[pct-l] Question - Cookless on the Trail

[mlissner at michaeljaylissner.com (Michael J. Lissner)]

Zip and I ditched our stoves last year when we hit the Washington 
border, and did the last 500 miles of our trip cookless. It's got some 
definite advantages, but saving weight isn't necessarily one of them 
because the food you end up carrying isn't as dense as something like 
rice or pasta. Hence, on the first day out of town, your pack might seem 
to have a lot more food weight than otherwise. The difference though is 
that on the last day out you can roll into town with a six pound pack 
cause there ain't shit in your bag (excuse my french).

The other thing that I really liked about not cooking is that it's 
warmer because you don't sit around out of your bag touching metal 
things for half an hour. You get to camp, get in your bag, and throw 
some food down your throat. Then you sleep. In washington rains, not 
cooking was great.

-patch



Jeffrey Olson wrote:

> On a section hike in the southern sierra this september I didn't take 
> a stove.  I didn't miss it.  I am a coffee addict and I had a headache 
> for a couple days, but that was it.  In June I got wet going over 
> Packwood Glacier - wind and rain - and was glad to set up dinner in 
> the middle of the trail under one of the first trees on the south side 
> at 11AM  and chow down a hot pot of mashed potatos.  I was cold, cold, 
> cold.  That said, when I hike alone, I'll leave the stove at home.
> Jeff Olson
> Martin, SD
>
> Hiker97@aol.com wrote:
>
>> I am wondering how valuable it is to cook when out hiking.  It seems  
>> to me the nutritional value gained is hardly any greater than going 
>> without  heating up water, etc.  There are so many items to take 
>> hiking these days  that provide just as much energy and go power 
>> without all the hassle of a  stove.
>>
>> I know a hot meal or drink is a treat at the end of the day,  
>> especially if it is cold.  But I am thinking more of three season  
>> backpacking and not winter hiking.
>>
>> May be I am just a lazy backpacker, but I am thinking of dumping the  
>> trouble of cooking meals.  I only do it for dinner anyway.  What's 
>> the  big deal?  To me it is a pain.  Plus, if I eat dinner and then 
>> do more  hiking, which is a good technique, going cookless seems more 
>> time  efficient.  Then all I do is have a dessert in my camp at the 
>> end of the  day.
>>
>> Any opinions on this?  How many PCT hikers are cookless today?
>>
>> Your hiking buddy, Switchback
>> Eat & Run Backpacker & Will Be Glad to Finish Your Hot Meal Left  Overs
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