[pct-l] What's your trail name? Is there a story behind it?

[pies_con_queso at yahoo.com (Brian Weber)]

I'm seeing people using names that don't look like typical parent-given names. I wanted to hear what your name was, and if there was a story behind it.
 
I have been dubbed "Cookie" because of my culinary talents both on and off trail. When we go, I'm always the one putting together the food, and I do it well. I always consider nutrition, palatability, and simplicity.
 
Last summer we did two nights in Angeles Crest. On the second morning I prepared fried pork loin cutlets and oatmeal for breakfast, both cooked on my MSR Pocket Rocket. My buddy Camel (another story altogether... if he's listening, I'll let him tell his tale) was spooning up hot oatmeal. After three bites, he said "This is good, but I wish I had some sugar on here." Quick as a flash, I dipped into my epicurial stash and withdrew a couple packets of raw turbinado sugar (stolen from some coffee joint). In said stash, I also carried salt, pepper, fresh garlic, and chai tea in film cannisters. I brought real coffee instead of instant and cooked it Turkish-style (boiling the grinds and leaving the last few sips so you don't suck up the grit). Other delights that weekend included gourmet turkey sausage (a la Trader Joe's), instant pad thai (which was a bitch to prepare, and I'll NEVER do it again), roasted bell pepper & sausage omelette (also another thing to NEVER do again - even though
 it was good) and some chocolate bars for morale-boosters. The ready-to-eat trail food came in the form of almonds, raisins, and turkey jerky. Sometime during that weekend, Camel kept wanting to call me "chef", but it didn't feel as proper as "Cookie." Thus, it stuck.
 
Come with us next time and I might have some homemade hummous or curried lentils for you!

		
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