danwiz.com
This is Page 2 of 4 - the best of June 2011!
posted: June 30th, 2011
Go To Page:

This page begins with June 18th at 5:42 AM as we begin the 2nd day of our adventure on Mt. Akita-Komagatake. This page does not include all of the photos of June 18th - it goes through only 11:27 AM. You'll have to go on to page 3 to finish June 18th. Click on any thumbnail to begin.

Begin June 18th
  The first photo in this row was taken at 5:42 AM as we left the hut after cooking and eating our breakfast, packing our backpacks and so on. As you can see - it is cloudy again. The 2nd shot was taken at 6:53 AM at Amidaike (Amida Pond) - up at 1,535 meters in elevation (= 5,036 feet). The 3rd photo was shot at 6:56 AM - also at Amida Pond. Is it going to get sunny, will the clouds burn off, only time will tell.
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake001RC
June18th_MtAkita
komagatake001RC
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake005RC
June18th_MtAkita
komagatake005RC
Jun18_005_AkitaKomagatake_AmidaikeRC
Jun18_005_Akita
Komagatake_AmidaikeRC

  This is Mt. Onamedake (1,637 meters = 5,371 feet), the highest peak of this mountain complex. We will climb it later on this afternoon - when we return to this area. Right now we are going to leave our packs at the Amida Pond Hut and then hike in a huge circle. The 2nd and 3rd shots in this row are Viola crassa - you may recall from the previous page that this is the first time we have ever seen this species, so we are a bit excited about finding it.
Jun18_007_AkitaKomagatake_MtOnamedakeRC
Jun18_007_Akita
Komagatake_MtOnamedakeRC
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake011RC
June18th_MtAkita
komagatake011RC
Jun18_014_AkitaKomagatake_Viola_crassaRC
Jun18_014_Akita
Komagatake_Viola_crassaRC

  The first shot in this row is a fine example of Potentilla matsumurae and its abundance right now. We were here at the peak of flowering season for this species. The 2nd shot is looking down into Moomin Valley through the thinning clouds. You may say "what is Moomin Valley"? Well, Moomin Valley is a fictional place, where the Moomins live in the tales by Finnish author Tove Jansson. Moomin Valley is a quiet, peaceful place somewhere in Finland. It was first discovered by Tove Janson in 1945. In Moomin Valley, eggshells turn into clouds and the rivers are periodically full of Raspberry Juice. In Moomin Valley, giant snow horses come to life and the Queen of the Cold rides across the sky on winters nights. Sounds like a magical place, eh? We'll hike through Moomin Valley in a while. The 3rd shot here is a Dicentra peregrina with a small flower bud. It was still too early to find many flowers of this plant, but we did find a few. Note that there is also a Viola crassa in this photo.
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake024RC
June18th_MtAkita
komagatake024RC
Jun18_030_AkitaKomagatake_MoominValleyRC
Jun18_030_Akita
Komagatake_MoominValleyRC
Jun18_034_AkitaKomagatake_Dicentra_peregrinaRC
Jun18_034_AkitaKomagatake
_Dicentra_peregrinaRC

  Here is a single flower of Dicentra peregrina, the common names of this plant include "Bleeding Heart" "Dutchman's Breeches" and more. The 2nd shot shows a huge volcanic scree slope which we are hiking across. The Viola crassa and the Dicentra peregrina thrive in this type of soil. The 3rd shot is once again, looking down into Moomin Valley (see Row Text for Row #3).
Jun18_038_AkitaKomagatake_Dicentra_peregrinaRC
Jun18_038_AkitaKomagatake
_Dicentra_peregrinaRC
Jun18_042_AkitaKomagatake_BigScreeSlopeAreaRC
Jun18_042_AkitaKomagatake
_BigScreeSlopeAreaRC
Jun18_043_AkitaKomagatake_BigScreeSlopeAreaRC
Jun18_043_AkitaKomagatake
_BigScreeSlopeAreaRC

  In 1st and 3rd position are shots of Viola crassa. In 2nd position is a Panorama of the "Big Scree Slope" and it also shows a portion of Moomin Valley.
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake041RC
June18th_MtAkita
komagatake041RC
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake043_044_PanoramaRC
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake
043_044_PanoramaRC
Jun18_050_AkitaKomagatake_Viola_crassaRC
Jun18_050_Akita
Komagatake_Viola_crassaRC

  Here are 2 additional shots of Viola crassa and a signpost which shows us which way to turn. We came from the 1,583 direction. Now we are going to turn to the right and end up - eventually - back at the Amida Pond Hut. When we get there we'll retrieve our backpacks and come along this same trail again. When we arrive back at this signpost later today we'll go left - to a Hot Spring.
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake048RC
June18th_MtAkita
komagatake048RC
Jun18_051_AkitaKomagatake_Viola_crassaRC
Jun18_051_AkitaKomagatake
_Viola_crassaRC
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake053RC
June18th_MtAkita
komagatake053RC

  Here is a nice patch of Geum pentapetalum and then a shot looking back at the trail behind us. In the 3rd shot we are just entering Moomin Valley and the photo is looking back up at the "Big Scree Slope" Area.
Jun18_063_AkitaKomagatake_Geum_pentapetalumRC
Jun18_063_AkitaKomagatake
_Geum_pentapetalumRC
Jun18_067_AkitaKomagatake_BigScreeSlopeRC
Jun18_067_AkitaKomagatake
_BigScreeSlopeRC
Jun18_068_AkitaKomagatake_BigScreeSlopeRC
Jun18_068_AkitaKomagatake
_BigScreeSlopeRC

  Here is a nice shot looking up at the "Big Scree Slope" as we get into Moomin Valley. The 2nd and 3rd shots are Primula nipponica in nice bloom.
Jun18_069_AkitaKomagatake_BigScreeSlopeRC
Jun18_069_AkitaKomagatake
_BigScreeSlopeRC
Jun18_075_AkitaKomagatake_Primula_spRC
Jun18_075_Akita
Komagatake_Primula_spRC
Jun18_076_AkitaKomagatake_Primula_spRC
Jun18_076_Akita
Komagatake_Primula_spRC

  Here is an additional shot of Primula nipponica. The 2nd shot is the "Big Scree Slope" - if you can see all of those little green plants - we think those are all Dicentra peregrina plants! The 3rd shot is interesting - it's like Bonsai trees on the slope there.
Jun18_078_AkitaKomagatake_Primula_spRC
Jun18_078_Akita
Komagatake_Primula_spRC
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake067RC
June18th_MtAkita
komagatake067RC
Jun18_080_AkitaKomagatake_MoominValleyRC
Jun18_080_AkitaKomagatake
_MoominValleyRC

  Here are 3 shots in Moomin Valley - the first one shows Kazuya on the boardwalk ahead of me. The rivers were not filled with Raspberry Juice today, but the entire valley surely felt like a magical place. There were not many people here, the scenery was amazing and we could imagine that on a sunny day it must feel really magical.
Jun18_084_AkitaKomagatake_MoominValley_KazuyaRC
Jun18_084_AkitaKomagatake
_MoominValley_KazuyaRC
Jun18_085_AkitaKomagatake_MoominValleyRC
Jun18_085_AkitaKomagatake
_MoominValleyRC
Jun18_086_AkitaKomagatake_MoominValleyRC
Jun18_086_AkitaKomagatake
_MoominValleyRC

  Still in Moomin Valley. The first shot is looking up at a smoking Mt. Medake. This mountain blew its top in recent history - I forget when, but I think it was sometime during the 1970's. You may be able to notice the area of dead vegetation around the smoke. Either it gets very hot from time to time or else very poisonous gases are emitted from time to time. The 2nd shot is looking up towards the head of Moomin Valley and the 3rd shot is once again a smoking Mt. Medake.
Jun18_094_AkitaKomagatake_MoominValleyRC
Jun18_094_AkitaKomagatake
_MoominValleyRC
Jun18_095_AkitaKomagatake_MoominValleyRC
Jun18_095_AkitaKomagatake
_MoominValleyRC
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake091RC
June18th_MtAkita
komagatake091RC

  The first shot is another one looking up towards the head of Moomin Valley. The 2nd shot shows a large rock with Potentilla matsumurae growing on the top and the 3rd shot is zoomed in to the top of the rock shown in the 2nd shot.
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake094RC
June18th_MtAkita
komagatake094RC
Jun18_097_AkitaKomagatake_MoominValley_YellowFlowerRockRC
Jun18_097_AkitaKomagatake_
MoominValley_YellowFlowerRockRC
Jun18_098_AkitaKomagatake_MoominValley_YellowFlowerRockRC
Jun18_098_AkitaKomagatake_
MoominValley_YellowFlowerRockRC

  Here is me beside a snowfield in Moomin Valley. The 2nd and 3rd shots are looking up towards the head of Moomin Valley. The 2nd shot is much more zoomed in than the 3rd shot.
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake093RC
June18th_MtAkita
komagatake093RC
Jun18_102_AkitaKomagatake_MoominValleyRC
Jun18_102_AkitaKomagatake
_MoominValleyRC
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake095RC
June18th_MtAkita
komagatake095RC

  In this row are 3 shots taken as we followed the trail and began climbing up out of Moomin Valley. Notice the person in the 1st shot - he/she is on the snow right near the center of the photo. The 2nd shot shows the amazing abundance of Glaucidium palmatum here and the 3rd shot shows a single Glaucidium palmatum plant.
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake101RC
June18th_MtAkita
komagatake101RC
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake104RC
June18th_MtAkita
komagatake104RC
Jun18_106_AkitaKomagatake_Glaucidium_palmatumRC
Jun18_106_AkitaKomagatake
_Glaucidium_palmatumRC

  The 1st shot here is looking back down into Moomin Valley as we climbed up out of it. The 2nd shot shows a Glaucidium palmatum flower and also a Viola brevistipulata. The 3rd shot is Mt. Kotake - a mountain which looks amazingly like a snail shell. This is the mountain which is on the Index Page for this month.
Jun18_110_AkitaKomagatake_MoominValleyRC
Jun18_110_AkitaKomagatake
_MoominValleyRC
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake125RC
June18th_MtAkita
komagatake125RC
Jun18_115_AkitaKomagatake_SnailShellMountainRC
Jun18_115_AkitaKomagatake
_SnailShellMountainRC

  Here is a patch of Glaucidium palmatum flowers, a scenic shot as we climbed up out of Moomin Valley and finally - a shot showing Kazuya walking up the trail towards me.
Jun18_119_AkitaKomagatake_Glaucidium_palmatumRC
Jun18_119_AkitaKomagatake
_Glaucidium_palmatumRC
Jun18_125_AkitaKomagatake_LeavingMoominValleyRC
Jun18_125_AkitaKomagatake
_LeavingMoominValleyRC
Jun18_128_AkitaKomagatake_LeavingMoominValley_KazuyaRC
Jun18_128_AkitaKomagatake
_LeavingMoominValley_KazuyaRC

  Here is another patch of Glaucidium palmatum flowers and then we topped the ridge and were suddenly able to see Amidaike (Amida Pond) again. We have nearly completed our circle and are nearly back at out backpacks.
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake158RC
June18th_MtAkita
komagatake158RC
Jun18_132_AkitaKomagatake_AmidaikeRC
Jun18_132_Akita
Komagatake_AmidaikeRC

  But - before we returned to the hut to retrieve our backpacks and eat our lunch - we climbed Mt. Onamedake and here are photos showing each of us at the summit of Mt. Onamedake (1,637 meters = 5,371 feet).
Jun18_137_AkitaKomagatake_Onamedake_Summit_KazuyaRC
Jun18_137_AkitaKomagatake
_Onamedake_Summit_KazuyaRC
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake168RC
June18th_MtAkita
komagatake168RC

  Here, in 1st position, is a shot of Amidaike (Amida Pond) taken from the summit of Mt. Onamedake. In 2nd position is a shot of Mt. Odake (1,623 meters = 5,325 feet) - note that although it looks higher than we are it is actually 14 meters lower than us. In the 3rd shot we are sitting down at the Amidaike (Amida Pond) Hut area and eating our lunch and looking back up at Mt. Onamedake.
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake171RC
June18th_MtAkita
komagatake171RC
Jun18_143_AkitaKomagatake_FromOnamedake_OdakeRC
Jun18_143_AkitaKomagatake_
FromOnamedake_OdakeRC
Jun18_150_AkitaKomagatake_OnamedakeRC
Jun18_150_Akita
Komagatake_OnamedakeRC

  In 1st position in this row is a photo of Mt. Odake, in 2nd position is a shot of Mt. Onamedake and in 3rd position - we have finished our lunch and retrieved our backpacks and are once again hiking. We saw many of these Heloniopsis orientalis flowers on this trip, but we only stopped at this one group of them for a photo or two.
Jun18_151_AkitaKomagatake_OdakeRC
Jun18_151_Akita
Komagatake_OdakeRC
Jun18_154_AkitaKomagatake_Amidaike_OnamedakeRC
Jun18_154_AkitaKomagatake
_Amidaike_OnamedakeRC
June18th_MtAkitakomagatake181RC
June18th_MtAkita
komagatake181RC

  Here is a shot of Mt. Kotake - Snail Shell Mountain - and you can see the boardwalk in Moomin Valley. The 2nd and 3rd shots both show the "Big Scree Slope" Area. We're going to hike along this ridge once again to get to our destination for today. In the 3rd shot you can also see the Moomin Valley boardwalk.
Jun18_159_AkitaKomagatake_KodakeRC
Jun18_159_Akita
Komagatake_KodakeRC
Jun18_160_AkitaKomagatake_BigScreeSlopeRC
Jun18_160_AkitaKomagatake
_BigScreeSlopeRC
Jun18_161_AkitaKomagatake_BigScreeSlopeRC
Jun18_161_AkitaKomagatake
_BigScreeSlopeRC

  Here is a panorama of the "Big Scree Slope" Area, a shot which shows both a part of the "Big Scree Slope" and also Mt. Kotake (Snail Shell Mountain) and then a 2 shot panorama of Mt. Kotake (Snail Shell Mountain).
Jun18_167_169_169_AkitaKomagatake_BigScreeSlope_PanoramaRC
Jun18_167_169_169_AkitaKomagatake
_BigScreeSlope_PanoramaRC
Jun18_162_AkitaKomagatake_BigScreeSlopeRC
Jun18_162_AkitaKomagatake
_BigScreeSlopeRC
Jun18_170_171_AkitaKomagatake_Kodake_PanoramaRC
Jun18_170_171_AkitaKomagatake
_Kodake_PanoramaRC
End Page 2, but June 18th continues on Page 3
Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this page. Now, please go on to Page 3 for the continuation and conclusion of June 18th -- at a Hot Spring with green water. Go To Page:


Purchase Photos Complete List Of All Photos E-mail us Go to the Special Items Page
Top Of Page Lightbox Instructions Comprehensive Site Map Return to our home 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.)