[Part 1] I really want to keep a secret, and I tried using RIVERS coffee gear while traveling on the winter Izu Peninsula stunning trail [Gear review without any consideration]
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
table of contents
- Coffee is now an ideal mountain travel essential
- Reviewing Rivers items from the perspective of a solo hiker
- Is it a virgin beech forest in Izu? I'll just have to go and try
- A frozen lake stumbling in a primitive forest
- If you go deep into the forest, you will find a giant tree exhibition.
- "Stout Air 1000" carry bottle with simple appearance but with tricks everywhere.
- After passing through the Acebi tunnel, Hachichoike finally arrived
- I took a private coffee chair while carefully experimenting with Rivers' coffee gear.
- Coffee Grinder Grit is essential for grinding high-quality beans of your choice.
- Exquisite perfection for a special cup "Micro Coffee Dripper 2 & Ultra Light Hiker Mug S"
- Enjoy a supreme drink while looking at the pond where time passes through quietly
- The exquisite use and drinking feel ensures that the "Wall Mug Shade" is ready to operate in full for everyday use.
- We are sending you a crossover project with the web magazine "STUNSCAPE," which focuses on adventurers.
Coffee is now an ideal mountain travel essential
It's kind of boring to just go up and down.
Just as 25 years have passed since I started climbing the mountains, I suddenly felt this way and started to feel like I was brewing my favorite coffee in the mountains without any worries.
However, when it comes to actually brewing coffee in the mountains, it is necessary to have more tools than ever before, such as coffee beans and brewing equipment. I am well aware that I have a taste that is not even delicate in any way. Anyway, as long as I could enjoy the special time of "making coffee" first, that was fine. So at first, powdered coffee is enough. We also stocked some simple, ultra-lightweight models that didn't get in the way of our luggage.
However, a few years ago, I couldn't help but bring a full-fledged coffee set to climb the stream, thinking it would be a good idea to go to a luxurious occasionally.
As the other members woke up in the morning, they were busy grinding coffee beans into small pieces with their sleepy eyes and boiling water, and brewing the bitter cup of coffee, which was so tasty that even I, who was a bad-tasting person, could not have been wrong.
Surrounded by lush trees, the constant sound of streams and the occasional chirping of birds. It felt like everything was being set up for this bowl. Since then, I have never forgotten the flavor, or rather the fulfilling moment at that time, and whenever I enter the mountains, I have always carried a set of coffee beans, grinders and extractors with me.
Now, with a perfect cup of coffee to drink while being embraced by nature, it will be a fulfilling journey for me, no matter how bad the weather and the worst routes are. Mountain coffee is an essential companion for such an ideal mountain trip.
Reviewing Rivers items from the perspective of a solo hiker
When I heard about my addicted to mountain coffee, STUNSCAPE, the developer of the Rivers brand, said, "Why not use our coffee and outdoor equipment in the mountains and review it?" At first, I hesitated to think that it would be okay for someone who is not a coffee professional like me to do it, but from the perspective of an amateur who loves outdoors, they said that it would be best to delve into what Rivers items like, what better to do, and how best to use them. The story was decided because of her enthusiasm and enthusiasm. I decided to immediately find a suitable place for the journey of this review.
Is it a virgin beech forest in Izu? I'll just have to go and try
I want to bring together a lot of gear and make a big review trip in a nice location that is worthy of that. However, it was a problem. It's January. Most of the spectacular view areas I've been walking around and have been covered in snow, and I don't have the time to go west, where there's no snow. Just as I was looking at the map of Japan, I was beginning to feel weak when I saw a certain area. In fact, this is the Izu Peninsula, which has been bothering me for a while, protruding out southeast of Honshu. Come to think of it...
When you think of the Izu Peninsula, many people think of the seas and hot springs such as Atami and Jogasaki, resorts that are within an hour of reach of Tokyo.
However, after doing some research, I was surprised. In Izu, a deep ridgeline line with over 1,000 meters of mountains stretches freely behind the scenic coastline, with Mt. Amagi, one of Japan's 100-famous mountains, located in the center. The mountain range has precious ecosystems even when viewed worldwide, including native forests such as beech and scallions, and is packed with delicious trails that allow you to immerse yourself in the diversity of biological organisms and rich nature. Izu is actually a hiking paradise! ?
Personally, I was curious about Amagiyama, the 100 most famous mountains, but I was surprised to see that it was so charming. The surprise quickly turned to curiosity, and I realized that the light lit up in the core of my heart. This is the only place I can get ready for my trip right away.
A frozen lake stumbling in a primitive forest
The purpose of this trip was to be to embrace the forest of Amagi in winter, enjoy coffee carefully with Rivers items, cook meals, and spend the night.
When designing this 2-day trip to Amagi, the most important thing I focused on was "where to calm down and make coffee." Naturally, I considered the summit as a candidate, but I rejected it because it was impossible to make coffee in a 1,000m peak during the harsh winter season, as it was impossible to keep quiet and make coffee amidst the cold wind. Hiking is not just about standing on the summit. The main characters of this journey are the forest and coffee. Surrounded by nature, I want to spend as much time as possible in silence with hot coffee. For this reason, you should also carry a camping chair that is as light and comfortable as possible.
I looked through the documents, stirring up all sorts of fantasies, and found a suitable place that would fulfill my wishes. That's where I went to Hacho Pond, the first day. A mysterious lake suddenly appears at a high altitude of over 1,000 meters. I heard that it was frozen during this season and was once a natural skating rink. The gentle slope of Amagi Volcano around the pond is home to native forests including beech and stalwarts, and there is a flat grass on the banks of the pond, making it a great place to set up chairs. Isn't it the best? I feel like this trip is being led by something.
Then, on a certain day in January, I finally stepped into Amagi Forest from the trailhead at Amagi Pass in the deep part of Izu.
There are several routes to Hacho Pond, but this time, the road at the entrance to Amagi Tunnel has been closed due to construction work, so I decided to change the route I had planned to cross Amagi Pass and walk the Mikoto Sidewalk.
It was fine to stand at the starting point, but the start was a huge sluggish truck in front of me from early in the morning, and civil engineering fences lined up along the forest road when I first started walking. I start to wonder if there really is a virgin beech forest in a place like this.
After walking for about 30 minutes, the forest road ended and the trail finally started. Just a short walk away, a family of deer greeted me from the back of the cedar forest. However, here humans are just strangers. While apologizing for being in the way of my early morning meal, I was also happy with the natural depth that drowned out my anxiety at the start.
On this day, the dry, cold air was refreshing and refreshing, typical of the Pacific Ocean side of the winter day. In the clear air, I walked along the trail, raised by frost pillars, making crunchy, chilly sounds. This is my favorite winter hiking.
If you go deep into the forest, you will find a giant tree exhibition.
The deeper you go, the more beautiful trees that clearly show the long years, and the thicker the forest becomes. It feels so good I can't stop pressing the shutter button.
The appearance of the forest finally changes from the cedars to a native forest where beech and scallions are plentiful.
Looking down, the beech trunks, which are powerfully rooted on a carpet of fallen leaves, are covered in moss, giving them a dignified appearance like the master of a forest with a magnificent beard.
On the other hand, if you look up, countless branches that have grown over more than 1,000 years spread dynamically and powerfully, as if to show off their vast, extraordinary vitality, making your eyes enjoyable.
"Stout Air 1000" carry bottle with simple appearance but with tricks everywhere.
It was so fulfilling I couldn't stop enjoying it, so I decided to stop walking for a while and take a break.
Finally, I took out one of the Rivers items I had entrusted to this time, the lightweight bottle of Stout Air 1000, and drank some water.
Needless to say, the most popular mountain water carry for a long time, the "Nalgene bottle" is probably the Nalgene bottle. I've owned a variety of sizes too. This bottle is based on Nalgene, but as it is a later item, it has been designed to be easy to use everywhere.
First, the design. Unlike the generous Nalgene coloring, I really like the elegant and unified coloring that gives it a sense of unity with the lid. The slightly thinner shape, which fits well with the size of Japanese hands, is also very appealing. It is also easy to attach to the side pockets of the backpack.
My next favorite is the silicone strap attached to the lid. This is a part that is generally used to prevent the lid from falling and to attach a carabiner when carrying it around. It doesn't seem to have any particular features other than being supple and easy to use, but it's really well done.
Many bottles from competing manufacturers have a fall prevention strap attached directly above the cap, but this stout air is avoided by the strap joint at the edge of the cap. This prevents the strap from getting in the way when rotating and opening and closing the cap. It's a plain thing you might not notice, but I was impressed by the consideration for its stress-free comfort.
Furthermore, a lid is included as standard to prevent water from spilling out when drinking drinks, or to prevent a lot of spilling if you accidentally fall over. It can be used as a wide mouth when collecting or washing water, and a narrow mouth when drinking or pouring water. There are often bottles with a choice of thin and wide mouths, but since they have both functions, they are truly two birds with one stone.
Made of lightweight, sturdy resin with a heat resistance of 100°C, it can be used without hesitation even in hard outdoor activities. By using it with a strainer sold separately, you can also enjoy cold-brewed coffee and drinks made with tea leaves.
The only problem is the memory display section, which is not always good visibility. I'm satisfied with the memory width in 50ml increments, so personally I think it would have been better if it were a little easier to see because the design is good.
After passing through the Acebi tunnel, Hachichoike finally arrived
Resuming the journey. It's almost here to Hacho Pond. After passing through the majestic beech forest, you won't get bored of seeing it, you'll find a trail traverseing the gentle slopes. It was a natural tunnel created by Asebi. Despite the short trail today, I am still overwhelmed by the miracles of nature's sculpture. Amagi is terrifying.
Soon we arrived at Hacho Pond, nicknamed "Amagi no Hitomi." Apparently the name was given because there is a Hacho (one is about 109m), but in reality it is about 580m. However, it is a larger lake than I imagined, and as mentioned before, the pond has completely frozen, and the water surface has not moved as if time has stopped. Although it is usually a popular spot that is bustling with people, there are few people visiting in the cold, making it quiet and quiet.
Take a look at the whole view of the pond from the observation deck a little further away. Although it was just a little, please let me see Mount Fuji (this is important), and the fatigue from the climb was suddenly relieved.
It was still before noon when I arrived at the pond. There's plenty of time to brew coffee and relax with lunch. I unpacked the cart in a sunny spot with a view of the entire lake, and finally started preparing the coffee chairs.
I took a private coffee chair while carefully experimenting with Rivers' coffee gear.
The carefully selected tools I brought with me to spend my special coffee time in the mountains are roughly below. First, from Rivers
- Stout Air 1000
- Coffee grinder grit
- Coffee Dripper Cave Reversible
- Dripper holder pound F
- Micro Coffee Dripper 2
- Ultra Light Hiker Mug S & M
- Wall mug shade
6 points. Others include coffee beans, a stove and kettle for boiling water, and an outdoor chair that won't get tired even if you sit for a long time.
Choosing a chair that is designed to provide portability, comfort, and a sense of unity with nature
Considering that you can carry a chair for hours on your back, it should be as light and compact as possible. However, in my experience, models with small seat surfaces and unstable seats can only be relaxed for a short period of time because they are concerned about the comfort of the seat. With this in mind, Helinox's ground chairs are useful for everyday camping and small mountain climbing.
I like the low seating not only because it is comfortable to sit on, but also because it is closer to the surface and easily blends in naturally. Assembly is also very easy. The coffee chair setup was completed without any problems.
Coffee Grinder Grit is essential for grinding high-quality beans of your choice.
Drinking decent coffee in the mountains today, like instant and coffee bags, may not be that difficult. However, no matter how far you go, you won't be able to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime coffee, depending on your mood at the day or at the time.
Of course, as you know, if you grind coffee just before brewing, you can enjoy the original freshness and aroma of the beans. That's why I bring a coffee grinder that grinds the beans, and I'm particular about grinding coffee on the spot, even enduring the weight. So this time I tried Rivers Coffee Grinder Grit. The elegant design of matte black, which is unlikely to be seen, is really impressive.
Open the top cover and pour the special coffee beans for the perfect cup you brought with you this time into the hopper. For the first drink for a tired body, I chose about 15g, as it would be better to have a clear, well-balanced taste rather than a very heavy taste.
This means that the grinder's hopper is about 1/3 of its size, which means that it is about the same size as three cups of coffee per serving.
The blade part, which can be considered the heart of the coffee grinder, is made of ceramic. Although it may certainly be less sharp than a very expensive metal blade grinder, it is highly abrasion resistant, light, rust-free, and washable, making it a material suitable for outdoor use, and is less likely to generate frictional heat or static electricity, and has the advantage that it can be grinded without compromising the original flavor of the beans. It's hard to decide which one to choose, but it's certainly true that it has pros and cons.
The blade's head has a knob that allows you to finely set the grinding level from coarse to fine grinding using a dial method, allowing you to set your own preferences exactly. Each stage has a sturdy feel, so if you remember your preferred medium grind numbers, for example, you can always set a constant grind by turning the number dial from the fully tightened state.
I'm currently feeling like I want to enjoy a medium grind and a well-balanced taste. So I turned the dial (after closing the plug) about 10 clicks.
The handle is not too long to carry or too short to turn, and is a well-balanced length. In addition, the ceramic blade is also sharp, allowing you to grind smoothly and quickly with a comfortable sound.
This moment of grinding beans without thought is like a sublime ritual for coffee lovers. When I grind a grinder that feels comfortable, I sometimes want it to continue like this.
Incidentally, the silicone band holder used to store this handle is also firmly held in place like a so-called Porex coffee mill without hanging over it (right of the photo). The shape is easy to pack, and even these small details show the careful work and high quality.
As expected, the ground beans have a uniform grain size and are uniform in size. And most of all, I'm happy that there is less fine powder, which is the source of the impurities in the aftertaste.
Exquisite perfection for a special cup "Micro Coffee Dripper 2 & Ultra Light Hiker Mug S"
Of the gear I brought as coffee extraction items this time, I decided to first extract as little as one cup of coffee with Micro Coffee Dripper 2, which is perfect for making easy.
With the upgrade, it can also be used with the Ultra Light Hiker Mug S, which has an internal dimension of 8cm, making it even easier to use outdoors, so I'm going to try this combination this time. I see, it is extremely stable compared to paper drippers, and the stainless steel mesh filters prefer the taste compared to paper, and are also thought to be easy to clean up after finishing, making this easy to use outdoors, as well as making it seem like there's no choice but to use it for everyday use.
By the way, the new secret weapon we have prepared for you to enjoy more authentic coffee (although it is already familiar to those around the world) is the attachment that is attached to the spout of a camping kettle, and its name is the name "sosogu" (photo below). If you attach this to the spout of a boiling kettle, you can pour in "long, thin water," which is essential for precise drip.
First, pour a small controlled amount of water through this spout and let it steam for about 30 seconds. Once this is done, carefully and carefully pour thin water into a pre-warmed cup.
By the way, when extracting outside, it is often impossible to remove hot water from the center due to the influence of wind, so it is also necessary to just throw away any particular details.
Also, the coffee will cool down quickly when it's cold outdoors, so you can lightly reheat it after finally brewing.
Enjoy a supreme drink while looking at the pond where time passes through quietly
I sit on a single chair on the shore of a frozen lake deep in the mountains, as if time had stopped, and I pass a cup of coffee in my throat. It directly conveys the heat being absorbed into you. The aroma gently passes through the nose and the rich, deep flavor spreads in your mouth. A refreshing aftertaste. Since brewing outdoors, the amount and time are not accurately measured. However, such small blurring is hardly noticeable under this exhilarating feeling.
Enjoy your own favorite beans, the amount and grind you like, and the brewing method you like in your own place. Is there any more luxury to this great part of the fun of traveling? What's great about the coffee goods I brought with me this time is that they not only pursue deliciousness, but most importantly, they have detailed features to "meet the needs of users." These coffee merchandise are ready to meet any travel situation.
There is coffee in your hands, and in front of you there is a painting-like view of nature drawn. By the way, although there was little wind on this day, the cold weather in the outdoor chairs in winter is extraordinary, so of course, be sure to prepare your winter clothes carefully, with more than enough care.
Thus, in a location that could not have been better, I forgot about time and left myself to a comfortable time.
There's nothing changed in front of me. Nothing happens. But I'm satisfied.
No, to be precise, it doesn't mean that nothing has happened. Clouds flow, grass swaying, birds dance through the sky, and sunlight shines brightly on the ice lake surface. Countless minor events that would normally be overlooked fill in the gaps in your heart and fill them with richness. Huh, was it so good?
On a regular hike, it's rare to stay in one place for too long. This is because we usually have to close our plans, so we don't have the time to do that. If you're with someone, you might be concerned about it, so there are even fewer opportunities to do that.
However, once you forget about this usual way of walking, the course has enough time to make it a waste if it's just a waste, so you can relax wherever you like. I never thought it would be so rich and luxurious.
A journey that involves walking in search of a place to sit, not a peak. We are prepared to carry a little more burden than usual, but we are sure to find out more and feel fulfilled.
While sitting in a chair for a while, I was enjoying the blissful time, when I suddenly noticed a "sound" that I heard from the pond. From the bottom of the lake, a strange, unheard sound, like a mixture of wind and metal pounding, can be heard at irregular times.
When I went back and looked it up, I found that this sound was heard in a very short time before the pond or lake completely freezes, and it is said that it may be caused by some kind of change that occurs when the ice that lays across the lake expands and contracts due to temperature differences, but the exact mechanism is unknown.
At that time, there is no way you can know the true nature of the sound. Rather, I wasn't particularly interested in its true identity. I was simply grateful to have come across the small miracles that nature has created, so I decided to leave this place in preparation for tomorrow.
The exquisite use and drinking feel ensures that the "Wall Mug Shade" is ready to operate in full for everyday use.
On his way back, we used the vacuum-insulated stainless steel tumbler "Wall Mug Shade," which Rivers developed with the aim of making it the "most comfortable to drink in the world."
What's particularly noteworthy is the comfort of the grip. Your fingers can just hook into the dents around the bottom, so despite the wide tumbler, it is exquisitely easy to grip, and there is less risk of falling.
The edges of the mouth are kept for a while so that the heat from freshly made coffee does not hit you directly, the mouth is taken as large as possible to make the aroma feel fully, and the cap is tightly tightened so that it doesn't leak even when turned upside down, making it just "the most enjoyable drink in the world."
Moreover, if you remove the lid and add beer to this tumbler, it will quickly turn into a direct drinking cup that is comfortable and doesn't get cold.
Of course, it is not a complete use for full-scale climbing, such as 300ml capacity, heat retention, and weight, but it is not a problem if you are camping or strolling. It is sure to be useful for everyday use and camping with your family (or rather, it is already being used rave reviews).
I'll stay at the campsite tonight, and tomorrow I'll be having a coffee in a more dense, primitive beech forest that lives on the Izuyama ridge trails.
We are sending you a crossover project with the web magazine "STUNSCAPE," which focuses on adventurers.
STUNSCAPE, which develops an in-house outdoor and lifestyle brand that balances functionality and design at a high level, including the "Rivers" introduced this time, offers a web magazine focused on adventurers, with the theme of travel and outdoor activities. This project was invited by STUNSCAPE and was carried out as a crossover project where the editorial policy of this site was maintained and published on both sites.
If you'd like to see authentic, exciting stories about the outdoors, why not visit? Any Outdoor Gearzine reader will surely be satisfied.
Go to the web magazine "STUNSCAPE"
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