We recently hosted a group of 45 students from Sapporo Kaisei Secondary School and Sapporo Asahigaoka High School to participate in a geology field trip to Mt. Apoi.

The theme for the two-day trip was "Peridotite and Movements of the Earth."

On the first day, we visited Peridotite Plaza, the former plate boundary, Horoman River, and GeoLabo, the Mt. Apoi Geology Research Lab. On the second day, we went to Mt. Apoi. We discussed the relationship between geology and plants, observed rocks, including peridotite, and explained the geological formations surrounding Mt. Apoi. The students asked more questions than we anticipated! We strived to show the students as many aspects as possible, including plants and insects.

The yellow flowers really stood out on this day. We explored the differences between Kinrobai (pictured) and Samani-otogiri flowers.

The first flowers we spotted were the Ibukijakoso.

It was foggy around Uma-no-se, but we could still see the ocean. The weather was quite humid, but at least it was not scorching hot.

On June 28 (Sat), the KanxKan Lectures and Apoi College held a joint event to tour Mt. Apoi Geopark on electric mountain bikes (E-MTB).

When I was checking the route the morning of the tour, Oyako-iwa looked whimsical sitting above the mist.

We started with safety training.

Up the hill we went, and stopped in front of the ballpark.

We learned about the relationship between parasites that live in a common amber snail and birds.

We also talked about the Ainu legends surrounding Mt. Kannon.

Just a week or so ago, there were some Siberian lilies here. This flower is often found along the roadside in Hidaka and along the coastline.


We touched on the history of the Hidaka Mountains and the ballpark.


The Oyako-iwa Fureai Beach was covered in mist.

While at Sobira-iwa, the participants were excited to hear about the birds and see photos taken before the landfill in 1934.

Here was an early morning view of Cape Enrumu, where magma cooled and solidified to create the geological folds. It's surrounded by Hidaka kelp and a thin layer of fog.

This was our first E-MTB tour, and we managed to end it without incident.

I think next time it would be interesting to take the bikes out on a dirt trail or out towards Saman Dam.

Even the parking lot at the Visitor Center was full of hikers! Overall, it was a pretty great day!

In early June, I went to check out the route for the E-MTB tour. Here's a little report on the summer flowers and scenery.

This is the Hokkaido hamanasu (beach rose). Jam made from the hamanasu rose hips is delicious!

Oyako-iwa from the Sakae-machi road.

Oyako-iwa Fureai Beach

The beach is preparing to open up for the summer.

I ran into a fox in front of the Mt. Apoi Geopark Visitor Center.

Ezo-oosakuraso (Primula jesoana var. pubescens)


Violet


Himeichige (Anemone debilis)


Firimi yamasumire (Viola selkirkii f. variegata)


Samani yukiwari (Primula modesta var. samanimontana)


The cherry blossom trees at the 5^th Station are about to bloom.


The top of Mt. Apoi as seen from the 5^th Station


Kijimushiro (P. fragarioides var. major)


Apoi Azamagiku (Erigeron alpicolavar. Angustifolius)


Fuderindo (Gentiana zollingeri)


An insect pretending to be dead


Apoi Itachitsubo-sumire (Viola sacchalinensis var. alpina)


Scenery and cherry blossoms from the 7^th Station


Apoi Hahako (Anaphalis alpicola f. robusta)


Violet Azalea


Hidaka Iwazakura (Primula hidakana)

Ezo Kisumire (Viola brevistipulata subsp. hidakana var. hidakana)

The Visitor Center held various events over the long holiday.

We used a router to engrave designs on a glass.

The most popular design was a lizard. By drawing detailed designs on the glass, the objective was to help people see from a scientific viewpoint.

Some of the participants tried engraving a difficult ammonite. We even had ammonite fossils on hand to use as a model.

I was thrilled to see several groups of children who were making these glasses for their grandparents.

These glasses were originally supposed to be thrown out, but when I saw the children having so much fun making engraving them, I was very glad they were reused in this way.

The cherry blossoms are in bloom.