"Spoll! I tried it. "Winter Camping"

"Spoll! I tried it. "It is a project to actually experience Kochi's nature sports and activities and convey the charm from the perspective of the experienced person. 
 This time, you will experience Nagano, who is from Kochi Prefecture and loves to play outside, and his hobby is fishing. Mr. Nagano, who has been challenging various outdoor activities from spring to autumn in Kochi Prefecture with a warm climate, reported from the perspective of his first winter camp.

First of all

In Kochi Prefecture, camping in tents is possible from April to October, and especially in summer, many people enjoy outdoor activities such as barbecues and camping in riverbed as well as well as well as well as well as camping. It is a camp with a strong image of a warm season, but did you know that you can comfortably stay in a tent even in winter? We will try our first winter camp with winter camp experts.

Place

Camping is a riverbank where you can stay a tent on a tributary of the Niyodo River in Ochi-cho, Kochi Prefecture, about 1 hour and 30 minutes by car from Kochi Station. If you make a debut in a winter camp that does not accompany experienced winter campers, we recommend car-camping site, where you can rent items necessary for winter camping, or where you can use heating equipment at a site where power is secured.

Experience

In early December, when we tried the winter camp, there is snow in the mountains even in the warm Kochi prefecture, and there are places where the temperature is negative at night. On the day of the experience, the minimum temperature at night is forecast to be 2°C. We asked Mr. Nagano (left photo), who set up a tent in an environment too cold for Kochi citizens, about his feelings before the experience.

"Winter camp? I don't want to be honest, I'm not good at laughing and chilling, I'll blow cold wind near the river, and because the ground is stone, the bottom cooling will surely be great, and there are no positive factors. The only salvation is to get the help of Mr. Morimoto, who has a lot of experience in winter camping.” No, no, it seems quite passive.

Morimoto (pictured right), who is connected through fishing, a common hobby, enjoys mountain climbing and camping throughout the year, and has a wealth of experience in mountain climbing winter and winter camping. You participated in this project as a helper. We also have a recommended camping menu for winter camp, so it is reliable.

"Everyone is surprised to camp in a tent even in winter, but it's surprisingly okay. Since the stove is fired in the tent, it is comfortable to spend in a warm space like a room. There is no problem if you take measures against the cold with reduced points, and I like it because there are no insects. "

I asked him what he wanted to keep in mind.

"When camping in nature where there is no electricity, the stove is still a necessity, and a tent with which the stove can be used is also necessary. The mast is a ventilation that is highly flame-retardant and can replace the air so that it can be ventilated, and a skirt that prevents gaps at the feet. Also, since the temperature may drop more than expected, it is necessary to bring a lot of clothes and blankets to prevent cold weather. The inside of the tent is warm, but it is important to be prepared so that it is not enough because it is only necessary to take it off when it gets hot. "

Let's get ready. First, build a tent.

It is set up in a flat position with a somewhat higher position than the water surface. Especially in mountainous areas in summer, there is a risk that tents may be washed away due to sudden increase in water due to guerrilla downpours. Setting up a tent in a position where you can evacuate immediately after keeping a distance from the water surface is the basis of staying a tent on the riverbank.

The construction was completed in about 10 minutes by cooperating with each other.
Next, bring in tables, chairs, food, etc. This is the same as a regular tent stay.

Finally, ignite the stove installed in a safe position in the tent.

Mr. Nagano seems to be a little worried about a small stove because it is early winter.

“Are you okay with just one of these? Even in the tent, it's outdoors in winter."

"You think so, right? It's okay."

Morimoto starts preparing dinner skillfully while reassuring Mr. Nagano.
"Let's make pasta first."

In the tent where music flows, the ingredients of pasta are cut with a kitchen knife in a rhythmic manner.

The heat of the stove gradually warmed the inside of the tent.
"It will be surprisingly warm."

"That's right. Pasta, you can do it right away."

When you entangle the boiled pasta and ingredients in the olive oil heated in a frying pan, one item is completed in no time. It is a tomato meta cheese pasta made with homemade tomato sauce brought by Mr. Morimoto plus spicy kotaiko.

"It's so delicious! It is spicy and warms your body.'

By the time I finished eating one item's menu, the inside of the tent was completely warm, and I no longer felt that it was outdoors in winter.

“The cold I was worried about is okay. It's okay with a small stove."

"Let's prepare a stone kiln pizza."

In addition, the pizza kiln is completed in no time by stacking stones with familiar hands.

When I returned to the warm tent, two items of Pakuchi Tantan sesame pasta were quickly completed.

"This is delicious again! The combination is novel. The BGM is comfortable, and the inside of the tent is comfortable and I'm starting to feel a little happy. For example, if you wrap it in a futon in a cold room in winter, only the face coming out of the futon is a little cool and pleasant situation. "

It's a very specific example. Is there anyone who can sympathize?

"Let's bake a stone kiln pizza!"

The hot pizza was baked in an instant with the heat of the stone warmed by the firepower of firewood.

"This isn't delicious! It's definitely better to eat it in winter than to eat it in summer."
Mr. Nagano is very satisfied with the winter camp meal.

You can eat freshly made hot dishes more deliciously. Is it one of the attractions of winter camping?

After brewing coffee with hot water that was warmed on the stove and soaking in the aftermath of a very delicious dinner, it is another attraction of winter camp.

"It's the best thing to warm up with a bonfire in this cold," says Morimoto, who regularly enjoys the bonfire.
At the end of a relaxing day after seeing the swaying flame, the starry sky shining in the clear winter sky.

“Winter camping is the best!” Where did the initial low tension go? Mr. Nagano, who was very satisfied.
Enjoy the charm of winter camp and prepare for bedtime.

When I went to bed, I asked Mr. Morimoto about sleep at the winter camp.
"Of course, we use sleeping bags that can withstand the temperature of the camping environment, but in winter, the temperature drops at a stretch in the morning and it gets cold, so it's just right to think it's too warm at the sleeping stage. Whether on the ground or using a cot called a cot, it is also important to lay an insulating sheet under the sleeping bag to prevent heat from running away. I also wear sleeping bags in the same way as clothes."

Despite being thrilled by the cold at night, I was able to sleep well until morning on this day.

“The cold was better than I thought. I was worried, so I went to bed in the down sleeping bag while wearing a thin down jacket, and I was able to sleep well until morning."

Mr. Morimoto greeted Mr. Nagano, who slept with perfect preparation, with thin clothes and batting sleeping bags only.

A terrifying master.

Finally

Enjoy a delicious toast and freshly brewed coffee breakfast, and the first winter camping experience is over. I asked Mr. Nagano for his impressions.
"This time, with Mr. Morimoto's help, I realized that if you prepare properly, you can have a comfortable time. I knew that freshly cooked dishes would be more delicious in the menu only in winter, and it was the best time to watch the starry sky while warming up with a bonfire in the cold and clear air. The impression of the winter camp has changed. Just as I was told by Mr. Morimoto about the charm of winter camp, I want to be able to tell someone too. "

If you can learn how to enjoy winter, outdoor life will be richer. "Spoll! I tried it. It was winter camping.”

Night camping in winter can be dangerous if you are careful. As I mentioned at the beginning, if you are experiencing it for the first time, please try the first winter camp in a safe environment with facilities that can prevent cold weather.