Todd - thanks for your input. I'm gonna try a few Datrex and see how I make out.

Did you have to go and say that?! <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> You're right, though. I could probably reduce my specs on this. However, going to a 300 cal. plan doesn't sound too cool. Maybe a compromise around 1000 cal. with some comfort food thrown in sounds a lot better to me. At some point it seems to me that if you're going to cache some food in a vehicle, might as well plan a little heavier. I also plan on rotating the stocks, too, anyway.

Never mind - I've decided just to walk out! (Just kidding - STAY PUT!)

The blue Datrex rations packs are about 4-3/8" x 3-5/8" x 2-1/2".

wouldn't canned black beans and packages of vacuum packed pre-cooked rice cover all three areas; carbs, protein, and fiber? i know rice and beans gives me great energy for hiking.

Okay, one more time down the path:

2 oz of pemmican delivers at least 500 Kcal. So at 2000 Kcal/day/person for two people for 21 days would mean 21 lbs of pemmican (pure fat, by the way, would equal about 20 lbs, which is as concentrated a calorie load by weight as you can achieve). Comparatively speaking, the equivalent in Datrex blue rations would weigh over 35 lbs.

That said, there's a lot you can do to boost the nutritional value and pallatablity of pemmican, including adding dried fruits, nuts, seeds, vegetables, meat, and even milled grain products. It satisfies the appetite efficiently, and depending on what you put in it and how it is served up can be enjoyed hot or cold. I've had finicky young girls that turn their noses up at a lot of regular dishes willing to consume a few pemmican variations. I've used pemmican to mask "natural" additives that would not otherwise be consumed.

The possibilities of pemmican are extensive and versatile. While not high on the list of everyday foods I'd want to consume for the very reasons that make it such a good survival food, I'd still pack it along before datrex rations, MREs, power bars, or just about any other pre-packaged over the counter item I can think of. They are also more economical than anything else you're likely to come up with, and properly packaged should hold up for a good 6 months at least in car bag, the backpack, or the desk drawer. In the freezer they will last forever.

This is a hands on solution that you just can't duplicate on the market. This is still just one of those super deluxe ETS mega deals that just begs to be added to that big list of have to's. I rate making your own pemmican right up there with learning a bow drill, or how to sharpen your knife, or turn a plastic garbage bag into your own personal mountain forest Chateau.

Yes, I am relentless. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

See this emergency rations thread
as well

OK - I'm now leaning toward "variety is the spice of life." Morale is important in a long range scenario and pure Datrex, etc. may be a bad idea! The pemmican (I've had it before but wouldn't reach for it in preference to a hershey's bar!) and jerky are on my list. I guess we're coming around to Horace Kephart ("Camping and Woddcraft") - my main man. Read it if you haven't!

So, my next projects involve: making up a new vehicle kit menu, making some jerky and pemmican, trying Datrex, putting in all together and reporting back.

BTW, sorry I didn't pick up on that other thread. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> One more reply to Benjamin - RE: pure fat.

Read Phillip Henry Dana's "Two Years Before the Mast" (great book). In one episode he describes the Russian sailing ships in California (long time ago!) that shipped out cattle hides. Apparently, they rendered out the fat and packed it into hide bags. They mostly lived on that and, as Dana had it, celebrated once a week by cooking the bags and eating them! Could I wrap them in aluminum foil? Keep car clean and use for signalling.

Seriously, thanks for the input. You brought me back to Earth.

Thanks for the info on the size of a Datrex Blue Ration. It's appreciated!