Registered: 01/16/13
Posts: 913
Loc: Nacogdoches, TX, USA
Haan, by "no cook", I don't think they mean raw. Rather, I think they mean all the cooking has been done ahead of time at home, and when they are out in the backcountry, they do not heat it up.
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The journey is more important than the destination.
Is there any value in going to a no cook method over bringing a lightweight stove and using dehydrated or freezedried meals?
I have a friend who is no cook but I wonder if there are major differences other than less gear. Has anyone gone to no cook and been happier?
A camping stove is okay if it suits your style but I prefer to cook my meal naturally so I bring only a camping pot that fits my backpack. Never been try no-cook camping before because a warm drink in the morning really makes my whole day. Also, warm food in the evening is more satisfying for me.
Bear in mind that if you plan to hike in California that all "natural" fires are prohibited in the backcountry. Too many knuckleheads have started huge forest fires with their little cooking fires...
Being well fed is one of my few luxury needs. I cook. The weight savings is almost negligible to cook. Especially with some of the new freeze dried foods plus your own spices and condiments.
Not quite. I quickly learned, way back at the beginning, that I only needed one hot meal a day. (That's all I eat at home, so why would I do differently on the trail?)
I usually eat a cold breakfast - some sort of granola bar or near-cousin, or perhaps some cold cereal (same as at home.) However, in colder weather I'll sometimes take oatmeal, and add boiling water to the pouch and eat from the pouch.
Lunch is also cold, consisting of some protein (often, beef jerky or an Atkins or similar low-sugar, high-protein meal bar), some dried fruit and maybe some nuts or another granola bar. Again, similar to home (cold cut sandwich, fruit, cheese, salad, etc.)
But supper needs to be hot. I find one hot meal a day comforting, and to that extent, necessary. Freeze-dried works, but so do homemade quick-cook meals.
My own one-time experiment with no-cook saved me about 8 ounces of cook gear, plus some fuel. However, the no-cook food was heavier than the freeze-dried (it already had the water in it), so my net savings were about 6 ounces, and I was a lot less happy. I never made a second experiment.
Well you had a good experience. A hot meal once a day is a must. It is good to cook it yourself.
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