Yesterday we were looking at the mountains, but today we were in them, in what will be the last day of skiing for the season.  We were in the Tokachidake area of Daisetsuzan National Park and climbed Mt Tokachi, which, at just a shade over 2,000 meters is the highest mountain in the area. 

Mt Tokachi is a live volcano and on the climb there are reminders of this, with numerous electric trip wires down the mountain.  There are also 3 live web-cameras parked on the peak to forewarn of any eruption.  It is one of the more active volcanoes in Hokkaido, erupting at least once every 30 or 40 years.  The last time it blew its top was in 1988, so I guess we are safe for a few more years.  There was a ski resort at that time, but was abandoned soon after that. 

The biggest eruption was in 1928 and the town located closest to it had to be evacuated for year.  The lava flow ran for kilometers.  The trees that regenerated after that were birch and there are now beautiful birch forests at the lower elevations.

Of the 29 national parks in Japan, apparently more than half of them have active volcanoes and by region, Hokkaido has the most active. 

I was with a local crew today.  All very good skiers.  One of the guys could telemark backwards!  Another guy skied in plastic climbing boots with a home made tongue stiffener which he attached to his boots at the top of the climb.  If you have every tried to ski in plastics, it is very difficult to stay out of the back seat, but he did a great job, getting down the hill as if he was in proper ski boots!