From the world of the deities !

by Kazu

The trails were so clear that we were not lost even when we could not find other trekkers. The backside of the mountains seemed to be inviting us and romping around the highland was so attractive but not so much time we had.

I was wondering if the deities of this area allowed the people to stroll around the sacred area.We should be calm while we stepped in the area, I thought.

Because the beauty of the nature should be maintained and the area is for the wildlife such as brown bears, deer, grouse and hare.

Backside of the mountain !

by Kazu

It could not be said that the inside of the crater was colored like rainbow but the cliff was not covered with plants and showed the layer of the ash colored with a variety of ingredients.

The mountains such as Mt. Tokachi(dake), Mt. Horokamettoku and Mt. Furano(dake) could be approached from the other side but the trails were much longer than the one we stepped ahead.

We could hear some people were talking on the hillside on the other side. They were coming up to this peak from the other side. We found the small dots were moving on the trail on the surface of the hillside.

The First Peak We Conquered !

by Kazu

We found the tower of rocks at the peak of Mt. Furano(dake). It was made up in the natural condition on the skyline of this mountain.

The approach trail from the southern side of the mountains could be seen from the tower.
It seemed that the rocky highland was a tough place for the plants to grow and conquer with the green color.

It is not the surface of the planet Mars. It was ragged but not so tough to climb.
We locked on the peak of Mt. Tokachi(dake).

At the southern rim of the crater !

by Kazu

Can you imagine the scene the green hillside of the mountain was blown away with the eruption  of the volcano?
To be honest, we tried to go up the cliff without trees. After reached this point, we recognized how foolish we were.

But believe me, this dangerous route to climb the mountain was on the map. That was why we lost an hour searching for the right route.

The crater of the volcano was still erupting the steam from the surface of the cliff. Sulfur gas was contained in the steam.

To the peaks 6 !

by Kazu

Looking back at the trail we walked, we recognized that we were getting finer view than from the lower point.

The more we stepped ahead, the more we got the view of wide sky. The steps made of wood were well-maintained and they were so helpful to climb the hillside covered with low pine trees.

What do you make of this scenery ? Absolutely, without efforts exerted to go up the hillside, it could not be gained. It was another world.

To the peaks 5 !

by Kazu

I was wondering if the trail might be the route of water flow during heavy rain fall. Can you imagine the flood on this trail ?

As we stepped ahead, we could get the clear view on the hillside and sky. Brown bears might be strolling around and searching for berries and young buds.

The wind was cool and conveying the smell of sulfur and pine trees. White clouds could be seen at the lower level. We were looking forward to seeing the peaks of the mountains.

To the peaks 4 !

by Kazu

We had to reach this peak in an hour but we lost an hour. It was not good to conquer the three peaks in a day.

The valley made by the lava flow and flood decades ago seemed to be still carved with water flow and wind. This brown area was a little bit warmer than other part of the hillside, I thought.

White little flowers were blooming beside the trail and giving us and insects the power to live and contend. So pretty they were !