Unlike our climb of Meakan-dake a few days before, we were lucky to have a clear day for the ascent of its partner. The small lakes near the bottom were fringed with spectacular autumn colours, with the sunshine also bringing out the different mineral hues in the water. Mindful of the climb ahead, though, we pressed on and up through the steeper sections, enjoying the expanding view over Lake Akan and Meakan-dake behind us. Buzzards wheeled above us, as they had on my last time here.
It was colder on top, with ice coating the rock formations as the path undulated around the small overgrown crater up to the summit marker. The views to the east included the small lakes of Penketo ペンケトー and Panketo パンケトー, only really visible from here (penke and panke are a common pairing in Ainu, often corresponding to upper and lower, while to means lake). There was nobody else around so Rob flew his new drone around for a bit of practice, taking it out as far as he dared in case it was caught by a sudden gust. After a spot of lunch it was time to head back down, pausing this time to linger in the sun by the lakes, watching the numerous good-sized trout patrolling below the surface.
