Back Packing Chow

[thatGuy]

You can do the same thing (essentially) with any lean meat. I've known folks who 'jerk' deli meat (because its already cut) and canned tuna.

[Dave_M]

Great post dave How long will meat rocks last if i vacume seal em? Without refigeration?

Totally depends on your environment and how much moisture has been removed. I keep my extras vacuum sealed and in the freezer. They have been fine for up to 2 years like that. On the trail? Well, been out a couple weeks and they've been ok but I have no long term experience.

Thanks Dave for the meat rocks instructions.  I'm gonna give this a try.  I wonder if you can do the same thing with little meat balls?

Probably not with meat balls. You need something small enough that you can remove as much moisture as possible, otherwise it will rot. Think about making beef jerky; you cut the meat into thin strips, not try to dehydrate an entire roast.

You can do the same thing (essentially) with any lean meat. I've known folks who 'jerk' deli meat (because its already cut) and canned tuna.

Canned tuna? Ewwww... but yes, you can dehydrate all sorts of stuff if it's thin enough. Meat rocks are more analogous to deli slices because they are both already pre-cooked, whereas pure jerky is raw when it's dehydrated. Deli slices are less preferred unless they are cut down smaller first (the increased surface area of many smaller pieces makes it easier to re-hydrate than a whole piece).

Small things are more suitable to dehydration than others. Pasta sauces work well (think fruit leather but with marinara) but potatoes are out of the question etc. Also, some foods are better than others in regards to speedy re-hydration. Items with tough outer skins are invariable harder (IE: take longer) to reconstitute.

[thatGuy]

We went on a good little snowshoe this past weekend (15miles) and we took Bear Creek Chicken Noodle Soup and canned chicken (no foil pouches) and let me tell you it was perfect!

I've also tried their Creamy Potato and Minestrone.

All their soups are just add water and the three kinds I have tried were all good.

The menu was,

Day one,
Lunch- on the road
Dinner- Chicken Noodle soup w/canned chicken (3 cans in a gallon of soup) and a loaf of sourdough bread with olive oil (instead of butter)

Day two,
Breakfast- Hostess Sweet Rolls, Folgers singles (it's like a tea bag and it was weak. gonna go back to starbucks via) and horizon radiated milk
Lunch- Dehydrated pinto beans, sharp chedder, flour torillas and tacobell hot sause... had to but a taco to make that one happen!

All meals but breakfast were served with hot tea and whiskey cos it was fucking cold!

[mountainredneck2051]

Also, Ramen noodles. Fuck those directions. Just rip that shit open pour the powder shit on it and start chompin.
Its good man. Love that shit.

Its light and will fill you the hell up, and its awesome tasting.
RvR

you know in china they sell dry ramen noodles with the flavoring shit on it in bags like fuckin chips

i love that shit too
but i didnt know they came with directions.......

[Outonowhere]

I've seen a few guys post on this so I thought I would throw up my thoughts...

The bounty that is "fast food condiments"!

Tip 1: Don't use the drive thru!  Going that route you have to ask some worker for the condiments and they usually are pretty skimpy on them.  Go inside, have a nice little meal or snack with a buddy.  Take your EDC or similar backpack with you.  And when you go to grab your condiments... make a game out of seeing who can grab the bigger handfuls! lol

Tip 2: The pockets on yer skinny jeans ain't gonna cut it, princess.  Wear a nicely broke in pair of BDU style trousers with LARGE knee pockets or carry in a separate bag.  If it's busy you might have a heart and leave a few packets for other people but remember that they usually have whole boxes of these things in the back.

Also, I have not done this yet but I have read online where if a restaurant has a box of these things that are about to expire, they just throw them away.  If you get in good with a local restaurant or just ask, you might walk away with more than you could fit in your pockets!

[thatGuy]

It's all in the language that you use, while a agree whole heartedly that you can do a much better job of pilfering unhindered by the employees I have had great luck with them.

In stead of saying "eh could I get some hot sauce?" try " could I get a fist full of hot sauce?" and then when they grab a mess of it say something to the effect of "hey not bad but I wanted a real fist full." No reason to drive away without what you want right?

[Outonowhere]

It's all in the language that you use, while a agree whole heartedly that you can do a much better job of pilfering unhindered by the employees I have had great luck with them.

In stead of saying "eh could I get some hot sauce?" try " could I get a fist full of hot sauce?" and then when they grab a mess of it say something to the effect of "hey not bad but I wanted a real fist full." No reason to drive away without what you want right?

Yea but there exist these pricks that love to say "I'm sorry but that is all I'm allowed to give you."  I say why not sit down or just walk in and instead of a handful of condiments you can rape the condiment bar lol.

[special-k]

Time for me to stock up on some of that "Dusseldorf Mustard" from the White Castle.  Mmmmm....gotta love it!.....Especially on biscuits!    And don't forget about those gold foiled packets of "Chili Sauce" from Wendy's.  For me, the real jackpot is the strawberry jelly packs from Bojangle's & Hardee's/Carl's Junior).  I don't do ketchup anymore after swearing off GMO corn syrup. 

[mountainredneck2051]

Tip 1: Don't use the drive thru!  Going that route you have to ask some worker for the condiments and they usually are pretty skimpy on them. 

thats why i just say,

more
more
more
more
a few more
one another one for the road

now how bout some napkins? 

[thatGuy]

We went on a quick 12 miler this weekend with a couple of folks we've never hiked with before and a good friend.

The good friend brought powdered apple cider and whiskey and let me tell you that was FANTASTIC!!

I played with the dehydrated re-fried beans again and on my first batch I nailed the wet to dry ratio and they cooked just fine on the heat of the water without a cozy. It was awesome to find that out because that bumps it into a freezer bag and out of my pot! Fuck dirty dishes!

We tried Mac and Cheese (the kind with the squeeze pack of cheese) with tuna and I got to tell you guys that it was fantastic. Try it before you knock it. For some reason my wife packed in Bush's Baked Beans and Bar S Franks, they were good too but heavy.

Night one, 2 mile night hike

Dinner- on the road, beers on the trail,

Day one, 11 miles

Breakfast- Quakers Instant Oatmeal in the bag, Coffee w/powdered milk and sugar

Lunch- Bean Burritos w/sharp cheddar and ratfucked sauce

Dinner- Mac&Cheese w/canned tuna, Beans and franks, Whiskey Ciders that may or may not have had a minnow boiled in the water by mistake 

Day two, 2 miles out

Breakfast- same as day one but with coffee that tasted strangely like Whiskey Ciders  might not have done that great of a job washing my cup!

Lunch- Good old raisins and peanuts. Truth be told I bought Goodies Salted Trail mix at Sunflower Market and was very disappointed. It's the same thing as the Sprawl Mart Mountain mix but with less m&ms.  [img]http://www.arrse.co.uk/at

If anyone wants to see the hike we took it was Las Conches to Battle Ship Rock in the Santa Fe Wilderness with stops at every pull out along the way!  [url=http://www.freesmileys.or

[thatGuy]

I don't rough it brother, life is rough enough!

[crudos]

One item I strongly advocate everyone to carry on them on backpacking trips is powdered whey protein. Huge benefits to energy level, muscle endurance/stress, muscle repair and will hold over hunger for a good 4 hours. Two added benefits to add to that are saved expense over "energy bars" per portion and huge savings in weight carried in your pack. I carry them portioned out in little plastic containers with tight lids. Shake it up with some water and you're good to go also re-hydrating yourself. One can also make a self-sustaining super cocktail with other nutritional supplements added to the mix. Lean fats and carbs can be taken care of by intake of trailmix/ nuts and the sort.

These are also things that should be in everyone's store room. In the very least they can stretch the stock of your main food preps by satisfying hunger while providing positive nutritional value. And at the very worst they can replace meals if the very worst happens and you need to figure out a plan b.

THIS ^^^ is why I love this site. Looks like I got some learnin' to do on powered whey protein.  [URL=http://www.smileyvault.co

+ karma for ASPJ

[EJR914]

My buddy laid some dehydrated refried beans on my for this weekends backpack and let me tell you they were AWESOME!

All he did was add a package of Chicken Flavor from Romen Noodles and a table spoon of Red Chili flake (NM style) to a quarter pound of Sunflower Market dehydrated pinto beans.

You got something tasty that you make up for backpacking? Here is the place to share it!

Awesome idea now I've got to try it!   [URL=http://www.smileyvault.co

Thanks for the tip. 

[EJR914]

You're an animal Reaver!

Understatement of the year!