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This is Page 1 of 4 - the best of August 2012!
posted: August 31st, 2012
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This page begins with 2 photos of a butterfly, taken on Mt. Takao on August 3rd. We began our vacation on August 9th. Between the two of us, we saved 2,036 photos. We have selected about 275 of them to show you in these 4 pages which we've posted for you this month. This page ends with August 10th at 7:03 AM. Click on any thumbnail to begin.

Begin August 3rd
  On both July 27th and also on August 3rd I went out and climbed Mt. Takao (599 m = 1,965 ft) for conditioning so that I would be kind of prepared to do some mountain climbing during our upcoming vacation. On August 3rd I found this butterfly on a picnic table in the summit area. Apparently somebody spilled something which this creature really liked as it hung out there for several minutes seeking something with its proboscis.
Aug03_03C_Takao_san_ButterflyRC
Aug03_03C_Takao
_san_ButterflyRC
Aug03_06C_Takao_san_ButterflyRC
Aug03_06C_Takao
_san_ButterflyRC
End August 3rd, Begin August 9th
  On August 8th, late at night, we went out to Tachikawa via local train and then a little while after midnight (now August 9th) we took a Moonlight Shinshuu train and arrived at Hakuba Station at about 5:40 AM. Then we took a bus at 6:00 AM to the Gondola Station. We took the first Gondola car at 7:00 AM and then the ropeway at 7:30 AM and arrived at Tsugaike Kogen at around 7:40 AM. We ate some of the breakfast which we had brought with us and then started hiking towards Mt. Norikuradake. Oh, by the way, we have been here twice before. For photos taken in the winter (March, 2010) CLICK HERE (new window or tab) and for photos of our last climb of these mountains (July, 2010) CLICK HERE (new window or tab). The first shot in this row is the view from the Gondola car which we rode up in. The 2nd shot is a panorama taken from the Gondola car - it shows an amazing view of Mt. Shakushi (Shakushidake) on the left and Mt. Shirouma (Shiroumadake) on the right. We'll be on the summits of both of those mountains in a couple of days. The 3rd shot also shows Mt. Shakushi (Shakushidake) (left) and Mt. Shirouma (Shiroumadake) (right), but from a somewhat different angle as we continued our ride to the top of the Gondola Lift.
Aug09_010_HakubaGondolaRideRC
Aug09_010_
HakubaGondolaRideRC
Aug09_003_004_Panorama_HakubaToGondolaRC
Aug09_003_004_
Panorama_HakubaToGondolaRC
Aug09_020_HakubaGondolaRideRC
Aug09_020_
HakubaGondolaRideRC

  The first photo in this row shows us nearing the top of the Cable-car. I think we'll be crossing the snowfield near the right side of the photo. The 2nd and 3rd photos show Trientalis europaea - one of the Starflowers.
Aug09_028_HakubaGondolaRideRC
Aug09_028_
HakubaGondolaRideRC
Aug09_055_Above_TsugaIke_Trientalis_europaeaRC
Aug09_055_Above_Tsuga
Ike_Trientalis_europaeaRC
Aug09_056_Above_TsugaIke_Trientalis_europaeaRC
Aug09_056_Above_Tsuga
Ike_Trientalis_europaeaRC

  Here are 2 examples of Kinugasa japonica aka Paris japonica and a shot of Geum pentapetalum as we hiked the trail above Tsugaike Kogen (Tsuga Pond Field).
Aug09_060_Above_TsugaIke_Paris_japonicaRC
Aug09_060_Above_Tsuga
Ike_Paris_japonicaRC
Aug09_061_Above_TsugaIke_Paris_japonicaRC
Aug09_061_Above_Tsuga
Ike_Paris_japonicaRC
Aug09_066_Above_TsugaIke_Geum_pentapetalumRC
Aug09_066_Above_TsugaIke
_Geum_pentapetalumRC

  In first position here is another shot of Geum pentapetalum. In 2nd and 3rd position are shots taken at a small marsh we crossed through - Tenguhara. We'll be crossing the snowfield near the right side of photos 2 and 3 in a while.
Aug09_067_Above_TsugaIke_Geum_pentapetalumRC
Aug09_067_Above_TsugaIke
_Geum_pentapetalumRC
Aug9th021_TenguharaRC
Aug9th021
_TenguharaRC
Aug9th023_TenguharaRC
Aug9th023
_TenguharaRC

  The first shot here shows some nicely formed True Fir (Abies sp.) cones - there were a lot of them this year. In 2nd position is a shot of Gentiana thunbergii var. minor and in 3rd position is a yellow flower - Narthecium asiaticum.
Aug09_071_Above_TsugaIke_FirConesRC
Aug09_071_Above_
TsugaIke_FirConesRC
Aug9th026_Tenguhara_GentianaThunbergiiVarMinorRC
Aug9th026_Tenguhara_Gentiana
ThunbergiiVarMinorRC
Aug09_083_TsugaIkeToNorikuradake_RC
Aug09_083_TsugaIke
ToNorikuradake_RC

  Here is a shot of Geum pentapetalum in first position. That's followed by an amazing Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum) shot and in 3rd position are some Iris flowers and also some Cottongrass. In this shot the Iris is in focus and the Cottongrass is out of focus. Compare this shot to the first shot in Row 8.
Aug09_088_TsugaIkeToNorikuradake_Geum_pentapetalumRC
Aug09_088_TsugaIkeToNori
kuradake_Geum_pentapetalumRC
Aug09_097_TsugaIkeToNorikuradake_CottongrassRC
Aug09_097_TsugaIkeToNori
kuradake_CottongrassRC
Aug09_100_TsugaIkeToNorikuradake_Iris_CottongrassRC
Aug09_100_TsugaIkeToNori
kuradake_Iris_CottongrassRC

  This first shot shows the same general area as the previous photo, but with the Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum) in focus and the Iris out of focus. The 2nd and 3rd shots show some very attractive Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum).
Aug09_101_TsugaIkeToNorikuradake_Iris_CottongrassRC
Aug09_101_TsugaIkeToNorikura
dake_Iris_CottongrassRC
Aug09_107_TsugaIkeToNorikuradake_CottongrassRC
Aug09_107_TsugaIkeToNori
kuradake_CottongrassRC
Aug09_110_TsugaIkeToNorikuradake_CottongrassRC
Aug09_110_TsugaIkeToNori
kuradake_CottongrassRC

  Now we're scrambling through a rock field, along with several other people. The 2nd shot shows an example of Geum calthifolium var. nipponicum and the 3rd shot shows Kazuya crossing the snowfield.
Aug09_116_TsugaIkeToNorikuradake_RC
Aug09_116_TsugaIke
ToNorikuradake_RC
Aug9th040_MtNorikuradake_GeumCalthifoliumVarnipponicumRC
Aug9th040_MtNorikuradake_
GeumCalthifoliumVarnipponicumRC
Aug09_121_TsugaIkeToNorikuradake_Kazuya_SnowfieldRC
Aug09_121_TsugaIkeToNori
kuradake_Kazuya_SnowfieldRC

  Here is Daniel on the snowfield and then a shot of Primula cuneifolia var. hakusanensis - one of the Primrose species. The 3rd shot is a magnificent Adenophora nikoensis var. nikoensis.
Aug9th044_MtNorikuradakeRC
Aug9th044_Mt
NorikuradakeRC
Aug09_129_TsugaIkeToNorikuradake_Primula_spRC
Aug09_129_TsugaIkeTo
Norikuradake_Primula_spRC
Aug9th048_MtNorikuradake_AdenophoraNikoensisVarNikoensisRC
Aug9th048_MtNorikuradake_
AdenophoraNikoensisVarNikoensisRC

  Here are 3 more shots of Adenophora nikoensis var. nikoensis.
Aug9th051_MtNorikuradake_AdenophoraNikoensisVarNikoensisRC
Aug9th051_MtNorikuradake_
AdenophoraNikoensisVarNikoensisRC
Aug9th058_MtNorikuradake_AdenophoraNikoensisVarNikoensisRC
Aug9th058_MtNorikuradake_
AdenophoraNikoensisVarNikoensisRC
Aug09_160_TsugaIkeToNorikuradake_Campanula_lasiocarpaRC
Aug09_160_TsugaIkeToNorikura
dake_Campanula_lasiocarpaRC

  Daniel at the summit of Mt. Norikura (Norikuradake) (2,437 m = 7,994 ft). In 2nd position is another shot of Adenophora nikoensis var. nikoensis and in 3rd position is our first view of Hakuba Ooike (Hakuba Big Pond). It's such a beautiful place. We'll stay in that hut tonight.
Aug9th068_MtNorikuradakeRC
Aug9th068_Mt
NorikuradakeRC
Aug9th065_MtNorikuradake_AdenophoraNikoensisVarNikoensisRC
Aug9th065_MtNorikuradake_
AdenophoraNikoensisVarNikoensisRC
Aug09_167_NorikuradakeToOoike_OoikeRC
Aug09_167_Norikuradake
ToOoike_OoikeRC

  Here is a scenery shot. As soon as we could get a good view of the Hakuba Big Pond (Hakuba Ooike) we stopped and ate the lunch which we brought with us, so this and the next shot are scenery photos which we shot while we were stopped for our lunch break. Most people were stopped for lunch at the summit of Mt. Norikura (Norikuradake), but we knew that the view would be much better in just another 10 or 15 minutes, so we just stopped there long enough to snap a picture of the summit sign. The 3rd shot was obviously taken as we got much closer to the pond.
Aug09_168_NorikuradakeToOoike_RC
Aug09_168_
NorikuradakeToOoike_RC
Aug09_169_170_Panorama_NorikuradakeToOoike_OoikeRC
Aug09_169_170_Panorama_
NorikuradakeToOoike_OoikeRC
Aug09_177_OoikeArea_OoikeRC
Aug09_177_Ooike
Area_OoikeRC

  In this first shot we are rounding the pond and it's just a short time now until we arrive at the Hut. We hiked/climbed for about 5 hours and 20 minutes today - not a bad day. The 2nd shot was taken after we had checked in at the Hut and had our sleeping area assigned to us. We are hiking around the Hut area now. In 3rd position is a nice bunch of Primula cuneifolia var. hakusanensis.
Aug09_179_OoikeArea_OoikeRC
Aug09_179_Ooike
Area_OoikeRC
Aug09_192_OoikeArea_RC
Aug09_192_
OoikeArea_RC
Aug9th096_HakubaOoike_PrimulaCuneifoliaVarHakusanensisRC
Aug9th096_HakubaOoike_Primula
CuneifoliaVarHakusanensisRC

  Here are 2 more Primrose (Primula cuneifolia var. hakusanensis) shots and then a shot of Geum pentapetalum with the Hut as background. Note the camping area.
Aug9th100_HakubaOoike_PrimulaCuneifoliaVarHakusanensisRC
Aug9th100_HakubaOoike_Primula
CuneifoliaVarHakusanensisRC
Aug09_208_OoikeArea_Primula_spRC
Aug09_208_Ooike
Area_Primula_spRC
Aug9th101_HakubaOoike_GeumPentapetalumRC
Aug9th101_HakubaOoike
_GeumPentapetalumRC

  Here is an example of the pains we go to when we are getting photos of flowers. That's Kazuya shooting a patch of Primula cuneifolia var. hakusanensis in first position. In 2nd position is a 16 x 9 mode shot of the hut, pond and camping area. Oh, the elevation here is 2,380 m = 7,808 ft, in case you're wondering how there can still be snow on August 9th. The 3rd shot shows a BIG SKY and some Polyganum viviparum flowers.
Aug09_210_OoikeArea_Primula_sp_KazuyaRC
Aug09_210_OoikeArea_
Primula_sp_KazuyaRC
Aug09_229_OoikeArea_RC
Aug09_229_
OoikeArea_RC
Aug09_234_OoikeArea_RC
Aug09_234_
OoikeArea_RC

  In this final row of photos from August 9th you see an Arnica unalaschkensis var. tschonoskyi, a 2 shot panorama of the Hakuba Big Pond and the hut and a shot of our dinner. We could have all the rice and curry we wanted, but could only have one piece of meat. Some people took as many as 3 helpings! HOW?? One helping was enough for us.
Aug9th110_HakubaOoike_ArnicaUnalaschkensisVarTschonoskyiRC
Aug9th110_HakubaOoike_Arnica
UnalaschkensisVarTschonoskyiRC
Aug09_244_245ATSIP_Panorama_OoikeArea_RC
Aug09_244_245ATSIP_
Panorama_OoikeArea_RC
Aug9th111_HakubaOoike_CurryRC
Aug9th111_Hakuba
Ooike_CurryRC
End August 9th, Begin August 10th
  Here is an early morning shot from August 10th - the 2nd day of our climb. This shot was taken at 4:50 AM. They served us breakfast at 5:00 AM and we picked up the bento lunch which they prepared for us. We left at 5:40 AM and we'll climb/hike for 7.5 hours today. The 2nd shot was taken at 5:51 AM and the sun is still pretty low - you can deduce that by looking at my shadow. The 3rd shot is a morning sun shot of Primula cuneifolia var. hakusanensis.
Aug10th002_MtShiroumadakeRC
Aug10th002_Mt
ShiroumadakeRC
Aug10_005_Ooike_MtKorenge_RC
Aug10_005_Ooike
_MtKorenge_RC
Aug10th007_MtShiroumadake_PrimulaCuneifoliaVarHakusanensisRC
Aug10th007_MtShiroumadake_Primula
CuneifoliaVarHakusanensisRC

  Now we are getting high enough in elevation and finding the correct soil types to find one of my favorite flowers - Dicentra peregrina. Here are 3 early morning shots of it.
Aug10th014_MtShiroumadake_DicentraPeregrinaRC
Aug10th014_MtShiroumadake
_DicentraPeregrinaRC
Aug10_008_Ooike_MtKorenge_Dicentra_peregrinaRC
Aug10_008_Ooike_Mt
Korenge_Dicentra_peregrinaRC
Aug10_014_Ooike_MtKorenge_Dicentra_peregrinaRC
Aug10_014_Ooike_Mt
Korenge_Dicentra_peregrinaRC

  Here are 2 more shots of Dicentra peregrina, the 2nd one taken with the sun shining through the flower. The 3rd shot is an interestingly lighted one of the hairy Campanula chamissonis.
Aug10_021_Ooike_MtKorenge_Dicentra_peregrinaRC
Aug10_021_Ooike_MtKorenge
_Dicentra_peregrinaRC
Aug10_029_Ooike_MtKorenge_Dicentra_peregrinaRC
Aug10_029_Ooike_MtKorenge
_Dicentra_peregrinaRC
Aug10th023_MtShiroumadake_CampanulaChamissonisRC
Aug10th023_MtShiroumadake
_CampanulaChamissonisRC

  In first position here is a flower we were hoping to find. It's Linnaea borealis - Twinflower. When we came here in 2010 there were lots of buds of this species, but very few flowers. This year we are about 2 weeks later than we were in 2010 and we will be seeing a LOT of flowers of Linnaea borealis. In 2nd and 3rd position are shots of Mt. Korenge - we'll be up there at around 8:55 AM.
Aug10_033_Ooike_MtKorenge_Linnaea_borealisRC
Aug10_033_Ooike_MtKorenge
_Linnaea_borealisRC
Aug10_037_Ooike_MtKorenge_RC
Aug10_037_Ooike
_MtKorenge_RC
Aug10_038_Ooike_MtKorenge_RC
Aug10_038_Ooike
_MtKorenge_RC

  WOW! A virtual forest of Linnaea borealis - so many flowers!
Aug10th030_MtShiroumadake_LinnaeaBorealisRC
Aug10th030_MtShiroumadake
_LinnaeaBorealisRC
Aug10_046_Ooike_MtKorenge_Linnaea_borealisRC
Aug10_046_Ooike_MtKorenge
_Linnaea_borealisRC
Aug10th034_MtShiroumadake_LinnaeaBorealisRC
Aug10th034_MtShiroumadake
_LinnaeaBorealisRC

  A final shot of Linnaea borealis and then a 2 shot panoramic look back at Hakuba Ooike (Big Pond) - where we stayed last night. The 3rd shot is Daniel with a snowfield in the background. As you can tell from the way he's dressed, it's still chilly at this time of day at this elevation.
Aug10th040_MtShiroumadake_LinnaeaBorealisRC
Aug10th040_MtShiroumadake
_LinnaeaBorealisRC
Aug10_071_072_Panorama_Ooike_MtKorenge_RC
Aug10_071_072_Panorama
_Ooike_MtKorenge_RC
Aug10th043_MtShiroumadakeRC
Aug10th043_
MtShiroumadakeRC

  Here are 2 amazing shots of Lilium medeoloides and a shot of a Geranium yesoense var. nipponicum.
Aug10th050_MtShiroumadake_LiliumMedeoloidesRC
Aug10th050_MtShiroumadake
_LiliumMedeoloidesRC
Aug10th052_MtShiroumadake_LiliumMedeoloidesRC
Aug10th052_MtShiroumadake
_LiliumMedeoloidesRC
Aug10th054_MtShiroumadake_GeraniumYesoenseVarNipponicumRC
Aug10th054_MtShiroumadake_
GeraniumYesoenseVarNipponicumRC

  An amazing shot of Campanula chamissonis, a shot of Campanula chamissonis with Daniel in the background - not as chilly now and shirt changed to protect his arms from the sun. In 3rd position is a red flower - probably a Rumex sp. And, that ends page 1, but we are barely started into August 10th! It's only 7:03 AM, so please continue on to Page 2.
Aug10_095_Ooike_MtKorenge_Campanula_lasiocarpaRC
Aug10_095_Ooike_MtKorenge
_Campanula_lasiocarpaRC
Aug10th070_MtShiroumadake_CampanulaChamissonisRC
Aug10th070_MtShiroumadake
_CampanulaChamissonisRC
Aug10_098_Ooike_MtKorenge_RC
Aug10_098_Ooike
_MtKorenge_RC
End Page 1, but August 10th continues on Page 2
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