 |
posted: September 30th, 2015 |
Go To Page:
|
|
This page begins with September 3rd and our 3rd annual trip to Katsunuma Budoukyo on a grape tasting and buying adventure. Then we jump to September 20th and an Autumn Color trip to Mt. Akita-Komagatake, in Akita Prefecture. This page ends at 12:23 PM on the 20th and Page 2 will pick up from there. Click on any thumbnail to begin.
|
| Begin September 3rd |
Well, as the header text states, on September 3rd we went out to Katsunuma Budoukyo for our 3rd Annual grape eating and buying adventure. You can find the photos from our September 2013 adventure HERE (new window or tab) and from our September 2014 adventure HERE (new window or tab). There are only 3 photos from this year. After we visited several grape farms and ate a plate of free sample grapes at each place we had decided on which types we wanted to buy and from which farms. The first shot shows some bunches of grapes on the vine, the 2nd shot shows a "Happy Drink Shop" - in Yamanashi Prefecture an assemblage of 4 or 5 drinks vending machines qualifies as a "Happy Drink Shop", and that's what the sign says. The 3rd shot in this row shows what we ended up with when we got home - and the name Shine Muscat is NOT a typo, it is NOT supposed to be Shiny, it is truly SHINE MUSCAT! The Queen Nina Grapes were the tastiest, but at ¥2,000/kilo, also the most expensive. We bought just a little over a kilo of them.
|
 Sep3_05_ KatsunumaBudoukyoRC |
 Sep3_08_ KatsunumaBudoukyoRC |
 Sep14_6_GrapesFrom KatsunumaBudoukyo_FromDNGRC |
| End September 3rd, Begin September 20th |
Our only other adventure this month was an autumn color climbing adventure. We took a Shinkansen all the way to Akita Prefecture and got off the train at Tazawako (Tazawa Lake) Station. From there we took a taxi to a certain place from where we could get a bus, and then we continued by bus up to the 8th Station Hut of Mt. Akita-Komagatake. At that point we claimed a sleeping spot, dropped our packs (one can stay at that hut for free, so that is where we spent the night) and used our "packable packs" to go on a day trip up Mt. Akita-Komagatake. All three photos in this row show fall colors. The first two shots were taken right from the 8th Station Hut and the third shot was taken just as we started climbing. Oh, we also visited here in June 2011 and you can find the photos from that adventure, beginning in Row #8 HERE (new window or tab). By the way, Kazuya kept 1,479 photos from this adventure and I kept 518. That makes a total of 1,997 photos from this outing. We'll show you 282 of them, or 14.12%, which might be too many because there are a lot of them which are quite similar - but look closely, the shadows and lighting conditions were changing so rapidly that you'll be amazed. Wait until you get to page two and look at Row Pre 14: - WOW - that's merely the change in conditions in 6 seconds!
|
 Sep20_01_MtAkitaKomagatake _From8thStationRC |
 Sep20_02_MtAkitaKomagatake _From8thStationRC |
 Sep20_06_MtAkitaKomagatake _ClimbingRC |
Here are three shots which show some nice autumn colors and also show what the weather was like. Clouds were coming and going and it never did clear up 100%, but at least we had some opportunities to see into the distance - and it never rained, not a single drop.
|
 Sep20_07_MtAkitaKomagatake _ClimbingRC |
 Sep20_12_MtAkitaKomagatake _Climbing_KazuyaRC |
 Sept20th_024_ MtAkitakomagatakeRC |
Here are 3 more shots which show some nice fall colors. The first shot is a Hydrangea paniculata. The second shot shows that it's cloudy not far away in this direction, while the third shot shows Mt. Yumori, which was a good distance away in the opposite direction from the second shot.
|
 Sept20th_043_ MtAkitakomagatakeRC |
 Sep20_13_MtAkita Komagatake_ClimbingRC |
 Sep20_14_MtAkitaKomagatake _MtYuumoriRC |
The first shot here shows that it has cleared up pretty good in the same direction as the second shot in the previous row. The second shot again shows Mt. Yumori, which we will climb tomorrow and the third shot shows s small, but colorful bush.
|
 Sept20th_048_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sep20_15_MtAkitaKomagatake _MtYuumoriRC |
 Sep20_17_MtAkitaKomagatake _ClimbingRC |
Compare the first and second shots, which were taken only a few seconds apart, to see how rapidly the cloud conditions were changing. The third shot shows Mt. Sasamori on the left, which we will also climb tomorrow, the 8th Station Hut in the center, which is where we will sleep tonight, and Mt. Yumori on the right, and as stated previously, we'll climb that tomorrow. Tomorrow we'll leave the hut, climb up that trail which you can see in the yellow grass area, turn left and climb Mt. Sasamori and then go back down and climb up Mt. Yumori --- and MORE!
|
 Sep20_25_MtAkitaKomagatake _ClimbingRC |
 Sep20_26_MtAkitaKomagatake _ClimbingRC |
 Sept20th_068_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
In first position in this row is a Sanguisorba albiflora, in center position is the seedhead of an Angelica ursina and in third position is another nice autumn color shot with a cloudy background.
|
 Sep20_29_MtAkitaKomagatake _PlantRC |
 Sept20th_072_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sep20_32_MtAkitaKomagatake _ClimbingRC |
Here is another shot which shows Mt. Sasamori, the 8th Station Hut and Mt. Yumori, then one which shows the 8th Station Hut and Mt. Yumori. The third shot shows Kazuya taking a shot of the aforementioned mountains.
|
 Sept20th_076_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sept20th_118_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sep20_35_MtAkitaKomagatake_Climbing_ MtSasamori_MtYuumori_KazuyaRC |
Now it's clear in front of us for a while, so the first shot in this row shows the way ahead of us. The 2nd image is a 2-shot panorama and the third shot is zoomed in pretty tightly to Mt. Yumori.
|
 Sept20th_137_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sept20th_Panorama02_ MtAkitakomagatakeRC |
 Sep20_40_MtAkitaKomagatake _MtYuumoriRC |
In first position in this row is another shot of the 8th Station Hut and Mt. Yumori, then a shot looking ahead and then another shot in which you can see the 8th Station Hut and most of Mt. Yumori. A lot of these shots are quite similar, but the clouds and lighting were changing so rapidly that they are all beautiful and somewhat different.
|
 Sep20_41_MtAkitaKomagatake _MtYuumoriRC |
 Sep20_50_MtAkitaKomagatake _ClimbingRC |
 Sep20_45_MtAkitaKomagatake _MtYuumoriRC |
Here are two shots of amazing colors on Mt. Yumori. The black outlined area in the first shot shows the approximate area of the second shot, which is zoomed in enough so that you can see the sign on the summit of Mt. Yumori. We'll show you a close shot of that sign with tomorrow's photos. The third shot shows Mt. Sasamori and the nipple shaped mountain behind it is Mt. Nyutou (which means nipple in Japanese). Tomorrow we'll go all the way to that peak!
|
 Sep20_122_MtAkitaKomagatake _MtYuumoriRC |
 Sep20_123_MtAkitaKomagatake _MtYuumoriRC |
 Sept20th_161_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
In first position in this row is an Aconitum japonicum ssp. subcuneatum - Monkshood. The second shot is a fall color shot with the sun shining. The third shot is again Mt. Yumori and once again, the black outlined area shows the next photo.
|
 Sept20th_185_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sept20th_189_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sep20_57_MtAkitaKomagatake _MtYuumoriRC |
This first shot is zoomed in to the black outlined area of the previous photo. The second shot shows we have gained quite a bit of elevation since the third shot in Row 11. In the next row we'll show you an annotated shot with the names of all of those mountains. The 3rd shot is zoomed in to show Mt. Nyutou behind Mt. Sasamori.
|
 Sep20_58_MtAkitaKomagatake _MtYuumoriRC |
 Sept20th_193_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sep20_59_MtAkitaKomagatake _MtSasamori_MtNyuutoRC |
The first shot shows Mt. Nyutou with Mt. Sasamori in front of it. The second shot is annotated to show you the names of all of the mountains which we will climb tomorrow. The third shot is really zoomed in to show Mt. Nyutou - you can even see a person on its summit!
|
 Sep20_60_MtAkitaKomagatake _MtNyuutoRC |
 Sept20th_197_MtAkita komagatake_AnnotatedRC |
 Sep20_61_MtAkitaKomagatake _MtNyuutoRC |
In first position in this row is the second and final annotated shot which shows the names of all the mountains which we'll climb tomorrow. This one is not zoomed in as much as the previous one, and the lighting is also quite different. The second shot is looking ahead of us again, as is the third shot. Certainly some spectacular autumn colors!
|
 Sep20_62_MtAkitaKomagatake_MtNyuuto_Mt Sasamori_MtZarumori_MtYuumori_AnnotatedRC |
 Sept20th_202_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sept20th_206_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
The first shot here shows me at Mt. Katakuradake (1,440 m = 4,724 ft). The second shot shows Mt. Nyutou and the black outline shows the area shown in the next shot. The third shot is, of course, zoomed in to show the black outlined area of the previous shot of Mt. Nyutou.
|
 Sept20th_214_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sep20_66_MtAkitaKomagatake _MtNyuutoRC |
 Sep20_65_MtAkitaKomagatake _MtNyuutoRC |
The first two shots in this row show the fall colors near Mt. Katakuradake. The third shot is once again zoomed in to show Mt. Sasamori. Now we have moved enough horizontally so that Mt. Nyutou is no longer behind it.
|
 Sept20th_215_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sept20th_233_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sep20_70_MtAkitaKomagatake _MtSasamoriRC |
The first and third shots in this row are once again looking ahead of us from near Mt. Katakuradake. The lake in the third shot is Tazawako (Tazawa Lake). The center shot is a very shiny Schizocodon soldanelloides f. alpinus. This shininess is so pronounced that the Japanese name (Iwa-kagami) translates as "Rock Mirror" - it is a plant which grows among the rocks and the leaves are as shiny as a mirror.
|
 Sep20_72_MtAkitaKomagatake NearKatakuradakeRC |
 Sept20th_250_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sep20_73_MtAkitaKomagatake NearKatakuradakeRC |
The first shot is again looking ahead of us, at Mt. Onamedake and the second and third shots are looking back. In both the second and third shots you can again see Mt. Nyutou.
|
 Sep20_74_MtAkitaKomagatake NearKatakuradakeRC |
 Sep20_78_MtAkitaKomagatake NearKatakuradake_KazuyaRC |
 Sep20_79_MtAkitaKomagatake NearKatakuradakeRC |
All three shots in this row exhibit fine autumn colors. In the first shot you can see Kazuya and back to Mt. Katakuradake. The second shot is a close in shot of some nice colors. The third shot shows the reds of the Geum calthifolium var. nipponicum.
|
 Sep20_80_MtAkitaKomagatake NearKatakuradake_KazuyaRC |
 Sep20_81_MtAkitaKomagatake NearKatakuradakeRC |
 Sept20th_266_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
These three shots were all taken looking ahead of us and they all show some magnificent fall colors.
|
 Sep20_86_MtAkitaKomagatake _ClimbingRC |
 Sep20_87_MtAkitaKomagatake _Climbing_HealedRC |
 Sep20_89_MtAkitaKomagatake _ClimbingRC |
Again, all three of these shots were taken while looking ahead of us. The lake in the center shot is again Tazawako.
|
 Sep20_90_MtAkitaKomagatake _ClimbingRC |
 Sept20th_272_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sept20th_276_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
Once again, looking ahead of us. The peak in the first shot is Mt. Odake, which we will summit in a while. The center shot is COLORS. The third shot again shows Tazawa Lake.
|
 Sept20th_283_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sept20th_291_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sep20_95_MtAkitaKomagatake _Climbing_TazawakoRC |
The peak which shows in the first and second photos is most likely Mt. Onamedake, which we summited in 2011, but not this time. The black outlined area in the first shot shows the area you can see in the second shot. The second shot is, of course, zoomed in to the black outlined area shown in the first shot. The third shot shows some people on the trail ahead of us and Mt. Odake.
|
 Sep20_101_MtAkitaKomagatake _ClimbingRC |
 Sep20_100_MtAkitaKomagatake _ClimbingRC |
 Sep20_102_MtAkitaKomagatake _ClimbingRC |
Now, as we get closer to Amidaike (ike = pond, so Amida Pond) the trail has changed to boardwalk. The first shot shows me on the boardwalk, the second shot shows the boardwalk and Amida Pond (Amidaike) in the background. The third shot shows Amidaike and the hut there.
|
 Sept20th_303_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sep20_111_MtAkita Komagatake_AmidaikeRC |
 Sep20_113_MtAkita Komagatake_AmidaikeRC |
Now we are getting quite close to Amidaike. The first shot shows the pond and the hut there, which is also free, but we have never stayed there. The second image is a 2-shot panorama showing the pond and the hut. The third shot shows a portion of Mt. Odake.
|
 Sep20_114_MtAkita Komagatake_AmidaikeRC |
 Sep20_119_120_AutoPano_Mt AkitaKomagatake_AmidaikeRC |
 Sep20_116_MtAkita Komagatake_MtOdakeRC |
Both shots in this row show Amidaike (1,535 m = 5,036 ft) and the hut, along with some nice autumn colors. Now, Page 2 will continue from the summit area of Mt. Odake (1,623 m = 5,325 ft).
|
 Sept20th_331_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sept20th_332_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
| End Page 1, But September 20th Continues on Page 2 (at 12:45 PM) |
| Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this page. Now, please go on to Page 2 for the continuation of this incredibly colorful adventure. |
Go To Page:
|
 (will open in new window) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
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.) |