[October Event Report] North Yatsugatake will not disappoint you! "ZEROGRAM and Everyone's Tent-Camping Hike"
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
This week I went to the October offline event, "Let's all start a tent hike with ZEROGRAM."
This project was originally started as a way for readers who had just started climbing solo to have fun, gain experience with fellow climbers, and step up their game, and also to raise awareness of tent manufacturers who don't often get the spotlight in the shadows of major brands, but who do excellent work that is just as good as the big names. Thanks to everyone's support, this is now in its third year. This time, we were able ZEROGRAM tents, Amazfit smartwatches, and DASHOE, a brand new deodorizing spray . We're grateful for everyone's cooperation and participation!
So, six of us, including myself, headed to Mugikusa Pass, the most accessible trailhead in the Northern Yatsugatake Mountains. Although it was the final stretch, it was still the autumn foliage season, so we expected there would be fierce competition for parking, and so we left Tokyo the night before. We arrived at the parking lot just before 2am. It was less crowded than we expected, but there were still dozens of cars parked there, even though it was late at night. We scouted the area, hoping to find somewhere to pitch a tent and take a nap, but in the end we couldn't find a suitable spot, so we slept in the car. We got more sleep than we expected.
Moss! Moss! Moss! A spectacular view from North Yatsugatake
A front was expected to pass through today and the weather was uncertain, but there were still thin clouds in the morning, so it looked like we could expect good weather!
However, the temperature and wind conditions are quite severe, and no matter how much you prepare for the cold this time of year, the local temperature is usually even colder than you expected. What's more, even if the temperature is as expected, the cold can suddenly increase dramatically as strong winds come into play, so you can't let your guard down.
As expected, some members were a little worried about their cold weather gear, but they were able to avoid any problems thanks to the cold weather gear that Outdoor Gearzine had brought with them just in case. It's important to keep cold weather gear and other equipment such as chain spikes in your car in case of an emergency during this season.
When you think of the North Yatsugatake Mountains, especially the area around Shirakome Pond, the most striking thing is the thick, velvety carpet of moss that covers the ground, and the pleasant forest of coniferous trees such as Japanese hemlock and Japanese silver fir that give off an ancient, breathing feeling. The forest was alive today as well.
Normally, the forest is silent, as if time has stopped, but today the sound of the wind can be heard all the time. Sometimes you think you hear birds singing, but it's actually the creaking of trees as they sway violently in the wind.
There must be a strong wind blowing on the ridge.
After walking up a slightly steep slope for a while, you will arrive at the first peak, Nyu. After walking through a mossy forest, you will suddenly be greeted by an unimaginable, spectacular view. It's something you can come back to again and again.
After that, we walked along the ridge to Mt. Tengu. The bright, sun-drenched forest of Abies mariesii was as pleasant as ever. It also offered just enough protection from the wind. As always, everyone was having lively conversations even though it had only been a few hours since we met.
After walking for a while, we came to a rocky ridge above the tree line, and after checking the wind conditions and consulting with the other members, we decided to go as far as we could.
However, the wind that day was quite dangerous. I didn't measure it, but it felt like it was over 10 meters. The occasional gusts of wind made it seem like I was going to be blown away unexpectedly.
Although I was staggering, I continued to walk steadily, step by step, and finally arrived at Tengu-dake.
There was a magnificent panorama that included the main Yatsugatake mountain range, including Akadake and Amida, as well as the Southern and Central Alps, Mount Asama, Mount Kinpu, Mount Kitayokodake, and Mount Kirigamine.
We found a suitable spot in the shade of a rock and took a rest while weathering the strong wind.
I checked out Amazfit here. This was my first time using it, but it was extremely easy to use, with a bright screen, easy-to-use touch display, clear pre-downloaded maps, and decent GPS accuracy.
Even members who were using a smartwatch for the first time were pleased, saying that it gave them voice prompts every kilometer and that being able to immediately see their current heart rate made it easier to pace themselves.
But we can't afford to relax. A front is passing through today, so the weather in the mountains is expected to take a turn for the worse. We're worried about rain from the evening onwards. That means we need to get to the campsite quickly.
We arrived at the campsite just before sunset. The ZEROGRAM tent was a lifesaver!
I felt like hurrying, but with huge rocks rolling in front of me and the strong winds continuing to get stronger, it was difficult to pick up speed. What's more, today's journey was surprisingly long. Although I was exhausted, I somehow managed to arrive at Aomoso, located on the bank of Shirakome Pond. It was just before 4pm. I had felt the signs of rain several tens of minutes before I arrived. The sun was about to set and it was getting dark. So I had to hurry and set up the tent.
Of course, this wasn't what we were aiming for, but on a day like this, when it was raining and we had to set up the tent quickly, the true capabilities of the ZEROGRAM tent were fully demonstrated.
What is that? Well, of course, it's the "integrated footprint, inner, and rain fly structure." Most ZEROGRAM tent models have this structure, and after hammering in pegs at the four corners to determine the location, you set up the poles and fasten them with hooks. With just this one step, the tent was up in no time.
It was so quick that it was almost disappointing, and we didn't even get to practice setting up the tent!
Not only that, but even among ordinary mountain tents, it offers exceptional comfort, with a spacious interior, entrances on both sides, and a monofilament inner lining that prevents water droplets from forming. Various sizes were available, including 1.5-person and 2.5-person tents in addition to 1-2-person tents, and it seemed that all the participants were able to sleep comfortably without any discomfort, even during a rainy night.
By the way, although it is an older model, Outdoor Gearzine has also reviewed it , so if you are interested, please check it out.
On the second day, taking into account the weather conditions, we hiked through a different forest and finished off with a visit to hot springs!
On this day, they also demonstrated "DASHOE," a new deodorizing spray made from ingredients that was also sold as a souvenir. If you spray it on areas where you sweat easily beforehand, it really does eliminate odors! Of course, if you spray it after odors have started, it will also eliminate them. I tried it on my hiking boots myself, and it really did eliminate the smell without leaving any unwanted fragrance smell (the photo shows it being sprayed on one end of a backpack, another area where odors are likely to occur). It can be used on everything, from backpacks to gloves, tents, clothes, helmets, shoes, and more, including items that are hard to wash, so it's definitely worth having one on hand.
Another souvenir is the Tyvek UL Mat, a convenient mat that can be quickly used on your backpack or bottom to keep it clean during breaks.
I also got to try out a backpack from ZEROGRAM. It's lightweight yet has great storage capacity. The 45L size was enough to carry all my tent gear for a night's stay.
This event was attended by people with about a year of mountaineering experience who also camped in tents. Not only did they enjoy a pleasant hike in fine weather, but they also had a moderately adventurous experience, camping in the cold, strong winds, and rain, and it was an introduction to deep mossy forests and rocky mountains, making it a fulfilling climb.
Finally, we would like to thank ZEROGRAM, Amazfit, and Suffix for their cooperation in providing us with trial gear and novelty items!
Thank you very much to all the participants.
For those who unfortunately couldn't attend this time, please look forward to the next event!
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Related reading
[October Offline Event] Update on "Starting a Tent-Camping Hike with ZEROGRAM" [Many Gifts and Additional Trial Items]
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[September Event Report ②] Start your tent-camping traverse of Mount Houou with Sea to Summit [Now accepting participants for the October event]
"Nemo and everyone will start a tent hike" About camping items that can be experienced at the tent hike event in May