Visitor Center Report

We have published “Center News no.88 November”
This month cover is “ chipmunk in the foothill”

Thank you for watching our homepage.

We show “chipmunk”, “autumn leaves in the gorge”,
”autumn leaves and snow“, “beautiful art of falling leaves” , “frost columns”,
“brown bear” “lectures” and so on.

Please check and read our top page on our site.

It has been cold.
In the early morning the temperature is minus degrees.
It’s freezing.
This year’s first snow was later than the average year.
(last year October 5th, this year October 29th)
After first snow it snows lightly, and isn’t covered with snow.

Today we saw beautiful hoarfrost in the Sounkyo gorge.
Now snow is melting, it is not enough to ski, make a snowman.
Last year we had amount 209cm snow!!
This year the amount of snow will less than normal year in November.

~To foreign people who want climbing to mountains~
We don’t recommend to go climbing in winter season.
Because it is very dangerous.
When it is storm, you will miss the trail and might be frozen to death.

Finally it snowed in Sounkyo.
Last year it snowed October 5th.
This year’s first snow is really late, almost a month later.
But we could see beautiful autumn leaves for a long time, it is longest in 10 years.

Now it isn’t snowing so hard.
Until a few minutes ago it snowed very hard.
We couldn’t see anything.

Now all leaves are falling down, now everything is covered with snow.

From beginning of November it will sunny.
It will take long time until the snow stays until spring.

Foreign people always ask us two questions.
1, “where do we see autumn leaves? “
In Japan we have four seasons. But some countries don’t have seasons.
We wonder they believe one season continue forever.

2,Light dressed climbing people (including light dressed kids)
Some foreigners say “we took a public bus to climb mountains from Asahikawa to Sounkyo.”(they arrived Sounkyo at 10:30.)
We said “ now is winter, not summer! Your light dressed is not suit for climbing now. When it is snow and foggy, you will be lost. Anyway it is dangerous! And all the trails are under the snow, and slippery.”
But they said “we know about them, don’t worry! We have climbed mountains many times.”
We talked each other.
But today Rope way didn’t move because of strong wind, and chair lift is under the construction.
They gave up climbing.
If they go climbing, they won’t be in time to get the return ropeway.

This year many foreign people still ask about climbing.
We talk them out of climbing mountains.
We try hard to keep everyone informed about climbing in October.

It is extremely cold.
In the early morning the temperature was 1°c.
Beginning this week it will snow on the mountains, and around Mikuni pass, Sekihoku pass, Kitami pass.

From Kamikawa town to Sounkyo you can see beautiful autumn leaves.
In some place leaves is falling, changing bad color.
it is still beautiful, so hurry up to see it.

This year we can see autumn leaves for a very long time.
This year’s period will be the longest! It is not unusual.
This autumn’s climate and temperature may suit many kinds of leaves.

When visiting Sounkyo, it’s cold outside, make sure you wrap up.

Today autumn leaves is still beautiful.
In Momijidani some leaves of “Acer japonicum” start falling.
In Sounkyo gorge some leaves are falling, and turning brown.
But both are still beautiful.
Depending on the place some leaves is getting bright.
Please come and see beautiful leaves.