sure, but it appears that snowshoe season may finally be here.
Photo: Course participants heading to the old growth forest. Dec. 15
It involved an observation tour of a place where many large trees can be seen along the Ishikari River that is near the Sounkyo Rikuman national park entrance.
Although the trees can be seen from National Route 39, the scenery changes dramatically just by walking away from the road a short distance. There, a magnificent forest waits to be enjoyed.
The weather on the day of the course was snowy with high winds. However, the wind calmed within the old growth forest, and the freshly piling snow made for a pleasant walk on snowshoes.
This low-wind environment is home to a variety of large trees, including Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Fraxinus mandshurica, Betula maximowicziana, Populus suaveolens, Abies sachalinensis, and Picea jezoensis.
In 1954, a typhoon known as the “Toya-maru Typhoon” blew through Sounkyo and knocked down a great many trees. However, damage in the area visited by the course was slight.
The course considered the effects that topography and wind have on trees.
It should be noted that heavy snow fell in Sounkyo for several days prior to the course. The day of the course alone had snowfall of up to 45 cm. It may be too early to say for sure, but it appears that snowshoe season may finally be here.
Photo: Course participants heading to the old growth forest. Dec. 15
