Mount Kuro
Mount Kuro (黒岳 Kurodake or 'black mountain') (1,984 metres) is a peak in the northeast of Daisetsuzan National Park near Sōunkyō hot spring resort and gorge. It forms part of the Daisetsuzan Group of the Ishikari Mountains, a zone of stratovolcanoes and lava domes around the Ohachidaira Caldera (see Daisetsuzan Mountains).
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Flora and fauna
The northeastern face of Mount Kuro that overlooks Sōunkyō is notable for its flora which changes according to both the elevation and the season. Visitors come to see mountains cherries flowering at the end of June, alpine flowers in July and early August, and the autumn foliage in September and early October. The tree line is at around 1,800 m and the environment changes dramatically when the summit is reached and the bare slopes of the windward Alpine zone of the Daisetsuzan plateau begin, with permafrost from about 2,000 m.
Animals commonly encountered on the mountain include Hokkaidō deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis), Hokkaidō fox (Vulpes vulpes schrencki), and Siberian chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus). The black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) is also present.
Skiing
The Daisetsuzan Kurodake Ski Area has two lifts (see Hill walks section below) and three slopes open from November to mid-February and mid-March to April.
Hill walks
The full walk from Sōunkyō hot springs (670 m elevation) to the peak and back again takes about seven hours in good conditions, however taking the aerial (or cable car) Daisetsuzan Sōunkyō Kurodake Ropeway (大雪山層雲峡黒岳ロープウェイ Daisetsuzan Sōunkyō Kurodake Rōpuwei 1.6 km long) and then the Mount Kuro Chairlift (黒岳リフト Kurodake Rifuto 1.1 km long) - in both directions - reduces this to less than three hours. The top of the chairlift (also known as 'Stage 7') is 1,520 m high, only 364 m below the summit.
The path, although easy to follow, is badly eroded in places and potentially slippery particularly on the descent. It can also be crowded in summer and autumn. For that reason some walkers prefer to approach the mountain from Asahidake Onsen (via Mount Asahi) in the west. This route, which takes over eight hours in one direction, is described in detail in the Lonely Planet Hiking in Japan guide (see sources below). It forms Day 1 of the 'Daisetsuzan Grand Traverse' ending at the Mount Kuro Mountain Hut (see below).
Another possibility is to start from Ginsendai (銀泉台), south of Sōunkyō, and walk to Mount Kuro via Mount Aka (2,078 m), Mount Koizumi (2,158 m), and Mount Hokkai (2,149 m). This route takes approximately seven and a half hours from the Ginsendai trailhead to Mount Kuro and then down to Sōunkyō (using the lift and ropeway). Of course, it's also possible to start at Sōunkyō, reach Mount Kuro, and then proceed on to Asahidake Onsen or Ginsendai.
The mountain opens officially on the last Sunday of June and the climbing season lasts from then until October.
Mount Kuro Mountain Hut
The Mount Kuro Mountain Hut (黒岳石室 Kurodake Ishimuro) is below Mount Keigetsu (桂月岳 Keigetsudake), about 20 minutes walk beyond (i.e. west of) Mount Kuro. Staying in the hut costs Yen 1,700 in season. There is room for about 80 people. Sleeping bags, blankets are available. Camping outside the hut is free. Water is available, but should ideally be boiled.
Access
Sōunkyō is on Route 39, the main road between the cities of Asahikawa (67 km) and Obihiro (122 km). The Sōunkyō trailhead (and carpark) is located close to the centre of Sōunkyō hot springs, beside the base station of the Daisetsuzan Sōunkyō Kurodake Ropeway.
Ginsendai is at the end of the Daisetsuzan Kankō Road that starts from Route 273 opposite Lake Daisetsu (大雪湖), about 10 km south of Sōunkyō. Asahidake Onsen is accessible direct from Asahikawa City.
Clothing and equipment
Hiking boots are recommended, and walking poles are helpful, also layered clothing for a sudden change in the weather. As always in Hokkaidō take water and don't drink from streams! Most Japanese walkers carry bells to alert bears of their presence.
Contour maps
- Map 654247 1:25,000 (Sōunkyō Southwest) Kokuto Chiriin (国土地理院) [1]
- Attack Daisetsuzan 1:25,000 ISBN 4-901851-89-6 (Yen 1,000) (This includes a pamphlet in Japanese explaining routes and estimated times for individual sections.)
Google map
Geographic coordinates are 43.701° N, 142.92° W
Reviews
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We went up Mount Kuro at the end of July - the easy way via the cable car and the chairlift - and the wild flowers on the slopes facing Sōunkyō were stunning. Descending on the slippery, much eroded path was less fun. Given enough time it would be better to carry on to Ginsendai or Asahidake, but that would require having transport at the other end. Simon 19:09, 15 February 2008 (JST) |
Sources
- Florence, M et al. (2001) Hiking in Japan Lonely Planet Publications, Victoria
External sites
| Coordinates | 43°42′3.6″ N, 142°55′12″ W (Latitude: 43.701° N, Longitude: 142.92° W) + find maps Google maps Mapquest |