 |
posted: May 31st, 2012 |
Go To Page:
|
|
This page begins with May 4th and a trip to Kazuya's hometown of Funagata - in Yamagata Prefecture. We then jump to May 6th, a trip to Okutama Lake and climb to Ogouchi Pass (1,050 m = 3,445 ft) then a climb of Mt. Sougaku (1,341 m = 4,400 ft) and Mt. Gozen (1,405 m = 4,610 ft). Those 2 dates fill this page. Click on any thumbnail to begin.
|
| Begin May 4th |
As the header says, we went to Kazuya's hometown of Funagata, in Yamagata Prefecture, at the start of the month. The first 12 rows of photos were taken there - all on May 4th. In this first row are 3 fine examples of Viola rostrata var. japonica.
|
 May4th_ Funagata003_RC |
 May04_02_Sabaneyama _Viola_rostrata_RC |
 May04_04_Sabaneyama _Viola_rostrata_RC |
In this row are 3 examples of Epigaea asiatica - the flowers of this little plant have such an amazing color.
|
 May04_17_Sabaneyama _Epigaea_asiatica_RC |
 May04_19_Sabaneyama _Epigaea_asiatica_RC |
 May04_20_Sabaneyama _Epigaea_asiatica_RC |
Here is a telephoto shot of the local river in flood stage. Lots of rain plus the snow runoff. The 2nd and 3rd shots show beautiful examples of Viburnum furcatum.
|
 May04_25_Sabaneyama _RiverFlooding_RC |
 May04_26_Sabane yama_Viburnum_sp_RC |
 May04_30_Sabane yama_Viburnum_sp_RC |
Here is an additional shot of Epigaea asiatica. That is followed by a shot of Viola violacea var. makinoi and the 3rd shot is another shot of the flooding river.
|
 May04_32_Sabaneyama _Epigaea_asiatica_RC |
 May4th_ Funagata056_RC |
 May04_37_Sabaneyama _RiverFlooding_RC |
In first position is this row is a shot of Viola rostrata var. japonica. In 2nd position is another shot of Viola violacea var. makinoi and in 3rd position is a scenic shot showing the river, cherry blossoms and a mountainous background.
|
 May4th_ Funagata062_RC |
 May04_47_Sabaneyama_Viola _violacea_var_makinoi_RC |
 May4th_ Funagata078_RC |
Here is a violet you have not yet seen this year, in fact we have only found it once before in our violet hunting - it is Viola faurieana. The 3rd shot also shows this violet. In center position is a shot of Kazuya - with his camera in his hand!
|
 May04_61_Sabaneyama _Viola_fauriaeana_RC |
 May04_55_Sabane yama_Kazuya_RC |
 May04_64_Sabaneyama _Viola_fauriaeana_RC |
Here are 2 more shots of Viola faurieana. When did we find it before? I think it was just last year. The 3rd shot shows me in front of a cherry tree. Although the cherry blossoms have been finished around Tokyo for some weeks now, they were at their peak further north.
|
 May04_69_Sabaneyama _Viola_fauriaeana_RC |
 May04_71_Sabaneyama _Viola_fauriaeana_RC |
 May4th_ Funagata102_RC |
Here is a rather stunning shot of a cherry tree. That's followed by 2 additional shots of Viola faurieana.
|
 May04_78_Sabane yama_Cherry_RC |
 May04_90_Sabaneyama _Viola_faurieana_RC |
 May04_91_Sabaneyama _Viola_faurieana_RC |
In this row are 2 examples of Heloniopsis orientalis and an example of Erythronium japonicum (Trout Lily).
|
 May04_101_Sabaneyama_ Heloniopsis_orientalis_RC |
 May04_103_Sabaneyama_ Heloniopsis_orientalis_RC |
 May04_107_Sabaneyama_ Erythronium_japonicum_RC |
In first position in this row is a cherry tree in full bloom which is partially hiding behind a small hill. As I came up to the top of the small hill I took the 2nd shot. The 3rd shot is a good example of Anemone pseudoaltaica.
|
 May04_113_Sabaneyama _CherryBlossoms_RC |
 May04_117_Sabaneyama _CherryBlossoms_RC |
 May04_118_Sabaneyama_ Anemone_pseudoaltaica_RC |
In first place in this row is a fairly good shot of Viola vaginata and then 2 shots of a species of Asarum. The 3rd shot is a macro shot of the flower you can see in the 2nd shot.
|
 May04_129_Sabaneyama_ Viola_vaginata_RC |
 May04_133_Sabane yama_Asarum_sp_RC |
 May04_134_Sabane yama_Asarum_sp_RC |
Here are 2 final examples of Viola vaginata and those are followed by a shot of another Trout Lily (Erythronium japonicum).
|
 May04_142_Sabaneyama _Viola_vaginata_RC |
 May4th_ Funagata145_RC |
 May04_144_Sabaneyama_ Erythronium_japonicum_RC |
| End May 4th, Begin May 6th |
It wanted to do nothing but rain while we were in Funagata, so we headed for home on Saturday, May 5th. On May 6th we went out to Okutama Lake and climbed up to Ogouchi Pass (1,050 m = 3,445 ft) and then continued on to Mt. Sougaku (1,341 m = 4,400 ft) and from there we went to Mt. Gozen (1,405 m = 4,610 ft). We were caught in 2 different thunderstorms - the first one, as we neared Ogouchi Pass - only lasted a few moments and then it got sunny again. We were a bit scared by all the lightning crackling around us, but we were NOT the tallest things on the mountain, so we were not too worried. Then, as we neared Mt. Gozen a 2nd thunder storm hit. This one did not end quickly, in fact it did not end until after we were on the train headed for home! But, I am ahead of myself here - as you can see in these first 3 photos - it started out as a beautiful sunny day as we hiked around Okutama Lake to get to the starting point of the trail we would climb up.
|
 May06_01_Okutama LakeScenery_RC |
 May6th003_ OgouchiPass_RC |
 May06_07_Okutama LakeScenery_RC |
More sunny skies! The 2nd shot is zoomed in to the bare mountain which you can see in the first photo. Note that spring has not yet sprung at the higher elevations. In the 3rd shot - the near ridge is what we will climb up to get to Ogouchi Pass.
|
 May06_10_Okutama LakeScenery_RC |
 May06_12_Okutama LakeScenery_RC |
 May06_16_Okutama LakeScenery_RC |
Here, in 1st and 3rd positions, are the first species of violets we saw today which we deemed worthy of photographing. These are Viola sieboldi. The center shot is a great one for showing the delicate greens of early spring.
|
 May06_21_EnrouteOgouchi Pass_Viola_sieboldi_RC |
 May06_19_Okutama LakeScenery_RC |
 May06_27_EnrouteOgouchi Pass_Viola_sieboldi_RC |
Here is another violet which we have only seen once before. The first time we saw this one was now several years ago! These 3 shots show Viola grypoceras f. purpurellocalcarata.
|
 May6th036_Ogouchi Pass_RC |
 May06_39_EnrouteOgouchiPass_Viola _grypoceras_f_purpurellocalcarata_RC |
 May06_41_EnrouteOgouchiPass_Viola _grypoceras_f_purpurellocalcarata_RC |
In first position in this row is another Viola grypoceras f. purpurellocalcarata. In 2nd position is a shot which shows the firebreak trail which we were hiking on up to Ogouchi Pass. The 3rd shot is a Viola chaerophylloides f. sieboldiana. Amazingly, we have found this one several times this year. Generally we only find it every 2 or 3 years, so we have been very fortunate this year.
|
 May06_44_EnrouteOgouchiPass_Viola _grypoceras_f_purpurellocalcarata_RC |
 May06_52_EnrouteOgouchi PassScenery_RC |
 May06_47_EnrouteOgouchiPass_Viola _chaerophylloides_f_sieboldiana_RC |
In 1st and 3rd positions in this row you can see Viola violacea var. makinoi. You may recall that we call this "the hands-up violet" because of the way the leaves stick up around the flower. In center position is another shot of the firebreak trail which we were hiking on. Oh, we have now reached Ogouchi Pass.
|
 May06_72_OgouchiPassArea_ Viola_violacea_var_makinoi_RC |
 May06_66_EnrouteOgouchi PassScenery_RC |
 May06_74_OgouchiPassArea_ Viola_violacea_var_makinoi_RC |
Here are 3 additional shots of Viola violacea var. makinoi. Note the "hands-up" in the center photo.
|
 May06_82_OgouchiPassArea_ Viola_violacea_var_makinoi_RC |
 May06_76_OgouchiPassArea_ Viola_violacea_var_makinoi_RC |
 May6th095_ OgouchiPass_RC |
Well, here is something we never expected to find here. The 1st and 3rd photos show a Viola hirtipes. We only found one plant of this species today! In center position - out of chronological order for balance - is a shot of me at the summit of Mt. Sougaku.
|
 May06_99_OgouchiPass Area_Vioa_hirtipes_RC |
 May6th127_ MtSougaku_RC |
 May06_101_OgouchiPass Area_Vioa_hirtipes_RC |
Now we have passed the summit of Mt. Gozen (in the thunder storm) and we are headed down. We only see this violet rarely, so we had to get our cameras out when we found it. In 1st and 3rd positions are shots of Viola shikokiana. In center position (for balance) is a shot of Trout Lily (Erythronium japonicum). Oh, although it may look sunny in these 3 photos, let me assure you - it is not!
|
 May06_110_ComingDownMt Gozen_Viola_shikokiana_RC |
 May6th130 _MtGozen_RC |
 May06_113_ComingDownMt Gozen_Viola_shikokiana_RC |
In these 3 photos it also appears to be sunny - it was actually raining quite heavily. We had rain jackets on, but our pants were quite soaked. These were taken after we hit the small road which would take us to the highway. In the 2nd shot - the bus stop we are headed for is on the left end of that bridge. The little road we are on will bring us out on the right side of the bridge. The 3rd shot was taken from the bridge while we waited for the bus. We were quite fortunate in that we only had to wait for a bus for about 10 minutes.
|
 May6th141 _MtGozen_RC |
 May6th143_ Sakaibashi_RC |
 May6th146_ Sakaibashi_RC |
| End May 6th, End Page 1 |
| Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this page. Now, please go on to Page 2 for the continuation of this month's adventures. Page 2 begins with May 11th. |
Go To Page:
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Link to Amazon.com (new window).
We get 2% of whatever you spend if you go to Amazon from this link!! Please shop on Amazon from here.
| If you would like to donate to our hiking & traveling fund or show your appreciation for our efforts you can donate through PayPal. A single donation will entitle you to request a single full-sized photo IN THE DONATION MONTH - which you may then use as a desktop wallpaper or whatever. The copyright will be retained by us and the photo will be inconspicuously marked with the copyright symbol (©), year and photographer's name. (Donation probably not tax deductible.) |