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Beech – on top of the mountain

October 26, 2012 by Jonas Dupuich

As we approached the pass near the top of White Mountain Forest Road, the flora signaled a change in elevation – fir gave way to pine, maples to beech. Maples added golden hues to beech-covered hillsides until they dropped away, leaving the silvery-bronze beech and a scattering of white pines. I found the beech impressive – strong and stately trees thriving in the exposed mountains. The old leaves had all fallen away leaving rust-colored buds to contrast the bright trunks. Mr. Oomura, our fearless and patient driver, seemed to enjoy himself as much as Boon and I did as we closed in on the pass.

Beech

Beech and maples

Beech and white pine

Beech and white pine

Beech

A stand of beech

As if for our viewing pleasure, a large rock outcropping appeared that was covered with fir and pines. Few deciduous trees clung to the rock, yet the conifers held on to even the smaller fissures along the outcropping’s sheer walls.

Pine on rock outcropping

Pines on the rock

At the highest elevations, we found only beech and white pine. Although the two varieties both found homes on the same mountain, they tended to appear in groups, clusters of white pine surrounded by larger fields of beech.

Beech and white pine

Beech and white pine

Beech and white pine

Deciduous and coniferous trees growing together

Occasionally, the white pines appeared on their own.

White pine

White pines

The mountain tops belonged to the beech.

Beech covered mountain

Beech

Up close, the trees appeared old, but well balanced.

Beech

Old beech

And their view was impressive.

Deciduous forest

View from the top of White Mountain Forest Road

About four hours and 50 tunnels later – the longest of which was 11km – we returned to Shimpukuji whose tatami and futon charms were not lost on us.

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Filed Under: Excursions Tagged With: Beech, Japan

Previous Post: « Fall Color in Central Japan
Next Post: Mr. Kita’s junipers »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Steven Koenig says

    October 26, 2012 at 4:43 am

    All those magnificent beech and no one collecting seeds for propagation. Hard to find Japanese beech here in the US.

  2. Andrew Romney says

    October 26, 2012 at 2:01 pm

    all the way to japan for what looks the same when you go to the smoky mountains…. just saying. You can wake up to a simallir view here at the smoky mountains in the fall.

  3. Andrew Romney says

    October 27, 2012 at 11:12 am

    But than again if I had a chance to go to beautiful Japan I would. I wish I could go some day

  4. mybabyciv says

    October 30, 2012 at 5:50 am

    Thanks for the pictures! The smokies aren’t shit compared to this display. We could only be so lucky to have crenata and parviflora grace our hillsides!

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