[pct-l] time before peanut butter goes bad

Thu Feb 26 15:56:38 CST 2009

I second that....I've only been on this forum for a few days but have learned alot.  Thanks again.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Zoli Bassoff 
  To: CHUCK CHELIN 
  Cc: Romano Scaturro ; pct-l at backcountry.net 
  Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 12:38 PM
  Subject: Re: [pct-l] time before peanut butter goes bad


  thank you all for your tremendous help

  zoli


  On Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 8:52 AM, CHUCK CHELIN <steeleye at wildblue.net> wrote:

    Good morning, Romano,


    There is a good map at: http://www.sierrawildbear.gov/foodstorage/foodstoragemap.htm

    showing the bear ‘can area.  Every year Sierra Interagency Black Bear Group (SIBBG) at: http://www.sierrawildbear.gov/ seems to fiddle with the requirements a bit so it will pay to keep current.  What is more difficult is getting a feel for the administrative practices of compliance enforcement across all those agencies, jurisdictions, and individual compliance officials.


    Regardless of the map, my practice is to receive a bear ‘can at the southern-most convenient spot -- Kennedy Meadows -- and get rid of it where I resupply north of Tuolumne Meadows – usually at Echo.


    Yeh, it’s a pain, but I do it anyway.  First, I’m a person who follows the rules.  Second, I don’t like having to dodge around and hike looking over my shoulder worrying about black bears or Smoky Bears.  Third, I don’t like having to sweet-talk, or argue with, the chipmunk-cops. And finally, I don’t want to pay a fine and be kicked-out in the likely event that I lose the argument.


    My gear is minimal so I like to keep my empty pack weight around one pound or less.  I normally use the now-obsolete GoLite Breeze which weighs about 13 oz.  In ’07 I did switch to a 16-oz. GVP-4 for the Sierras because my bear ‘can fit crosswise in the bottom, but I am not particularly fond of the way it fits me.  Next time I’ll just carry the ‘can upright in the Breeze.  The additional weight of the ‘can is mostly compensated by the reduced need to carry extra water.


    A Sierra entry date depends greatly on that year’s snow season, and upon your particular appetite for snow travel.  Keep watching the snow plot at:  http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/products/PLOT_SWC.2009.pdf .  So far, ’09 looks to be somewhat below average for snowpack but it’s still early.  What you have to do is estimate where the curve will be early to mid-June.  ’07 was a very low snow year.  I departed Kennedy Meadows 29 May and arrived at Echo mid-day of 19 June.  I lost two hiking days resupplying at Independence and about a half-day at VVR.  In that period there was minimal snowpack, and the rivers were manageable.


    Good luck with your planning,


    Steel-Eye 

    Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT -- 1965

    http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye


    On Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 7:33 AM, Romano Scaturro <romano at swiftwireless.com> wrote:

      Hello Steel Eye--

      That sounds like good advice, which you seem to have no shortage of. Thanks.

      I'm wondering at what point, going north bound, a bear cannister should be acquired or, if one is needed at all?  I hiked the JMT 4 years ago with one and it was really bulky and heavy.  I cursed it often but did find it useful as a camp stool and washing machine.

      Also, whats your preference for backpacks?  I currently have an old NF Snowleopard which Ive been using for the last 25 years.

      And lastly, what's the earliest you think one should arrive to the central Ca. section, namely the JMT portion?  I remember that even in July Forrester Pass had quite a bit of snow.

      Romano 


      ----- Original Message ----- From: "CHUCK CHELIN" <steeleye at wildblue.net>
      To: "Zoli Bassoff" <zolish at gmail.com>
      Cc: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
      Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 7:33 AM
      Subject: Re: [pct-l] time before peanut butter goes bad


      Good morning, Zoli,

      If I receive a resupply box it will have been packed about two to three
      weeks before I use it.  When I call home from a trail town my next box will
      already be at, or on the way to, the next stop.  What I then do is specify
      where my stop-after-next box should be sent, the number of trail-days
      projected, and the number of Calories per day that it should contain.  That
      way the food is in transit and stored for two weeks, and it could be in my
      pack for another week.  Peanut butter, and most hard cheeses and salami,
      will tolerate that OK.


      At home I much prefer the taste of the all-natural, no-preventives, PB, but
      for resupply boxes I use the name-brand stuff that’s chock full of
      preventives to keep it from going funky.  Yummy.


      Steel-Eye

      Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT -- 1965

      http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye

      On Wed, Feb 25, 2009 at 9:04 PM, Zoli Bassoff <zolish at gmail.com> wrote:


        Reading the post of ideas for storing peanut butter. I was considering the
        idea. If one has to pack up the food boxes months in advance how does one
        pack peanut butter in seperate packages and not have it go bad. Does the
        person mailing the boxes give a hand with the fresh peanut butter and
        cheese items in the food boxes.

        thanks
        zoli
        _______________________________________________
        Pct-l mailing list
        Pct-l at backcountry.net
        http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l


      _______________________________________________
      Pct-l mailing list
      Pct-l at backcountry.net
      http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l