Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Some of my favourite shots from the past week or so.

There's been a lot of sun overhead these past few days. Here in Japan we're moving into my favourite time of year; the anticipation of snowfall and the sharp bite of the wind are what satisfies me the most from season to season. And it's only just begun!!



I've taken a few shots of the susuki grass that grows along the railroad near my house. I tried them out in B&W and thought they looked pretty good.



It was hard work framing the railway cables out, but in the end it seems I prefer the ones with them in.






A house by the railroad. What strikes me about this one is that the cables are running across the image at roughly the same angle as the sun.



Driving back from Iwaki yesterday (I didn't stick my head out the window and take it while driving, I stopped). I had a good time trekking up the deep ravine at Akakura, which is down to the left of the ridge I usually take. It's bear season now and I forgot my bell yesterday. The area I hike in is known to be the home of a handful, so the story goes, so I decided to take a couple of small rocks and I banged them together as I walked along. Surprisingly enough I really got into it and started putting some rythym in there.

Well, Blogger, the company that runs my blog, appears to be having some tech trouble right now so I'm going to leave it at that. I have more shots, all in colour, so I'll make another post in a few days time.

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Bi-annual mid year pilgrimage to Hakkoda.

I climbed Hakkoda with a girl called Naoko the other day. She's an old friend of mine who I've known since I got here to Japan and I haven't climbed with her since our excursion to Iwate-san last year. In fact, Ihaven't been up high for a few weeks now due to the stinking hot weather throughout the summer and the over-abundance of bugs and snakes on Iwaki.

It was a good day, though, last Monday, and it was an easier climb than what I'm used to.

Here are some shots. I didn't take many, and those that I did take aren't much to look at. Anyway:



Such a long time without cool fresh air. It can make a man wild. Here I am getting my load.



Naoko, as usual, prepared quite a varied lunch, and put my efforts to shame. Orange Heart on the corner of the 394 took care of my tucker on Monday.



This is the famous Sukayu onsen where men and women bathe together. Well, it's usually about 40 old men hanging around waiting for a young girl to walk in. The peak in the background is O dake, the highest point in the Hakkodas.

I'll try and get some good indoor climbing shots tomorrow and post some pics of my recent climbing routes. There's some sticklers!