Author: vc-dev

Mt.Kurodake report

Summer flowers in northeast slope of Mt.Kurodake is going to end.
Instead autumn flowers like “Cirsium kamtschaticum” , “Saussurea riederi subsp. yezoensis” , “Cirsium kamtschaticum ssp. alpinum” and “Solidago virgaurea subsp. leiocarpa” are blooming.
Hikers can see summer flowers a little.
Now is transition period summer to autumn.

Seeing all mountains, most of trees and plants are green.
Between the top of Mt.Kurodake and Mt.Ponkurodake some “Arctous alpina var. japonica” leaves are tuning red.
“Sorbus matsumurana” is still green.

Depends on weather autumn leaves period change.
We continue to watch autumn leaves.

*around Akaishi river we found brown bear’s trace.
Please bring bear bells or whistles.
*snow gorge under the junction of Mt.Hokuchindake is gone.
But hikers get lost because of bad weather.
Signpost is very old, so hikers miss this signpost.
If hikers walk from Mt.Kurodake to Mt.Asahidake,bring a map.
Some hikers missed their root, and walked wrong root that is not trail, that is going to under the cliff.
When in foggy, and visibility is poor, please follow the yellow sign that is painted on the stones.
After snow is gone, trails are really muddy. It’s hard to find hiker’s footmarks.
Please be careful to climb.

Around Mt.Hakuun hut report

Around Mt.Hakuun hut
Brown bears often appear from July 22nd.
Hut keepers said that we don’t know how many bears appear. Because we can’t recognized bears individually.
They rest on the snow near the camping site, walk around the toilet, eat near the trails of Takanegahara and Itagaki shindou.
They appear here and there.

We were waiting for them at the terrace.
We found a bear walking on the snow on the trail to Takanegahara.
But it’s very far, so we could not take pictures.
He looked like resting on the ice, soon he started to find his food on grassland.

When we observed him with binoculars, a hiker that was approaching from Mt.Chubetudake had almost come across a bear. (The distance is 10m.)
The bear ran away.
30minutes passed after the hiker left.
Same bear came and found the food at the same place.

Hut keepers said that these bear don’t mind the sound of bear bell and whistle.
They walk very close to hikers, and leave.
Please check whether bears is there or not.
Camping area is now opened.

Please follow the instructions from hut keepers.

There is much water to drink. Depends on weather in this month there might be no water.
(Look at photos!)

Flower report in Mt.Midoridake

At Mt.Midoridake between Daini hanabatake and Eiko no gareba
“Primula cuneifolia” and ”Phyllodoce aleutica ” are good time to see.
On the ridgeline “Gentiana algida” that blooms in the end in all alpine flowers start to bloom.
Short summer on the mountains is about to end.
Remaining snow left on the edge of Daiichi hanabatake.

Mt.Kurodake report
Summer flowers still bloom. But autumn flowers start to bloom.
In the morning and night the temperature is low. (this morning is 10°c at Kurodake Ishimuro)
We found “Arctous alpina var. japonica” turning to red.
Near the Kurodake ishimuro after snow melted, “Geum pentapetalum” , “Phyllodoce caerulea” and “Cassiope lycopodioides (Pall.) D.Don” make communities to bloom.

Around Kumonotaira
“Geum pentapetalum” changed to fluff.
It looks like autumn.
Depends on places “Phyllodoce aleutica” and “Phyllodoce caerulea” make small communities.

About Akaishi river
The flow is calm, the amount of water is small.
Hikers can cross the river.
The situation changes every day.
Prepare your full gear to climb.

About The junction of Mt.Hokuchindake
Hikers have to walk on snow a little.
But most of snow on the trail melted.

Today it is windy, and very chilly.
At Ohachi daira it was very cold.
If you go to Ohachi daira, you need something warm to wear.
Walking to the peak of Mt,Kurodake, it is very hot.
But walking from the peak to Ohachi daira, it is cold.
*this early morning a young brown bear appeared near the Mt.Pon kurodake.
The bear is young and has just stood alone.
Bring your bear bell and noise makers.

*Soubakudai walking course is closed.
Because the course is broke.
No entry!