OP
Ivan the Butcher
Member
In the late 80's Coleman's Backpacking line of gear was called Peak One. They had a copper bottom, stainless steel cook kits for 1, 2, or 4 people. It was a little heavy by today's standards, with Titanium being the gold standard of light weight and durability. I ended up buying a few singles and doubles and several larger cook pots/Frying Pans. They are great for space saving and still cooking meals for large families. I had built a camp kitchen that held all of it, but it was too cumbersome once the kids started moving out.
When camping on 3-or 4-day trips, we try to do the cooking at home and mostly reheat at camp. Maybe one day of a big breakfast; eggs, bacon/sausage, & pancakes. But usually fresh coffee and "College Coffee Cake" slathered with butter! Sandwiches and cheese & Crackers for lunch. Dinner almost always includes as much corn on the cob as the season will bare (boiled or campfire roasted)
Beverage and food refrigeration. I have gone to a different philosophy on coolers the last half dozen years. One large cooler (80 or 100 quart?) with big blocks of ice seems to hold all we need and last 5+ days. We don't have bears, so raccoons are the worst problem. We put the cooler on a picnic table at night and ratchet strap it in place.
I make my blocks of ice in the deep freezer at home using square Ice Cream buckets. 4 one-gallon blocks on each end does the trick. I also have some half-gallon milk jugs that I fill and freeze to fill in voids and finish with whatever cubes will fit. The cooler is empty, and the last thing packed at home, it's too heavy for us old folks to lift into the truck when filled.
When we camp the first thing set up is overhead cover! Then the stove so coffee is on call at all times. Then the tent and bedding.
When I was a kid, Dad and I went to an estate sale for a "Great White Hunter". In the gear being sold were three 5-gallon coffee boilers, for water treatment and just plain hot water. I have looked all my adult life and have never seen another boiler that large. But we have two large boilers of about 2-gallons each. Those babies have heated thousands of gallons of drinking, cooking, dishwashing and bathing water over the years. Once a fire is built, there is always water heating on it! Dedicated water heating equipment is on my list of must have things when camping! (along with comfy camp chairs, a good book and a few decks of cards)
I have noticed that everyone likes some kind of music!! But seldom do I want to hear your radio or CD's, that is what low volume or headphones are for!!! Live music is a different story. Everyone likes to listen to or sing along with music around the fire, even stuff I'd never listen to at home. It's the living touch! Be sure to take you instruments along. I play a mean "Jew's Harp" myself.
Ivan
