Archives: October 2014

The snow that started falling yesterday created the scenes shown in the photos in the gorge’s upper areas.
Mt. Kurodake’s eastern face is completely covered with snow, and Sekihoku Pass and other areas have snow on the ground.
Cars going over the pass will require winter tires.
Please note that the trails on Mt. Kurodake are very slippery. Climbers going with a “summer mindset” will face extreme difficulty.
Also, please note that the climbing office at Mt. Kurodake’s 7th Station will close on the 16th.
As for the fall foliage in the gorge, more and more leaves are falling, although colorful leaves can still be seen in some areas.
Photos: Sounkyo Gorge (left and center) and the vicinity of the 5th Station (right) Oct. 15

The weather at Sounkyo today has been unstable, with cloudy skies and occasional rain. And the wind is very strong.
Nonetheless, the gorge’s fall leaves are hanging on from its entrance to the area of the hot spring village.
However, it must be remembered that it is mid-October. Although browning and falling leaves are noticeable now, in some places bright red Acer japonicum can still be seen.
Tomorrow’s weather report predicts lighter winds and sunshine. Because the leaves in the gorge are along the national route, I ask everyone who visits to please drive safely.
If you’re planning to go over the pass, please check the weather forecasts before setting out. At this time of year, there is a very good chance that rain will turn to snow at high altitudes.
*For mountain information, see: http://sounkyovc.net/trails/kuro/141012%2013soun.pdf

Photos: Fall leaves near the power station (left and center) and Sounkyo Gorge (right) Oct. 11

The photo shows Sounkyo Gorge as it looks today.
The wind blew hard for several days, but it looks as if its effects were minimal. But… Tomorrow’s forecast predicts strong wind again.
The fall foliage is still gorgeous (although there is some withering in the upper areas of the gorge), and in some places exceptionally beautiful colors can be enjoyed.
As a reader of this blog undoubtedly knows, the fall coloring has come down to the base of the Daisetsuzan mountains. Right now, the leaves are beautiful in an area that starts at the hot spring village and extends in the direction of Asahikawa for about 10 km and in the direction of Obihiro for about 5 km.
However, about two weeks have passed since the fall foliage season began here, and browning leaves are starting to appear.
The low temperature early this morning was below zero again. Please dress warmly if you’re planning to come out to see the leaves.
I should mention that the leaves’ appearance is changing day by day. This change will become particularly evident at the end of the season. foliage, I suggest you do so soon.
If you intend to see the fall
Acer japonicum leaves are still beautiful. However, it’s obvious that many of the leaves are falling.
In Momijidani Valley, Sounkyo’s popular walking course, some of the
*For mountain information, see: http://sounkyovc.net/trails/kuro/141009soun.pdf
Photo: Sounkyo Gorge Oct. 9

It was very cold this morning.
The temperature outside the center was -2°C, which was the coldest recorded so far this fall.
I would like to report that the fall foliage in the gorge is still beautiful.
However, as I have mentioned in several previous posts, more and more leaves in upper areas are withering noticeably.
Nonetheless, the yellow leaves have taken on much fuller coloring in the past few days. The red leaves of the Acer japonicum; the yellow leaves of the Acer tschonoskii, birch, Tilia japonica, and Populus suaveolens; and the green leaves of the pines… They all come together to create a wonderful contrast in colors.
But tomorrow’s forecast predicts strong winds. I just hope the leaves can hang on.
For mountain information, see: http://sounkyovc.net/trails/kuro/141007soun.pdf
Photos: Sounkyo Gorge (left and center) and Momijidani (right) Oct. 7

The photos show Sounkyo Gorge as it looks today.
Although some withering is becoming noticeable in the upper areas, the fall foliage continues to be beautiful. However, the season appears to be passing its peak.
It’s hard to predict how the typhoon will affect the leaves in the days ahead; however, so far the coloring this year is just as lovely in the gorge as it was in the mountains.
For mountain information, see: http://sounkyovc.net/trails/kuro/141005soun.pdf
Photos: Sounkyo Gorge Oct. 5