Yatsushiro 7 - Mt. Aso (7/02)

On the way to Mt. Aso, we stopped to stretch our legs. I think Todd was thinking, "Are you ever going to listen to one of my lectures?"

2009-06-03T23:05:51Z

Heather Meadows
On the way to Mt. Aso, we stopped to stretch our legs. I think Todd was thinking, "Are you ever going to listen to one of my lectures?"

Here's a view of the same area, without the people.

2009-06-03T23:37:03Z

Heather Meadows
Here's a view of the same area, without the people.

Mt. Aso, an active volcano.

2009-06-03T19:50:16Z

Heather Meadows
Mt. Aso, an active volcano.

Heather Meadows' photo

2009-06-03T20:10:21Z

Heather Meadows

Aso and trees

2009-06-03T20:39:46Z

Heather Meadows
Aso and trees

Path around mountain ridges

2009-06-04T00:03:52Z

Heather Meadows
Path around mountain ridges

Heading up to the smoking crater

2009-06-04T09:15:54Z

Heather Meadows
Heading up to the smoking crater

Inside Mt. Aso. The sulfur fumes were getting to me pretty bad by this point.

2009-06-03T20:51:30Z

Heather Meadows
Inside Mt. Aso. The sulfur fumes were getting to me pretty bad by this point.

Inside Mt. Aso, with crater ridge

2009-06-03T21:48:19Z

Heather Meadows
Inside Mt. Aso, with crater ridge

Shelters to hide in if/when the volcano erupts

2009-06-03T19:54:54Z

Heather Meadows
Shelters to hide in if/when the volcano erupts

Here, you could buy sulfur bath salts. I really should have bought some.

2009-06-03T21:07:06Z

Heather Meadows
Here, you could buy sulfur bath salts. I really should have bought some.

Inside Mt. Aso

2009-06-03T20:04:19Z

Heather Meadows
Inside Mt. Aso

Inside Mt. Aso

2009-06-03T22:39:42Z

Heather Meadows
Inside Mt. Aso

Me, Brandon, James, Jason, and Justin, near the crater

2009-06-03T23:03:08Z

Heather Meadows
Me, Brandon, James, Jason, and Justin, near the crater

Justin, James, Brandon, and Jason along the crater edge

2009-06-03T20:23:13Z

Heather Meadows
Justin, James, Brandon, and Jason along the crater edge

Inside Mt. Aso

2009-06-03T20:43:46Z

Heather Meadows
Inside Mt. Aso

Ridge inside the crater

2009-06-03T20:30:12Z

Heather Meadows
Ridge inside the crater

Another part of the crater

2009-06-03T22:48:34Z

Heather Meadows
Another part of the crater

Another part of the crater

2009-06-03T19:49:40Z

Heather Meadows
Another part of the crater

Path and ridge covered with ash

2009-06-04T09:15:06Z

Heather Meadows
Path and ridge covered with ash

Ash-covered field and ridge

2009-06-04T09:36:56Z

Heather Meadows
Ash-covered field and ridge

One of many piles of volcanic rock. (Some people claim that these rocks fall this way naturally during an eruption...)

2009-06-03T19:58:40Z

Heather Meadows
One of many piles of volcanic rock. (Some people claim that these rocks fall this way naturally during an eruption...)

More rock piles and a city in the distance

2009-02-22T02:46:03Z

Heather Meadows
More rock piles and a city in the distance

Jason, Justin, and Todd decided to climb up that ridge. Brandon, James and I stayed behind and watched.

2009-06-03T21:27:23Z

Heather Meadows
Jason, Justin, and Todd decided to climb up that ridge. Brandon, James and I stayed behind and watched.

Todd, Justin, and Jason preparing to climb

2009-06-03T21:54:44Z

Heather Meadows
Todd, Justin, and Jason preparing to climb

Climbing

2009-02-22T02:49:39Z

Heather Meadows
Climbing

They made it to the top! You can't see them, but they're on the far left.

2009-06-04T00:35:51Z

Heather Meadows
They made it to the top! You can't see them, but they're on the far left.

A hiker moving along the path we were on

2009-06-03T21:30:06Z

Heather Meadows
A hiker moving along the path we were on

Brandon and James decided to make their own rock pile.

2009-06-03T23:35:24Z

Heather Meadows
Brandon and James decided to make their own rock pile.

Todd, Jason, and Justin standing heroically on the edge of the ridge.

2009-06-04T09:16:36Z

Heather Meadows
Todd, Jason, and Justin standing heroically on the edge of the ridge.

The conquered ridge

2009-06-03T21:47:32Z

Heather Meadows
The conquered ridge

After seeing the volcano area, we headed to a touristy area that seemed to have seen better days. Here are some neat restrooms in the area.

2009-06-03T21:41:58Z

Heather Meadows
After seeing the volcano area, we headed to a touristy area that seemed to have seen better days. Here are some neat restrooms in the area.

An abandoned shop, supposedly closed for the season (but perhaps permanently?). We had lunch across the way, and there was no one else around.

2009-06-03T19:53:52Z

Heather Meadows
An abandoned shop, supposedly closed for the season (but perhaps permanently?). We had lunch across the way, and there was no one else around.

An obelisk at another pitstop

2009-06-03T20:20:21Z

Heather Meadows
An obelisk at another pitstop

View of a city

2009-06-04T09:15:21Z

Heather Meadows
View of a city

View of a city

2009-06-03T19:39:55Z

Heather Meadows
View of a city

That night, back in Yatsushiro, Yoko's mother graciously brought me to a friend's house where a large group of friends were having some sort of dinner party. One by one the guests submitted ...

2009-06-03T23:52:22Z

Heather Meadows
That night, back in Yatsushiro, Yoko's mother graciously brought me to a friend's house where a large group of friends were having some sort of dinner party. One by one the guests submitted ...