From: johnf@Auspex.COM (John Fereira)
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry
Subject: Re: Lunches and Snacks: what do you bring?
Date: 5 Nov 92 19:58:19 GMT
Organization: Auspex Systems, Inc.

In article <1992Nov05.082801.2073@gateway.ssf-sys.DHL.COM> corby@ssf-sys.DHL.COM (Corby Anderson) writes:
>
|tasty!  Someone earlier in this thread mentioned those puddings-in-
|a-can treats... whenever I'm out I get a hankering for one, but I've
|never actually brought one with.

Try it.  They'll become a relgious ritual for you too.
 
|I've thought of cheese, but I worry about it spoiling.  Would a nice
|average cheddar last long, do you think?

Strings cheese seems to last pretty well.  Especially if you keep it in
a cool stream.

|I've gone backpacking a couple times with a friend of mine whose
|culinary originality made the trips more than pleasant.  One is
|jello.

That sounds like a good one.  On my annual "mens weekend out" trip to
Sequoia National Forest we always try to outdo each other on imaginative
food items we bring.  Jello would do nicely here.  Last year a Mexican
friend of mine that goes every year as well had his mother make up six
home made tamales.  He even brought sour cream to add to them and a little
container of hot sause.


|And what a dinner!!  He freezes a steak the night before the trip,
|wraps it in plastic and sticks it in the middle of his pack.  By
|the time we're ready to camp, it's thawed and ready for grilling.
|Grilling, you say?  Yes, he brings about 15-20 charcoal briquettes (and
|a tin plate to protect the delicate Sierra topsoil), fires it up,
|and grills a couple steaks on his lightweight grill.  It goes great
|with the little Nalgene container of red wine he brings!
|
|Hmmm.  I just reread that, and it doesn't really sound all that
|credible, does it?`

Yes, it does. Because we do a variation on this every year on our mens weekend
out trip.  If you wrap a frozen steak in newspaper and aluminum foil (both can
be used later)	it will take a day to thaw.  We don't bring briquettes, but
instead just grill it over the fire.  We don't drink red wine.  Everyone has
to bring in 1 bottle of imported beer.   There are several other rituals 
involved with this trip.  Another is that everyone must bring in a can of
"something" that will be combined for the stew that goes along with the
steak and beer.  I'm looking for a way to get back at Robert (the mexican)
for bringing the can of habaneros last year. The wild rice I brought last 
year went over well too.  

| - and the author recounted a tale of some expert hikers who
|played a dastardly hoax on an unfortunate Life Magazine photographer.
|After hours and hours of hiking, the party (with the Life photographer
|in tow) arrived at the peak of a spectacularly difficult hike.  All the
|members of the party (except the Life guy) put down their packs and
|casually reached inside and pulled out watermelons!  The Life guy ate it up
|(figuratively and literally) and managed to convince America that
|the really good hikers always carry watermelons: nature's perfect energy
|food!

The mens weekend out trip is also full of practical jokes.  Someone put
three large rocks in Roberts back just before we were ready to hike
out.  This place is only about two miles in so we carry in way too much
weight for the two and a half days were there.  It's been one of the most
fun hiking trips that I do.  No cows there either.
 
-- 
+==========================================================================+
| John Fereira        | Auspex Systems | "Ask me about my vow of silence." |
| johnf@auspex.com    | Santa Clara CA |                                   |
+==========================================================================+
Newsgroups: rec.backcountry