Climbing Mt. Fuppushi !

by Kazu

The lava dome of Mt. Tarumae was a little bit away from the entrance of green mountain.

This was the start point to climb Mt. Fuppushi in a certain sense. Different from the barren surface of Mt. Tarumae, except for the rocky cliff, Mt. Fuppushi was covered with trees and plants.

Birch trees showed their white trunks with a contrast.No marsh could be found on the mountain.

The power of flora could be felt particularly after strolling around Mt. Tarumae. But the angle of the slope could not be imagined. It is said that the expert of the forestry should hand down  how to trim the mountains.

Rise again !

by Kazu

I wish we could do peak-hopping without going-down and climbing so much. We had to go down the slope to conquer another peak.

You may think it is so easy to climb again to the top of Mt. Fuppushi considering the angle of the slope but it was getting hotter and the slope was getting steeper.

The small rocks on the trail did not make the slope so unstable and the view from the trail was so clear without barrier such as trees.

If you have seen the desert of the North America or Turkey, you may find the similarity in these photos albeit there is no chemiza on the ground.

Leaving the peak of Mt. Tarumae !

 by Kazu

Watching the lava dome at the center of the crater, we left the peak of the rim, heading to the adjacent mountain.

After getting down a little bit, we had to go up the slope to the adjacent mountain. The higher point of Mt. Fuppushi seemed to be so steep but we did not expect the tough trail and rocks.  

In some part of the slope to the peak of Mt. Fuppushi, steel chains or thick ropes were equipped to help the climbers. The perspective of Mt. Fuppushi is shown below.

Peak to Peak !

by Kazu

I am not sure which peak is higher , the peak of the lava dome or the rim but the peak of the rim seemed to be a little bit higher than the dome from this point.

The western peak was a little bit lower than the highest point of the rim.

The plain and other mountains in the center part of Hokkaido could be seen from the peak.

Next time, I will go around the rim of the crater and post the landscape from the peaks.

At the peak of Mt. Tarumae !

by Kazu

At last, we stood on the peak of Mt. Tarumae. Precisely speaking, the highest rim of the crateraround the lava dome.

The peak of the rim was not the vertical limit of plants but due to the temperature and the sulfur gas erupted from the crack of the lava dome made the barren slope.

On our way from the peak of the rim to the peak of the adjacent mountain named Fuppushi, the beautiful blue Lake Shikotsu appeared behind the slope.

The skyline of the comparatively lower mountains was reflected on the surface of the lake.

Next goal could be seen from the peak of the rim. Mt. Fuppushi seemed to be covered with green plants but the slope looked much steeper than Mt. Tarumae.

byKazu

360 from the peak !

by Kazu

The south rim and west rim could be seen clearly from the peak of Mt. Tarumae.

Turning around on the peak, I felt the temperature was getting higher by leaps and bounds. It was a little bit risky to conquer the peak of another mountain.

The blue color of the horizon and the sky seemed to be so nice and cool but the reflection from the rocks started to grill our bodies.

The smell of sulfur was coming from the lava dome. It was like a real grill of the earth.

Mt. Tarumae 5 ! Lava Dome !

by Kazu

Can you find the altitude is getting higher than the photos posted before ? It is not the vertical limit for flora but the temperature and sulfur gas made it hard for flora to grow on the hillside of the crater.

 The reflection of sunshine from the hillside was getting harder and the temperature started to rise by leaps and bounds.

Fm the peak of the east rim of the crater, a lava dome could be seen at the center of the crater.