Autumn Colors Report 2014 - Mt. Mutsuishi at Okutama (1/2)

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/2.8, 1/160 sec, ISO-100)

I've found early autumn colors in the mountains like Mt. Senjougatake and Oze National Park this year. Now, autumn colors are beginning to appear in lower altitudes, and very limited but a certain amount of autumn colors are already available in Tokyo city area. Today, I came to Okutama, the west side of Tokyo prefecture, to see whether areas with relatively higher altitudes are full of autumn colors in the end of October.

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As soon as I arrived at Okutama station, I found a nice old lady who gave me this free magazine with a trekking map. Then, let's go!

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/2000 sec, ISO-100)

A path from Okutama Station to Mt. Mutsuishi is roughly divided into four sections.(Course Time is Mine)

1. Flat Path (20 minutes)
2. Paved Street with Steep Slope (40 minutes)
3. Relatively Flat Trekking Course (80 minutes)
4. Very Steep Slope (80 minutes)

Now, I'm walking on Hikawa Ohashi Bridge on the flat path. I was excited to find autumn colors in such an low altitude of about 350m.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/800 sec, ISO-100)

I found a signboard of Okutama. OK. I'm going the right way.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/2000 sec, ISO-100)

Here's another signboard saying "Starting Point to Mt. Mutsuishi, Mt. Takanosu, and Mt. Kumotori. Today's destination is Mt. Mutsuishi with about 1,500m high.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/2000 sec, ISO-100)

The starting point is like this. A bit steep, but normal paved street, I think.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/320 sec, ISO-100)

Soon I found a tunnel. I had some rest in the shade to start walking faster.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/1000 sec, ISO-100)

Oh, quite dazzling...

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/200 sec, ISO-100)

There are some intersections on the way. Don't get lost. The way is on the right.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/160 sec, ISO-100)

The slope is winding like this for long.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/1250 sec, ISO-100)

The sunlight is coming again. I'm really happy that the weather is always fine when I go trekking.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/200 sec, ISO-100)

The sun is shedding strong light through the spaces between the trees. So warm today!

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/60 sec, ISO-100)

Now, I arrived at the entrance of a trekking course. There's no paved street from here, but the first half of the trekking course is relatively flat and easy to walk. The only warning was the signboard saying "A bear appeared on October 23. Please keep bells or radios with you." OK. I will keep my bell and walk with the utmost care and attention.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/400 sec, ISO-100)

I was surprised from the beginning. Weeds were fulfilling the path!

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/1250 sec, ISO-100)

But soon I noticed that the weeds are creating this beautiful scenery. What a nice weather!

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/160 sec, ISO-100)

Then, I went through the wooden bridge. Maybe this is the first and the last bridge on this trekking course.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/100 sec, ISO-100)

I entered a path in the shade. The view was full of green.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/60 sec, ISO-100)

While I was walking, I met really a lot of mountain climbers going down. This is simply because I started climbing in the afternoon while most of the climbers started early in the morning. Well, this is not because I was late, but because I wanted to shoot sunset from the peak!

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/100 sec, ISO-100)

The path in the shade continues a bit more.

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/80 sec, ISO-100)

A signboard to Mt . Mutsuishi and Mt. Takanosu is here!

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/250 sec, ISO-100)

Then, I walked through a bright path and...

Canon EOS 6D, Canon EF50mm F1.4 USM (50mm, f/1.4, 1/500 sec, ISO-100)

I reached the second signboard of the trekking course! Now, I've been through the first half of the trekking course. The slope will be steeper and steeper, but the views are greatly changed from now on. Then, let's see the page 2!

Autumn Colors Report 2014 - Mt. Mutsuishi at Okutama (2/2)