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This is Page 3 of 4 - the best of September 2009!
posted: September 30th, 2009
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The photos on this page continue with September 19th at 2:42 PM and go through the end of the day on September 20th - continuing the climb of Mt. Tate (Tateyama). Click on any thumbnail to begin.

September 19th Continues From Page 2 (at 2:42 PM)
  The 1st shot is another one of Jigoku-dani (Hell Valley in English) and the Hot Spring Hotel which we'll visit tomorrow. The angle is quite different on this shot than the shot on the previous page because we have now walked 13 minutes since the previous picture. The 2nd shot is Kazuya as we near the summit of Mt. Masago (Masagodake). The 3rd shot is the hut where we'll stay tonight. It's still further than it appears though - the time now is 2:46 PM and we won't arrive at the Hut until 3:02 PM - we still have to cross Mt. Masago!
Sep19_Mt_Onanj_to_Mt_Masago48_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep19_Mt_Onanj_to_Mt_
Masago48_TateyamaRC
Sep19_Mt_Onanj_to_Mt_Masago52_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep19_Mt_Onanj_to_Mt_
Masago52_TateyamaRC
Sep19_Mt_Onanj_to_Mt_Masago56_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep19_Mt_Onanj_to_Mt_
Masago56_TateyamaRC

  The first shot here shows an incredible green carpet on a small ridge - the carpet is made up of mountain pine. The 2nd shot is just an amazing scenery shot of the mountain and the 3rd shot is the Kuranosuke Hut - the hut where we'll spend the night - and now it's only 2 minutes away.
Sep19_Mt_Masago_to_Kuranosuke_Hut01_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep19_Mt_Masago_to_
Kuranosuke_Hut01_TateyamaRC
Sep19_Mt_Masago_to_Kuranosuke_Hut04_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep19_Mt_Masago_to_
Kuranosuke_Hut04_TateyamaRC
Sep19_Mt_Masago_to_Kuranosuke_Hut07_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep19_Mt_Masago_to_
Kuranosuke_Hut07_TateyamaRC

  As we relaxed at the Kuranosuke Hut we, of course, took several photos. The first 2 here are just general scenery. The 3rd shot shows you some sunset color. There were not enough clouds for the sunset to be really spectacular, but it was nice!
Sep19_Kuranosuke_Hut_Area_Scenery04_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep19_Kuranosuke_Hut_
Area_Scenery04_TateyamaRC
Sep19_Kuranosuke_Hut_Area_Scenery09s_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep19_Kuranosuke_Hut_
Area_Scenery09s_TateyamaRC
Sep19_Kuranosuke_Hut_Area_Sunset04_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep19_Kuranosuke_Hut
_Area_Sunset04_TateyamaRC

  Here are 2 final sunset color photos - the first one is actually looking towards the east. The 2nd one looks to the west. And, that's all for the 19th. By the way, it was such an incredibly clear night that we went out to look at the stars after it got dark. We were able to see an amazing number of them - including the Milky Way. Now, I don't know where you are in the world, but from here in Japan it is pretty amazing to be able to be in a dark enough place to be able to see the Milky Way! We've climbed many other mountains where we had hoped to see it, but we were always unfortunate in that it was either cloudy, or else so close to a full-moon that we could not see the Milky Way. An amazing night.
Sep19_Kuranosuke_Hut_Area_Sunset06_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep19_Kuranosuke_Hut_
Area_Sunset06_TateyamaRC
Sep19_Kuranosuke_Hut_Area_Sunset10_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep19_Kuranosuke_Hut_
Area_Sunset10_TateyamaRC
End September 19th, Begin September 20th
  Now it's September 20th and it's sunrise. The first photo is Mt. Fuji and was taken at 5:25 AM - an amazing shot as Mt. Fuji is about 162 kilometers (101 miles) from this place. Look at how clear it is! The 2nd shot, looking towards the hut, was taken at 5:48 AM and still shows some decent colors. The 3rd shot - 5:49 AM, interesting colors. This was a clear enough morning so that there was not much color to be had. It was an amazingly clear day.
Sep20_Kuranosuke_Sunrise_Colors06_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kuranosuke_Sunrise
_Colors06_TateyamaRC
Sep20_Kuranosuke_Sunrise_Colors24_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kuranosuke_Sunrise
_Colors24_TateyamaRC
Sep20_Kuranosuke_Sunrise_Colors29_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kuranosuke_Sunrise
_Colors29_TateyamaRC

  The first shot here is the final shot taken from the Mountain Hut - it shows Toyama City and Toyama Bay down there some 2,900 meters below us. In the 2nd shot we are climbing towards Mt. Bes (Bessan) (2,874 meters = 9,429 feet) now and this is looking back towards the hut where we stayed. In the 3rd shot we are at North Mt. Bes (Kita-Bessan) (2,880 meters = 9,449 feet) and that is Kazuya in the foreground and Tsurugidake (Mt. Tsurugi) (2,999 meters = 9,839 feet) in the background.
Sep20_Kuranosuke_Hut_to_Bessan07_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kuranosuke_Hut_
to_Bessan07_TateyamaRC
Sep20_Kuranosuke_Hut_to_Bessan24_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kuranosuke_Hut_
to_Bessan24_TateyamaRC
Sep20_Bessan_to_Kita-Bessan09_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Bessan_to_Kita-
Bessan09_TateyamaRC

  Chronologically this first picture does not belong right here, but I wanted to give you an "overview" of the area before the next photo. That is Mt. Tsurugi back there. Between us and the mountain look closely (this 1st photo is larger than normal so you can see detail) and you can see at least 2 huts down in the valley there and also a tent camping spot. Now, in the 2nd photo you see a close-up of the tent camping spot - all of those people are here to climb Mt. Tsurugi (Tsurugidake). Remember, on Page 2 I told you that according to Wikipedia, this is "the most dangerous mountain" climbable. Amazing - lots of people do it anyway I guess. The 3rd shot is, once again, Mt. Tsurugi (Tsurugidake).
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigokudani002_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to
_Jigokudani002_TateyamaRC
Sep20_Bessan_to_Kita-Bessan20_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Bessan_to_Kita
-Bessan20_TateyamaRC
Sep20_Bessan_to_Kita-Bessan32_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Bessan_to_Kita
-Bessan32_TateyamaRC

  And here is a zoomed in shot of Mt. Tsurugi (Tsurugidake) - can you believe the number of people here on "the most dangerous mountain" climbable? And, it's only 8:28 AM. The 2nd shot is me on North Mt. Bes (Kita-Bessan) and the 3rd shot is Kazuya on North Mt. Bes (Kita-Bessan). Both of these shots look towards Mt. Tsurugi (Tsurugidake). Notice our clothes, it is extremely windy and therefore the chill factor is quite cold. We are both wearing gloves, sweatshirts and rain gear (to block the wind).
Sep20_Bessan_to_Kita-Bessan37An_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Bessan_to_Kita
-Bessan37An_TateyamaRC
Sept20th_KitaBessan_Tateyama54RC.jpg
Sept20th_Kita
Bessan_Tateyama54RC
Sep20_Bessan_to_Kita-Bessan44_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Bessan_to_Kita
-Bessan44_TateyamaRC

  In the first shot here we have passed the final hut and we are headed down to the valley where we started from. The 2nd shot shows you some pretty good fall colors on the mountain side. The 3rd shot is a beautiful blue sky shot looking through some cotton grass (Geum pentapetalum).
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigokudani029_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_
Jigokudani029_TateyamaRC
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigokudani033_Colors_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigoku
dani033_Colors_TateyamaRC
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigokudani035_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_
Jigokudani035_TateyamaRC

  Here are 3 amazingly bright fall color shots on the side of the mountain.
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigokudani043_Colors_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigoku
dani043_Colors_TateyamaRC
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigokudani045_Colors_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigoku
dani045_Colors_TateyamaRC
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigokudani062_Colors_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigoku
dani062_Colors_TateyamaRC

  Here are 3 more fall color shots. The pinkish color in the first shot is interesting - it is Cotton Grass (Geum pentapetalum) - a whole small field of it!
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigokudani063_Colors_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigoku
dani063_Colors_TateyamaRC
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigokudani064_Colors_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigoku
dani064_Colors_TateyamaRC
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigokudani068_Colors_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigoku
dani068_Colors_TateyamaRC

  And, this row shows you 3 more fall color shots. Note that these 3 shots are all looking UP the mountain. In previous rows we have been mostly looking down, but now we are looking up.
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigokudani075_Colors_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigoku
dani075_Colors_TateyamaRC
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigokudani078_Colors_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigoku
dani078_Colors_TateyamaRC
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigokudani089_Colors_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigoku
dani089_Colors_TateyamaRC

  The first shot in this row is another shot of amazing fall colors. The 2nd shot is an amazing color and composition shot, and for this reason I have included a larger than normal 2nd photo for you if you click on the thumbnail. The 3rd shot is another one of fall colors.
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigokudani098_Colors_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigoku
dani098_Colors_TateyamaRC
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigokudani100_Colors_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigoku
dani100_Colors_TateyamaRC
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigokudani102s_Colors_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Kita_Bessan_to_Jigoku
dani102s_Colors_TateyamaRC

  Here are 2 shots of Jigoku-dani, or "Hell Valley" in English. I think you can see why it is named this. It's a bunch of steam and hot water coming up out of the ground! You saw shots of this area from the mountain in the final photo on Page 2 and the 1st shot on this page. We are now on our way to the Hot Spring Hotel shown in the first photo on this page for a nice hot spring soak to relieve our tired bones and bodies.
Sep20_Tateyama_Jigokudani__Hell_Valley02_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Tateyama_Jigokudani_
_Hell_Valley02_TateyamaRC
Sep20_Tateyama_Jigokudani__Hell_Valley27_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Tateyama_Jigokudani_
_Hell_Valley27_TateyamaRC

  Here is Mikurigaike Pond with a reflection of the mountain showing in it. And, the 2nd photo, the final shot of this climb and also this day, is a last look at Mt. Tsurugi (Tsurugidake). It was taken out of the bus window as we descended the mountain back towards Toyama City.
Sep20_Tateyama_MikurigaikePond_03_TateyamaRC.jpg
Sep20_Tateyama_Mikurigaike
Pond_03_TateyamaRC
Sep20_Tateyama_Murodo_Area_on_Bus05RC.jpg
Sep20_Tateyama_Murodo
_Area_on_Bus05RC
End September 20th, End Page 3
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