What is your best memory of a meal while on a hike. Mine was a sachet(!) of tuna, a tomato cup-a-soup, and a packet of Salt and Vinegar Kettle Chips, I was in heaven. After walking for about 7 hours in the pouring rain with a rucksack that weighed about the same as me on my back, I was knackered. After eating that, me and the rest of my hiking 'buddies', emptyed everything sweet we had into a mess tin and boiled it up with a bit of water. This was: boiled sweets, all the sugar from a british ration pack (thats a lot), biscuit browns from a ration pack, lots of raisons and loads of other stuff, to make an addictive treacle which we then ate about half a mess tin of the stuff (between 2 people). Luckily, I didn't have to clean the mess tin afterwards. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

What was your favourite trail meal?

It was my birthday, and a couple baked me some beer-bread!!! With butter and syrup. Sounds disgusting, but I was in Heaven!

My favourite meal is a bully beef (corned beef?) stew. I traditionally have it on the last night because it's, ummm, a tradition? I know it doesn't sound too good, but after carrying a tin and vegetables on your back for five days, it seems definantly worth it. Oh, and it tastes nice as well!

Tough to single one out... I guess it might be easier to remember the (few) lousy meals. Steak, potatoes, salad, bread, wine, fruit, coffee, dessert - that's too frequent to be memorable.

Likewise cold weather noontime meals - I tend to carry the same things each time for those circumstances.

Hmmm... Shepherd's Pot Pie on a cold evening in the Rockies was pretty good. Ground beef, green beans, onions, tomato paste, covered with mashed potatos covered in turn with melted sharp cheddar cheese. Trivial with a dutch oven but a bit of a challenge to prepare properly with backpacking cookware.

I believe that my best/most memorable meals have all been because who was with me - or in some cases, the absence of any companionship, coupled with the surroundings. I mean, the food is usually quite good - I like to eat so I pack accordingly. But my best meal memories come from a three legged stool: location; circumstances; presence or absence of companionship.

Specific meals with my Dad, a few with my Mom, many with my wife, many with one or two of our kids (honestly, things are too busy with all 4 kids along for many of those occasions to stand out for a meal memory). And meals alone in grand and interesting places, where the "alone" part was some of the seasoning for the meal.

Regards,

Tom

One of my favorite treats is Fizzies. They are basically flavored and sweetened Alka Seltzer tablets that can turn your water bottle into soda pop. They were originally made in the '60s but were dropped when the Gov banned cyclomates sweeteners. About 5 years back they were reintroduced with Nutri-sweet, but have since gone off the market again. <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

So I'm savoring my stash like it's gold. There's nothing quite like quenching your thirst with a root beer while on the trail!

We were camped in a beautiful rock shelter in SE Utah, sheltered from the rain that had swollen the creek that ran in front. Thus, being unable to travel, we prepared a nice leisurely pancake breakfast. Then I returned to my sleeping bag and the Tony Hillerman novel I was reading. Later the rain stoped, the creek subsided and we traveled on, sustained by the heavenly pancakes.

I've been fortunate enough to enjoy a number of truly great dining experiences on camping trips. One of the best was actually a series of meals.

A group of us were camped in the Sierras on a hunting trip. One grandfather was no longer able to undergo the strain of hunting. He was forced to console himself with the outstanding trout fishing. My father also spent several days with him. We were shortly glutted with fish. The only solution was to eat what would have become the excess over the possession limits. The wives competed to see who could prepare the most delectable trout dinner. The meals typically included trout, rice, asparagus and other green vegetables, with a little wine to complement it. We feasted on such meals for dinner, with leftovers for breakfast and lunch.

Naturally I also tried my hand at fishing. That quickly reminded me of why I go hunting instead.

John

I was on a summer archaeological project and swiftly managed to alienate most of the crew. The Chumash monitor took offence at my six pack of alcohol on a native site before retiring to a rock ledge to smoke marijuana. I sat down and began to eat a monster sandwich of buffalo meat and San francisco Sourdough bread. This girl began complaining that she was a vegan and I was upsetting her. I retreated to the far side of the camp and sat down. As I started to eat, I noticed a curious movement in the chapparel. I froze, and soon a very thin and obviously injured coyote came into focus. I slowly tossed a hunk of meat. Usually 'yotes are extremely wary animals. This one took the meat and quickly swallowed it. I told the coyote there was some great granola and tofu on the other side, as I slowly gave her my entire sandwich. I felt a movement behind me, and recognised the quiet footsteps of Ben, a Dine' just out of the Army. "You know, coyote is a very powerfull spirit. Yes,Ben, I know that. Sharing is a good thing Chris. Ben? Yea? If I give you half my beer will you shut up? yea,thats fair." Sometimes the company makes the meal memorable. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Hey, Chris ....

Are you real ?
Or just a character out of a Tony Hillerman novel ?? <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


Alain

Naw, I just dress for the part and the adventures create themselves <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I was on the excavating team for the 1822 Plaza Church Rectory in Los Angeles. I used to wear a Aussie Akubra felt hat and a bunch of old Khaki shirts and slacks bought in bulk when the Coast Guard changed the uniform. One of my crew decided I was "overdressing the part" and showed up in a pith helmet, safari jacket and leggings <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> I said he looked Like Roosevelt charging San Juan Hill. He said I looked like Stewart Granger in King Soloman's Mines. About then a newscamera crew appeared and we began a deep discussion over a glass marble as he lit his scholary pipe. Next minute we were being addressed as Doctors, asking which was the site director <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> We sheepishly pointed to a man with a ponytail, bald on top wearing a Greatfull Dead T shirt <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> The journalist mumbled to the cameraman "film these two." <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

<img src="images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
All that fun .....
and don't tell me that you are actually paid for it, in addition !!!

<img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


Alain