The Allure of Winter Camping Tours
When people think of motorcycle tours, they often think of summer.
While many may hold this belief, winter tours are actually wonderful too.
Riding towards summer's cumulonimbus clouds is lovely, but riding while gazing at snow-capped mountains in the distance and stopping at a convenience store for a warm canned coffee is something unique to winter.
Camping also has a summer image, but with fewer people and insects in winter compared to summer, it's actually the perfect season for camping.
A bonfire provides not only a means for cooking but also greater warmth, and the starry sky appears clearer in winter than in summer due to the crisp air.
If you take proper measures against the cold, even those who dislike cold weather can surely create enjoyable memories.
If you're still not convinced about the charm of winter touring and camping, please watch the video below.
Avoid Freezing and Choose a Warm Campsite
While cars can handle icy roads by using studded tires, motorcycles cannot.
Since a slip can instantly lead to a fall on a motorcycle, careful driving is essential.
Also, even on what appears to be just a wet road, there's "black ice," which is a thin layer of ice.
A moment of carelessness can turn an enjoyable event into a sorrowful day. Always drive with extreme caution.
To reduce the risk of such accidents, avoiding mountain areas and driving before sunrise or after sunset significantly increases the chances of avoiding icy roads.
When you're not yet used to winter camping or winter touring, it's best to choose a relatively warm region for camping.
There's no need to push yourself to endure extreme cold. Go to a warm place. It's even better if there's a hot spring.
For the Kanto region, the Boso Peninsula or Hamamatsu are recommended.
Pre-Tour Route Research is Also Important
As I mentioned earlier, the most dangerous aspect of winter touring is icy roads.
Investigating road conditions beforehand is extremely important.
While checking nearby information on websites is good, I recommend using a map that shows elevation differences with contour lines to ensure your touring route doesn't go through high altitudes.
For motorcycle touring, the Touring Mapple is highly recommended.
The Touring Mapple not only features contour lines but also offers recommended touring courses and scenic viewpoints for beginners who might not know where to ride, as well as delicious eateries and other interesting detours, making it an enjoyable read in itself.
Even if you enter an area where GPS signals are unavailable, you can roughly pinpoint your location, which is reassuring, knowing that even if your smartphone battery dies, you'll manage somehow.
Winter Camping Attire
A standard rider's jacket is fine.
- Inner layer (underwear): Wear heat-generating materials like Heattech.
- Mid-layer: Choose insulating materials like fleece.
- Outer layer (over the rider's jacket): For those sensitive to cold, wearing a down jacket over your rider's jacket will enhance insulation and provide more comfort.
For more on winter camping attire, please refer to this article.
Cold Weather Protection
The key to cold weather protection is how to obtain a heat source.
Since you can't carry a large stove on a motorcycle, you'll rely on a bonfire for warmth.
Furthermore, to efficiently use the heat from the bonfire, you can boil water to make a hot water bottle and place it in your sleeping bag for a warm night's sleep.
If you can't carry firewood on your motorcycle, there are also gas-powered stoves.
With these, you can procure fuel at a convenience store during your tour, and if you use the same fuel for a compact cooking stove, you can reduce your luggage.
However, since they provide spot heating, to warm up a chilled body, you might need to rotate around it. (It might look a bit comical, but that's part of the fun.)
Of course, since they consume oxygen during combustion, it is strictly forbidden to use them inside a tent.
Meals
Hot pot is definitely recommended!
Buy pre-cut vegetables at a convenience store, throw in some meat, and simmer with a hot pot base. That's it! Simple and warming.
Since some campsites might not have water available in winter, a soup-type hot pot base, though bulkier, is better than a solid type that needs to be dissolved in water.
Curry or kimchi hot pot will warm you up even more.
If there's a supermarket on your route, check the seafood section; you might find seafood hot pot sets during the colder months.
Just heat the container directly! The soup is also included.
Hot sandwiches are an easy, warm, and delicious breakfast option.
For fillings, melting cheese with mayonnaise or ketchup is perfectly sufficient. Even just grilling a store-bought Lunch Pack will be delicious and easy!
For coffee, I recommend instant over drip-brew.
Drip coffee tends to cool down while brewing. With the camping atmosphere, even instant coffee will taste plenty good.
Adding condensed milk to teabag black tea is also good. It's sweet and delicious, and will pleasantly warm your chilled body.
Fuel Shortage Countermeasures
Campsites are often located in rural areas due to their nature.
Therefore, there are often few gas stations along touring routes.
Also, it's common for gas stations to be closed if you plan to spend New Year's Eve at a campsite.
While it's best to research this in advance when planning your route, things don't always go as planned, so it's wise to prepare a portable fuel can. (You cannot fill a portable fuel can at self-service stations. Always use a full-service station with attendants.)
Conclusion: Winter Camping Tours Are the Best
We've looked at the key points and precautions for winter camping tours.
While challenges like cold weather protection and avoiding icy roads may seem more daunting than camping from spring to autumn, if you keep the advice I've shared in mind, you're sure to create enjoyable memories.
Endless straight roads + starry night sky + bonfire
Doesn't that make you want to go?
