I think it all relates back to my first hike when I just didn't bring enough food. Hiking for the first time with an overly heavy backpack in cooler temperatures proved to drain my energy and I found myself that first evening of my first hiking trip rather ravished... matter of fact, that squirrel was rather lucky it didn't come any closer to me. But in all honesty, as all hikers know, food, and often just the simple consideration of calories is vital to a successful hike.
Cooking with fire can reduce the weight of your pack. Is this inline with leave-no-trace however? |
Don't get me wrong I truly do understand the concept. The decision not to cook does come with its advantages. With respect to thru-hikers not cooking means that the weight of a stove, pot, and fuel are foregone. This reduced weigh can translate into quicker and longer daily miles thereby reducing the time spent between resupplies. Simply put, not cooking could shave days off of resupply stops and in all honesty, is it that hard to go without hot foods for a few days? Very convincing. Yet on a personal level I just can't picture myself enjoying a hiking trip without hot foods.
Hikers don't really operate in a realm of endless gourmet possibilities when it comes to cooking hot meals. This is not say that they are impossible, and I do send a shout-out to those who spend the time to make notorious gourmet meals, however, for the vast majority of long distance hikers where the cumulative weight of multiple days of food comes into consideration hot cooked menus are often limited to fast noodles, instant rice, dehydrated meats and veggies, tuna packets, and dehydrated and freeze dried meals. With this in mind, is the ‘cookless’ option really all that bad? You forego equipment weight, reduce hiking days, and really, are you truly missing out on a smorgasbord of great food? I’d say no. So why cook? Why carry that extra weight?
For me cooking and hiking are like peanut butter and chocolate. Sure, individually they are great, but together, wow. Personally, and this whole posting is a personal choice, being able to brew up some instant coffee (Starbucks makes some really good stuff) while stopped for a few moments on a knife edge or atop a pass or bald is quite something. Hot beverages kept me going on the PCT and while hesitant at the start of my trip my pack from here on out will have coffee, hot chocolate and maybe even the odd apple cider. Equally, being able to sit around a cooking pot of Asian style Side Kicks at the end of a hard days hike while talking to friends or just enjoying the scenery breaks up the monotony of hiking and eating dry ready to eat foods. This is not to mention the pleasure of filling your tummy with some warm food before retiring for the night.
To me the decision to cook or not to cook is clear. While each presents a unique twist of benefits and drawbacks, being able to eat hot foods, seemingly unappealing as they may be, far outweigh (quite literally) the benefits of not cooking while on the trail. Food for thought!
- Steve