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posted: September 30th, 2015 |
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This page includes only a portion of September 20th at Mt. Akita-Komagatake, in Akita Prefecture. We continue here from Page 1, beginning at 12:45 PM and we end at 2:29 PM, which means that September 20th will also be continued on Page 3, beginning at 2:31 PM. Click on any thumbnail to begin.
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| September 20th Continues (at 12:45 PM) |
Okay, as stated above, this page continues September 20, starting at 12:45 PM. We are now at the top of Mt. Odake (1,623 m = 5,325 ft) and looking down into Moomin Valley. You may ask "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 Jansson 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 and you can see and judge for yourself. Oh, by the way, the three photos in this row all show Mt. Kotake with varying degrees of cloudiness and at various zoom factors. We think it looks incredibly like the shell of a snail, how about you?
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Now we have left Mt. Odake and are headed down this very steep trail into Moomin Valley. The first shot shows Mt. Medake - an active smoking volcano (note the smoke). The second image, a 2-shot panorama, shows Mt. Kotake, Mt. Medake and Moomin Valley. The third shot again shows Mt. Kotake.
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 Sept20th_352_353_AutoPano _MtAkitakomagatakeRC |
 Sep20_133_MtAkitaKomagatake _MtOdake_MoominValleyRC |
In first position in this row is another 2-shot panoramic image, similar to the center one in the row just above, but with different enough cloudy and sunny areas so that it's worth including. The second shot shows Mt. Kotake in nearly full sun and the third image is an amazing 6-shot panorama with a great deal of sun and even some blue sky.
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 Sept20th_373R_374R_Auto Pano_MtAkitakomagatakeRC |
 Sep20_136_MtAkitaKomagatake_ MtOdake_MoominValleyRC |
 Sept20th_401_402_403_404_405_406_ AutoPano_MtAkitakomagatakeRC |
Now here is another shot of the smoking Mt. Medake and then a shot which shows a portion of Mt. Medake and a portion of the wall of this valley. The third image is a 3-shot panorama showing Mt. Kotake, sun and nice autumn colors.
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 Sep20_140_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
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 Sep20_149_150_151_MtAkitaKomagatake _Climbing_Rotated_ReposPano_ATRC |
As we continue to descend into Moomin Valley here is a 2-shot panorama showing Mt. Kotake and part of Mt. Medake. In center position is a zoomed in shot of Mt. Medake which shows what appears to be a small lava flow. The 3rd shot is zoomed in to the floor of Moomin Valley.
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 Sep20_157_158_ReposPano_MtAkita Komagatake_MoominValleyRC |
 Sep20_161_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
 Sep20_162_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
The first shot in this row once again shows Mt. Kotake and a portion of Moomin Valley. The second shot is looking back at the mountain which we are descending from. The third shot is Mt. Kotake, Moomin Valley and part of Mt. Medake.
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 Sep20_164_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
 Sep20_165_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
 Sep20_169_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
Now we are getting farther down into Moomin Valley and here's another view of Mt. Kotake, one in which you can see some of the brilliant orange colors. Then we went around a bend in the trail and spotted a Moomin staring at us with its bright blue eyes! The third shot is a much lower elevation shot of Mt. Kotake, taken from just about the spot where we saw the Moomin.
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Here is a Gentiana triflora var. montana and then a shot in Moomin Valley with an abundance of orange colors. The third shot shows the boardwalk and lots of orange colors here in Moomin Valley.
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The first shot shows me looking around and enjoying the autumn colors. The second shot shows another Gentiana triflora var. montana and the third shot shows a Geum pentapetalum with very red leaves and a lone flower.
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 Sept20th_446_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sep20_181_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValley_PlantsRC |
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The first shot here shows Moomin Valley and autumn colors. The second shot is a panorama showing Mt. Kotake and me and the third shot shows the brilliantly colored wall of Moomin Valley. After a while we will be coming back this direction on that ridge up there.
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 Sep20_184_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
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Here are two shots in Moomin Valley which show brilliant autumn colors.
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Here are another two shots which show brilliant autumn colors in Moomin Valley. The black outlined area in the first shot shows the approximate area which is included in the second photo.
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The first shot in this row shows more amazing colors in Moomin Valley. The second shot shows Ooyake-suna ridge with a person on it. We will be hiking up there in a while.
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 Sep20_192_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
 Sep20_193_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
| Row Pre 14: This mouseover image shows the same 2 shots that are in first and second position in Row 14. Unfortunately the differences in Shadows and Lighting do not show up well in Lightbox, so we have inserted the two images like this so that you can easily see this amazing difference. The first shot was taken at 1:36:34 PM and the second shot at 1:36:40 PM, so only 6 seconds passed between the two shots. | 
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The first two shots in this row show Ooyake-suna ridge and the difference in shadows and lighting that can occur in a mere 6 seconds. The yellow outlined area in the third photo shows the approximate area which is included in the next shot and the black outlined area is shown in the shot after that.
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 Sept20th_507_Align_508_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
Sept20th_508_Align_507_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sep20_201_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
The first shot here shows the area included in the yellow outlined area in the previous shot. The second shot shows the area included in the black outlined area of the second photo previous to it. The third shot shows more amazing autumn colors in Moomin Valley.
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 Sep20_230_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
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 Sept20th_528_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
Oh, are the clouds going to move in and obscure our scenery? Let's hope not. The black outlined area in the center photo shows the area which is shown in the photo which follows it. Of course the third photo shows the outlined area of the photo previous to it.
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 Sep20_205_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
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 Sep20_209_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
Here is a 2 shot panorama of Ooyake-suna ridge and then a single shot. That is followed by a 3 shot panorama of the same area. In the third shot you can also see Moomin Valley.
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 Sep20_215_216_AutoPano_MtAkita Komagatake_MoominValleyRC |
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 Sep20_218_219_220_Panorama_ MtAkitaKomagatake_MoominValleyRC |
Walking down the length of Moomin Valley and enjoying the autumn colors. The second shot was taken looking back up the valley with Kazuya sitting on the boardwalk trying to catch an amazing photo of the red colors. The third shot shows another Monkshood (Aconitum japonicum ssp. subcuneatum) with a beautiful background.
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 Sep20_225_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
 Sep20_232_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
 Sep20_238_MtAkitaKomagatake_ MoominValley_MonkshoodRC |
Here is the clearest shot yet looking back up towards the head of Moomin Valley. The second shot shows a smoking Mt. Medake and the black outlined area shows the next photo. The third shot is zoomed in to the black outlined area of the second shot in this row and it really shows the large amount of smoke which is rising off Mt. Medake.
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 Sept20th_578_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
 Sep20_239_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
 Sep20_240_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
Here is a 2 shot panorama looking up towards the head of Moomin Valley; this is the image which is the "Favorite Photo of the Month." The second and third shots show more beautiful autumn colors. Do I need to explain what the black outlined area of the center photo is?
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 Sep20_242_243_AutoPano_MtAkita Komagatake_MoominValleyRC |
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The first shot is again looking down Moomin Valley and Komaike (ike = pond) is visible in this shot. The center image is another 2 shot panorama looking up towards the head of Moomin Valley. The third shot again shows the beautiful autumn colors and Ooyake-suna ridge.
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In first position is another shot taken while looking up towards the head of Moomin Valley. The second shot shows me reading the sign at Katagari Pond. The third shot is looking back up the valley from near Katagari Pond, but not the head of the valley, merely the side which we came down from.
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 Sep20_250_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
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More brilliant autumn colors in Moomin Valley and Daniel walking on the boardwalk. The second and third shots show more colors as one looks up towards Ooyake-suna ridge.
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 Sep20_265_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
Three more fall color shots. The black outlined area in the first shot, of course, shows the area which is shown in the second photo.
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Kazuya coming towards me as I wait for him at Katagari Pond. It's getting cloudy up towards the head of Moomin Valley now. The second and third shots again show amazing autumn colors. Note the black outlined area in the center shot, which shows what is included in the third shot.
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 Sep20_272_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
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Here is a final shot looking up towards the head of Moomin Valley as we ascend from it. In second position is a strangely colored area and then we found a few Dicentra peregrina plants still in bloom (Bleeding Heart, Dutchman's Breeches and more common names.)
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 Sep20_280_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
 Sept20th_673_MtAkita komagatakeRC |
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Another shot showing strange colors as we ascend out of Moomin Valley. The second image shows great autumn colors on the ridge which goes to Kunimi Hot Spring (See 2011 photos). The third and final shot on this page shows another Dicentra peregrina (Bleeding Heart, Dutchman's Breeches and more common names). There were not many left in bloom, but we found a few!
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 Sep20_282_MtAkitaKomagatake _MoominValleyRC |
 Sep20_289_MtAkitaKomagatake _UpToMtYokodakeRC |
 Sep20_291_MtAkitaKomagatake_UpTo MtYokodake_Dicentra_peregrinaRC |
| End Page 2, But September 20th Continues on Page 3 (at 2:31 PM) |
| Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this page. Now, please go on to Page 3 for the continuation of this date and then this adventure. |
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