mr_sparkle

Hi everyone

I'm heading to the USA in 2 weeks and I'll be hiking the grand canyon, spending 2 nights at the bottom. I won't be carrying a stove or pots so I'm wordering if anyone has any good cold meal suggestions?
Thanks.

GoKrazy

I have done camping without a stove numerous times before (a small cooking campfire is easy enough to make), but no pots at all is gonna be hard! My most daring 5 day trip involved a 5L water bottle, a water purifying system (mind you we were surrounded by lakes and rivers, so there was plenty of water), a single light aluminum pot (about 750mL capacity), a few MRE's, some dehydrated/freeze dried meals, some dried fruit, raisins and a lot of granola, energy and chocolate bars! I used the small pot to boil water at night after pitching camp for the main meal of the day and to boil the next day's supply of drinking water. If you can I would strongly reccommend in taking a small, light weight pot (a singls one, not a whole set) for precisely that purpose. I'm sure that you can pick one up anywhere and aluminum ones are cheap too. If you're gonna be down there for 2 nights I assume you will be making an evening fire anyways. A campfire doesn't take that long to boil a small pot of water and a warm meal makes the camping experience so much more enjoyable. If a pot is out of a question, then I suggest a lot of high energy dried foods - if you don't mind the boring diet for a few days.

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voyd

If you are going to boil water, instant oatmeal packets are THE BEST! Light & fast. We ate those in Boy Scouts all the time!

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GoKrazy

Yes, instant oatmeal is great! I always take some with me for camping trips. If you want to make it even better get:
~One or two packets of Instant Hot Chocolate
~Packets of Instant Oatmeal
~Powdered mik
~Marshmellows (if not included in the Hot Chocolate packet already)
Mix all the stuff together and enjoy - it has a enough energy to get you form breakfast to the next meal, it's EASY to do, takes no time to clean up and tastes great!

As for MRE's I've used two types in the past: one uses a chemical heating pack (i guess this would solve your stove problems) and the other type you have to boil some water - either boil a package of food in the water to warm it or use the boiled water to re-hydrate the food by pouring it inside the package.

For dehydrated camping food I've used stuff from Backpacker's Pantry and Mountain House.

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kingcrazylegs

dehydrated stuff is always an option. One of my favorite meals on the trail is couscous because it is easy to make, flavor and so light to pack. You could easily make it before hand and take it ready made. I usually season it and add some veggies.

Some other options are fruit, PB&J, prepackaged food, etc

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mr_sparkle

Thanks for all the tips

I've got my hands on a tiny stove so I think I will go with that. It'll be worth the extra weight.

bluepea

I must just add that MREs are the greatest invention. You don't even need and outside source of heat for them (they have those self heating things already). It would probably add more weight than a small pot though, cuz you'd need at least two. But, you get a warm meal that doesn't taste too horrible.

Otherwise, as they said - high energy foods.

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ScarlotteDorian

why not bring a stove? they aren't very expensive and you can get some from MSR that are extremely light and small. if it's only you, than you only have to bring one small pot. extremely easy, lightweight and worth it if you are planning on camping backcountry style for 2 weeks. small comforts like that will make a world of difference.

but yeah, what KCL said is what i would say...cous cous cooks with anthing and it's oh so tasty. :eat: also, ppl have been known to live off of ramen for way longer than 2 weeks.

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GoKrazy

Good call KCL! If you take it in the dry form as long as you have some liquid (preferably warm or boiling) and some seasoning with you then couscous is then you're all set. I just recently found out that it was more of a pasta type product instead of a grain... You learn something new every day

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