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This is Page 4 of 5 - the best of July 2010!
posted: July 31st, 2010
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On July 23rd, 24th and 25th Kazuya and I were in the Hakuba Area climbing Norikuradake (2,437 m = 7,994 ft), Mt. Korenge (2,766 m = 9,075 ft), Shiroumadake (2,932 m = 9,620 ft), Shakushidake (2,812 m = 9,226 ft) and Yarigatake (2,903 m = 9,525 ft). By the way ...dake and ...take = high peak. This page covers July 23rd only. Click on any thumbnail to begin.

Begin July 23rd, 7:54 AM
  On Thursday night/Friday morning (July 22/23) we were on a night train to Hakuba. We arrived at Hakuba Station at 4:50 AM on July 23rd. We took a shared taxi to the Ropeway and rode up to its top and then transferred to a Gondola Car and rode up to the final destination. From there we started hiking at 7:40 AM. The first photo in this row was taken as we passed the Tsugaike Kogen Area at 7:53 AM. By the way, this Tsugaike Kogen is the same Tsugaike Kogen which we visited back in March of this year. You can refresh your memory HERE beginning in Row 11, if you so desire. The Tsugaike Kogen adventure back in March continues through Page 2 and Page 3 of that month's photos. The 2nd photo in this row was a new flower for us, it is Diphylleia cymosa ssp. grayi. The 3rd flower was also new for us, it is Kinugasa japonica aka Paris japonica. You may recall that you have seen Paris tetraphylla and Paris verticillata previously, this is another relative of those plants. This one is MUCH larger however - we were amazed.
Jul23_011SIP_ToTsugaike_TsugaikeKogenRC
Jul23_011SIP_To
Tsugaike_TsugaikeKogenRC
Jul23_027_TsugaikeArea_Diphylleia_cymosa_ssp_grayiRC
Jul23_027_TsugaikeArea_
Diphylleia_cymosa_ssp_grayiRC
Jul23_033_TsugaikeArea_Kinugasa_japonicaRC
Jul23_033_Tsugaike
Area_Kinugasa_japonicaRC

  Here is a closer shot of Kinugasa japonica aka Paris japonica in first position. It is followed by a shot of a Primrose (Primula sp.). The 3rd shot is a photo of a very high marshy area we passed through. I adjusted the Shadows and Highlights of this photo to make the Cottongrass stand out more prominently.
Jul23_035_TsugaikeArea_Kinugasa_japonicaRC
Jul23_035_Tsugaike
Area_Kinugasa_japonicaRC
Jul23_051_TsugaikeArea_Primula_spRC
Jul23_051_Tsugaike
Area_Primula_spRC
Jul23_062ACDSH_TsugaikeArea_Scenery_MarshRC
Jul23_062ACDSH_Tsugaike
Area_Scenery_MarshRC

  The first shot in this row is a Heloniopsis orientalis. You may recall that we saw this plant last month at Oze National Park. Today we are at a much higher elevation and also further north, so it is still blooming here. The 2nd shot is the small high marshy area I referred to in the row above. The reflection of the snowfield is what makes this photo nice. In the 3rd shot, we have come to that snowfield shown in the 2nd photo.
Jul23_073_Tenguhara_Heloniopsis_orientalisRC
Jul23_073_Tenguhara_
Heloniopsis_orientalisRC
Jul23_069SIP_Tenguhara_Scenery_MarshRC
Jul23_069SIP_Tenguhara
_Scenery_MarshRC
Jul23_081_AboveTenguhara_Scenery_SnowRC
Jul23_081_AboveTenguhara
_Scenery_SnowRC

  Now it's around 10:00 AM and we are obviously much higher in elevation. The first shot here is a beautiful Rosa nipponensis. The 2nd shot is probably Ranunculus acris ssp. novus - against a beautiful blue sky background. The 3rd shot is Campanula dasyantha ssp. chamissonis - notice how hairy this flower is - the hairs make a very good identification feature.
Jul23_085_AboveTenguhara_Rosa_spRC
Jul23_085_Above
Tenguhara_Rosa_spRC
Jul23_093SIP_AboveTenguhara_Ranunculus_acris_ssp_novusRC
Jul23_093SIP_AboveTenguhara
_Ranunculus_acris_ssp_novusRC
Jul23_099_AboveTenguhara_Campanula_dasyantha_ssp_chamissonisRC
Jul23_099_AboveTenguhara_
Campanula_dasyantha_ssp_chamissonisRC

  Now the time is around 10:30 AM and we are getting close to Hakuba Ooike, or Hakuba Big Pond. There is a Hut on the shore, as you can see, but this is NOT our destination for the day. This photo has been enhanced with Shadow Illuminator Pro, but that did not effect the beautiful water color, it just reduced the shadows in the foreground because the foreground was shaded by a cloud. The 2nd shot is the summit of Norikuradake (Mt. Norikura) (2,437 m = 7,994 ft). It doesn't seem like a mountain, it's more like just a high spot in the trail. The 3rd shot is 2 photos stitched together, it is obviously Hakuba Ooike (Hakuba Big Pond) again. This panorama was also enhanced with Shadow Illuminator Pro.
Jul23_124SIP_HakubaPond_SceneryRC
Jul23_124SIP_
HakubaPond_SceneryRC
Jul23_114_Norikuradake_SignRC
Jul23_114_
Norikuradake_SignRC
Jul23_135_36_Stitch_SIP_HakubaPond_SceneryRC
Jul23_135_36_Stitch_
SIP_HakubaPond_SceneryRC

  Here is me standing at the sign which marks the Hakuba Big Pond (Hakuba Ooike). The 2nd and 3rd shots both show a beautiful patch of Geum pentapetalum.
July23rd141_HakubaOoikeRC
July23rd141
_HakubaOoikeRC
Jul23_158_HakubaPondArea_Geum_pentapetalumRC
Jul23_158_HakubaPond
Area_Geum_pentapetalumRC
Jul23_164_HakubaPondArea_Geum_pentapetalumRC
Jul23_164_HakubaPond
Area_Geum_pentapetalumRC

  Here is another shot of that hairy Campanula - Campanula dasyantha ssp. chamissonis. The 2nd shot is a Dicentra peregrina - you may recall that this is one of my very favorite flowers. Later on you will see the best shot of it which I have ever taken. This shot is against a nice blue sky background. The 3rd shot is a very uncommon flower, it is Linnaea borealis. It has a circumpolar distribution in moist subarctic to cool temperate forests, extending further south at high altitudes in mountains, in Europe south to the Alps, in Asia south to northern Japan, and North America south to northern California and Arizona in the west, and Tennessee in the Appalachian Mountains in the east. It is known as Twinflower (sometimes written twin flower) in English.
Jul23_174_AboveHakubaPond_Campanula_dasyantha_ssp_chamissonisRC
Jul23_174_AboveHakubaPond_
Campanula_dasyantha_ssp_chamissonisRC
Jul23_178_AboveHakubaPond_Dicentra_peregrinaRC
Jul23_178_AboveHakubaPond
_Dicentra_peregrinaRC
July23rd223_ToMtKorenge_LinnaeaBorealisRC
July23rd223_ToMtKorenge
_LinnaeaBorealisRC

  Here is an additional shot of Linnaea borealis (Twinflower). There were so many buds of this plant, but very few in bloom! The 2nd and 3rd shots are additional shots of Dicentra peregrina.
Jul23_203_Linnaea_borealisRC
Jul23_203_
Linnaea_borealisRC
Jul23_212_Dicentra_peregrinaRC
Jul23_212_
Dicentra_peregrinaRC
Jul23_230_Dicentra_peregrinaRC
Jul23_230_
Dicentra_peregrinaRC

  Here is a final shot of Linnaea borealis (Twinflower) in first position. The 2nd shot may be Ranunculus acris ssp. novus - with a mountain scenery background. The 3rd shot is a Tone-mapped scenic image created from 3 bracketed exposures.
Jul23_240_Linnaea_borealisRC
Jul23_240_
Linnaea_borealisRC
Jul23_250_AboveHakubaPond_Ranunculus_acris_ssp_novusRC
Jul23_250_AboveHakubaPond_
Ranunculus_acris_ssp_novusRC
Jul23_252_53_54_Tonemap_AboveHakubaPondSceneryRC
Jul23_252_53_54_Tonemap_
AboveHakubaPondSceneryRC

  In first position in this row is a non-hairy Campanula - Campanula lasiocarpa. In 2nd position is a very strange plant which we could not identify. In fact we are not sure if these brown things are the flowers or the seed heads. Anybody know what it is? In 3rd position is an amazingly beautiful Lily - Lilium medeoloides - against a blue sky background.
Jul23_258_Campanula_lasiocarpaRC
Jul23_258_Campanula
_lasiocarpaRC
Jul23_260_UnknownBrownFlowerPlantRC
Jul23_260_Unknown
BrownFlowerPlantRC
Jul23_263_BeautifulOrangeLilyRC
Jul23_263_
BeautifulOrangeLilyRC

  Here is an additional Lilium medeoloides against a blue sky background. This shot has been enhanced with Shadow Illuminator Pro. The 2nd shot is a scenic shot as we get closer to Mt. Korenge. The 3rd shot is another scenic shot.
Jul23_269SIP_BeautifulOrangeLilyRC
Jul23_269SIP_
BeautifulOrangeLilyRC
Jul23_282SIP_NearMtKorenge_SceneryRC
Jul23_282SIP_Near
MtKorenge_SceneryRC
Jul23_293SIP_NearMtKorenge_SceneryRC
Jul23_293SIP_Near
MtKorenge_SceneryRC

  We have gotten high enough again to be able to see back to Hakuba Big Pond (Hakuba Ooike) in this first shot. The time is now 1:38 PM. The 2nd shot is a pretty big snow field. This area has Japan's largest permanent snowfields. The 3rd shot is Viola crassa ssp. alpicola - a new violet for us!
Jul23_296SIP_NearMtKorenge_SceneryRC
Jul23_296SIP_Near
MtKorenge_SceneryRC
Jul23_297_NearMtKorenge_SceneryRC
Jul23_297_NearMt
Korenge_SceneryRC
July23rd349_ToMtKorenge_ViolaCrassaSspAlpicolaRC
July23rd349_ToMtKorenge
_ViolaCrassaSspAlpicolaRC

  Here is the summit of Mt. Korenge (2,766 m = 9,075 ft)! We made it to the first semi-major mountain. The time is now 2:04 PM, we've been hiking for about 6 hours now. We stopped here to eat the lunch we brought with us and the 2nd photo shows me preparing to leave at 2:28 PM. The 3rd shot is an additional shot of Viola crassa ssp. alpicola. You will find a final shot of this Violet in the next row.
Jul23_307_MtKorenge_Summit_RC
Jul23_307_Mt
Korenge_Summit_RC
July23rd382_ToMtKorengeRC
July23rd382
_ToMtKorengeRC
Jul23_322_MtKorenge_Viola_crassaRC
Jul23_322_Mt
Korenge_Viola_crassaRC

  Here is the final shot of Viola crassa ssp. alpicola. The 2nd shot is a very snowy scenic shot. The 3rd shot is that shot I mentioned above - the very best shot I have ever taken of Dicentra peregrina. It's also been enhanced with Shadow Illuminator Pro.
Jul23_327_MtKorenge_Viola_crassaRC
Jul23_327_Mt
Korenge_Viola_crassaRC
July23rd411_ToMtShiroumaRC
July23rd411_
ToMtShiroumaRC
Jul23_350SIP_MtKorenge_Dicentra_peregrinaRC
Jul23_350SIP_MtKorenge
_Dicentra_peregrinaRC

  In this row you see 3 scenic shots taken between Mt. Korenge and Shiroumadake. The time is getting to be around 3:15 PM.
Jul23_355_MikuniSakai_SceneryRC
Jul23_355_Mikuni
Sakai_SceneryRC
July23rd413_ToMtShiroumaRC
July23rd413
_ToMtShiroumaRC
Jul23_357_MikuniSakai_SceneryRC
Jul23_357_Mikuni
Sakai_SceneryRC

  Way down off the trail we could see this pink color. We looked through our camera viewfinders and zoomed in and noted that there was a huge patch of Dicentra peregrina. They didn't want people leaving the trail, so we stayed where we were rather than going after it. Here is one faraway shot to give you an idea of what we saw anyway. The 2nd shot is an additional scenic shot. The 3rd photo here is a Lagotis glauca. There was lots of this flower, but it was mostly past its peak. There were still a few in bloom though.
Jul23_368_Faraway_Dicentra_peregrinaRC
Jul23_368_Faraway
_Dicentra_peregrinaRC
Jul23_377_NearMikuniSakai_SceneryRC
Jul23_377_NearMikuni
Sakai_SceneryRC
Jul23_381_NearMtShiroumadake_Lagotis_glaucaRC
Jul23_381_NearMtShiroumadake
_Lagotis_glaucaRC

  Here is one more Lagotis glauca photo in first position. The 2nd shot is a collage of "Brocken Spectre". It is actually only 2 photos - the top 2 photos are just as they came from the camera and the bottom 2 photos are the top 2 photos which have been enhanced by various Photoshop methods. We had only seen a Brocken Spectre once before and only for a brief time. That was at Mt. Yatsugatake and it was in July 2009. The 3rd shot is getting closer to Shiroumadake. This mountain had so many false peaks that it was shocking. We could keep seeing a peak off in the distance and we told ourselves "that must be the peak" and when we got there we could see another peak in front of us. The time is now 4:20 PM - we've been hiking over 8 hours.
Jul23_384_NearMtShiroumadake_Lagotis_glaucaRC
Jul23_384_NearMtShiroumadake
_Lagotis_glaucaRC
Jul23_404_405_NearMtShiroumadake_BrockenSpectreRCRC
Jul23_404_405_NearMt
Shiroumadake_BrockenSpectreRCRC
Jul23_409_NearMtShiroumadake_SceneryRC
Jul23_409_NearMt
Shiroumadake_SceneryRC

  Ah, that next peak is surely the true peak of Shiroumadake - I can see the marker on it!! The 2nd shot is me at the summit of Shiroumadake (2,932 m = 9,620 ft). The 3rd shot shows some very brightly colored Pedicularis verticillata.
Jul23_410_NearMtShiroumadake_SceneryRC
Jul23_410_NearMt
Shiroumadake_SceneryRC
July23rd501_ToMtShiroumaRC
July23rd501
_ToMtShiroumaRC
Jul23_414_NearMtShiroumadake_Pedicularis_verticillataRC
Jul23_414_NearMtShiroumadake
_Pedicularis_verticillataRC

  Here is another shot of the Shiroumadake summit sign. The 2nd shot is our goal - the Shiroumadake Hut, we'll spend the night there. The 3rd shot is another shot of the summit monument. The time is 4:37 PM.
Jul23_419_MtShiroumadake_SummitRC
Jul23_419_Mt
Shiroumadake_SummitRC
Jul23_423_MtShiroumadake_ToHutRC
Jul23_423_Mt
Shiroumadake_ToHutRC
Jul23_420_MtShiroumadake_SummitRC
Jul23_420_Mt
Shiroumadake_SummitRC

  Now it's around 6:30 PM. We have eaten our supper - it was served at 5:45 PM. It was pretty good food, especially considering that they don't give you any choices - everybody gets exactly the same thing. All supplies are flown in to here by helicopter. A beer will cost you 600 Yen (around $6 USD) - of course we had a beer each after supper. Anyway, I am getting sidetracked. We are now waiting for sunset and these photos all exhibit long shadows and some initial sunset colors. The first 2 shots show Shakushidake (2,812 m = 9,226 ft) - near - and Yarigatake (2,903 m = 9,525 ft) - far - mountains which we will climb tomorrow. The 3rd shot is a sea of clouds out over the Sea of Japan.
Jul23_425_MtShiroumadakeHut_SunsetTime_MtShakushidake_MtYarigatakeRC
Jul23_425_MtShiroumadakeHut_Sunset
Time_MtShakushidake_MtYarigatakeRC
Jul23_426_MtShiroumadakeHut_SunsetTime_MtShakushidake_MtYarigatakeRC
Jul23_426_MtShiroumadakeHut_Sunset
Time_MtShakushidake_MtYarigatakeRC
Jul23_432_MtShiroumadakeHut_SunsetTimeRC
Jul23_432_MtShiroumadake
Hut_SunsetTimeRC

  In the 1st and 2nd photos you can see the moon and a huge thunderhead cloud. The 3rd shot shows the shadow of the mountain which we are on.
Jul23_435_MtShiroumadakeHut_SunsetTime_MoonRC
Jul23_435_MtShiroumadake
Hut_SunsetTime_MoonRC
Jul23_438_MtShiroumadakeHut_SunsetTime_MoonRC
Jul23_438_MtShiroumadake
Hut_SunsetTime_MoonRC
Jul23_442_MtShiroumadakeHut_SunsetTime_OurMtnShadowRC
Jul23_442_MtShiroumadake
Hut_SunsetTime_OurMtnShadowRC

  The first shot in this row shows some good sunset color on that thunderhead cloud. The 2nd shot shows Tsurugidake (the tallest peak) and the Tateyama Mountains - we climbed over there last year in September 2009. The 3rd shot is once again, Shakushidake (2,812 m = 9,226 ft) - near - and Yarigatake (2,903 m = 9,525 ft) - far - mountains which we will climb tomorrow
Jul23_456_MtShiroumadakeHut_SunsetTimeRC
Jul23_456_MtShiroumadake
Hut_SunsetTimeRC
Jul23_447_48_49_MtShiroumadakeHut_SunsetTime_MtTsurugidakeRC
Jul23_447_48_49_MtShiroumadake
Hut_SunsetTime_MtTsurugidakeRC
July23rd575_HakubaSansouRC
July23rd575_
HakubaSansouRC

  Here are 2 final sunset shots. That's all for this day. On the next page you can continue following this adventure, starting at 6:14 AM July 24th.
Jul23_468_MtShiroumadakeHut_SunsetTime_MoonRC
Jul23_468_MtShiroumadake
Hut_SunsetTime_MoonRC
Jul23_472_MtShiroumadakeHut_SunsetTimeRC
Jul23_472_MtShiroumadake
Hut_SunsetTimeRC
End Page 4, End July 23rd
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