Visitor Center Report

Around 8th station of Mt.Kurodake snow has melted.
All trail to Mt.Kurodake is now snow.
(around 7th station of Mt.Kurodake trail is muddy because of heavy rain)

From 8th station many kinds of flower are blooming, especially around 9th station to the summit “Weigela middendorffiana” makes big community to bloom.
“Trollius hondoensis” spreads out to bloom.

From the summit of Mt.Kurodake to Mt.Pomn kurodake “Pennellianthus frutescens” and “Therorhodion camtschaticum” start to bloom.
It will take more time to bloom fully.
(“Bryanthus gmelinii” starts to bloom.)

Around Kumonodaira
The other day it rained heavily and today it is sunny and rising temperatures.
“Geum pentapetalum” makes a big community to bloom.
It is so beautiful.
Between Northeast slope of Mt.Kurodake and Kumonodaira
Flowers are really good time to see.
(depends on weather this situation will change. Please enjoy seeing flower.)

*Akaishi river is calm, flow is fast little bit. Hikers can cross.
*Snow gorge under the junction of Mt.hokuchindake is dangerous.
When walking down and it is foggy, be careful.

We hold Center lecture ”Ukishima wetland” observation meeting.
We went to Ukisima wetland.
We watched wet plants.

Next lecture is August 18th.
We will tell about place later.

Komakusa daira

Komakusa daira in Mt.Akadake is really beautiful.” Dicentra peregrina” is full blooming.
Depends on weather, hikers will be able to see flowers for a while.

But there are many snow spots.
You need your all outfit to climb mountains, and be careful to walk, please.

Around Mt.Akadake and Mt.Koizumi , “Patrinia sibirica”, “Pennellianthus frutescens” , “Pedicularis oederi var. heteroglossa” and “Viola crassa Makino” are blooming.
About “Lagotis glauca Gaertn” some of them is still blooming, totally they are dying.

Mt.Kurodake　report

There is only one snow gorge in Mt.Kurodake.
Near the 8th station sign pole there is 2m snow gorge.
(Watch your step.)
Around 9th station of Mt.Kurodake “Trollius japonicus” and “Weigela middendorffiana” bloom and make communities.
“Flower season has come in Mt.Kurodake.”
From the summit to Mt.Pon kurodake “Therorhodion camtschaticum” and “Pennellianthus frutescens” start blooming.
And a few days ago “Patrinia sibirica (L.) Juss” and “Dicentra peregrina” bloomed.
In a few days it will be lively flower garden!
From Ishimuro lodge to Kumonodaira “Rhododendron aureum”, “Geum pentapetalum”, “Phyllodoce caerulea” , “Potentilla matsumurae” and “Primula cuneifolia Ledeb. var. hakusanensis Makino” are blooming now.
Each flowers makes communities to bloom, has many buds, and has already died.
We hope weather gets better.
In “Kumonotaira” many flowers make big communities, but the other day frost came down.
So some flowers don’t bloom.

*Akaishi river the flow is calm and the amount of water is low. Depends on the weather, the river will be changed.
*under the Mt.hokuchin junction this trail is very steep. Watch your step when walking down.

We found “Ochotona hyperborea yesoensisKishida” at Mt.PonKurodake that is near the Kurodake ishimuro lodge.
He was finding food.
“Ochotona hyperborea yesoensisKishida” sometimes eats “alpine flowers” as shown in the picture.
They eat “Cassiope lycopodioides (Pall.) D.Don” and ”Trollius hondoensis “
(picture lower part)

Basically they are plant-eating animals.
They eat many kinds of plant, and also eat lichen.
(picture upper part)
Many people in main island in Japan who want to see “Ochotona hyperborea yesoensisKishida” visit Mt.Kurodake.
How about watching “Ochotona hyperborea yesoensisKishida” in a break time or staying Kurodake ishimuro?