Summary

A day in paradise!  Two contrasting volcanic mountains, one bare and releasing fumes, the other cloaked in dense forest, with magnificent views across the mountains and the lake of Shikotsu-ko. 

• I’ll remember, most of all, this was my " first volcano”!
• The best bit for me was the scenery of the live volcanic peak, from close up and from the neighbouring summit.  Plus the sunlight shining through the birch forest.
• The worst bit was the fact we didn’t take enough water for a long walk in the sun.
• The word of warning for other walkers would be to make sure to fill in the hikers ’ log book at the start and the finish of the walk.  
• Scary bits? Not really, just a need for care on some slippery steep bits through the forest, but there were ropes to hold onto.
• I didn’t expect to find this contrast between the scenery of old and new volcanoes, or to find such dense woodland at 1000 m.
• I hadn’t seen anything quite like this before – although we’d already climbed the volcanic peaks from Sounkyo. A new hiking experience.

Read the full story

Contributor -  Andrew Llanwarne