Visitor Center Report

Perfectly round “snowcaps” that form when snow piles up on stones in the river are something that can only be seen in winter.
The snowcaps in the photo clearly illustrate the process by which they are made.
As can be seen, they are formed by layers of accumulating snow.
Soon, the Ishikari River will be filled with these snowcaps, and a unique winter landscape will be completed.
Photo: Snowcaps Jan. 19

An immense Hokkaido snowfield stretching out as far as the eye can see…
In today’s fine weather, it is possible to see where the tracks of various animals lead.
Although simply seeing animal tracks brings a variety of images to the imagination, it is even more fun to view them while walking through the snowfield on snowshoes.
Why don’t you venture outside to do animal watching this winter?
Photos: Lepus timidus ainu tracks seen at Daisetsu Kogen Asahigaoka Jan. 19

During a walk on snowshoes, I was suddenly overcome by a sense of danger.
I stopped and quickly looked to the side. And there I saw what you can see in the photos. On this cold day, the fox was apparently napping in the snow.
It immediately jumped up and disappeared into the forest, its fluffy tail trailing behind.
However, at the base of this tail is an anal gland that produces a terrible stink.
There is also another kind of “fox stink”: the smell of fox urine.
In addition to urine, foxes have a “violet gland” at the tail that, as the name suggests, produces a smell similar to violets. They also have “scent glands” between the pads of their paws that produces a slightly sweet smell as well as other glands. Thus, though cute to look at, the Vulpes vulpes schrencki produces a variety of smells.
Photos: Vulpes vulpes schrencki Jan 18

Although the current temperature has risen to -8°C, this morning the thermometer outside the center read -22°C.
It was so cold that I really thought about giving up my reporting duties for today, but I also knew that the snow would continue.
I decided to take advantage of the opportunity to photograph scenery that only winter provides, and went out.
And just as I expected, I encountered various sights that are unique to this season, including “air frost” (shown in the photo at left), “frost flowers” (center), and “snow caps” (right).
But…
It was very cold…
Photos: Air frost and other sights Jan. 18

It has been some time since we’ve enjoyed views like this, as the weather has been continuously bad lately.
The left-hand and center photos were taken from Daisetsu Kogen Asahigaoka. Although the sun had risen, it was blocked by the sun, resulting in slightly dark images. However, they still show the majesty of the peaks as seen from this spot.
The right-hand photo was taken near the Bells of Espoir in Kamikawa Town.
The weather is improving gradually, and today smoke from Mt. Asahi could be seen. (The mountain on the left is Mt. Kurodake; the volcanic smoke is on the right side of the photo.)
Photos: The Daisetsuzan peaks Jan. 18