Brian's Question:
To save weight on my next backpacking trip, I'm leaving the stove and fuel behind. Any advice?
— Brian DonovanDorcas' Answer:
I'd sooner save the pound or two by leaving something other than the stove and fuel at home, but to each his or her own. Actually, stoveless camping is a viable alternative, especially in the heat of summer. If you're going to go this route and can't stomach the thought of eating energy bars for three days solid, try the following:
1. Wean yourself from coffee before you leave so you won't have to deal with caffeine withdrawal on trail.
2. Plan breakfasts such as granola, muesli, or bagels with cream cheese and pre-cooked slices of bacon, which you can find in the bacon section of your supermarket).
3. Prepare dinners that require rehydration only, such as:
Tabouli salad: the store-bought product may take as long as 2 hours to rehydrate in ambient-temperature water; if you use dried tomatoes, cut into thin pieces before you rehydrate.
Couscous: ditto above.
Soup that is sold in a paper cup: Fantastic brand Bombay Curry rehydrates nicely in cold water in slightly more than an hour. Other brands and flavors don't make the transition to cold prep as well, so experiment in the safety of your home.
3. Use instant pudding or cheesecake, adding something flavorful to perk up these trail standbys. Sprinkle toasted almonds on chocolate pudding, for example, or rehydrate dried cherries for cheesecake.
4. Try some of the cold-prep products on the market, such as Chicken Salad, Tex-Mex Salad, Greek Pasta Salad with Feta & Tomato, and Mud Pie Bar (all from Adventure Foods, www.adventurefoods.com).
