Companion forum thread to:

Podcast: NOLS and the 40 Pound Initiative

Can you add the length to each podcast you guys post?
In general, it would be nice to know how long they are before I play them

Deleted

Edited by awsorensen on 05/20/2008 10:52:10 MDT.

Is this not going up on iTunes? Mine doesn't see it... or am I just impatient?

What is a "spice kit?"

It CAN'T be what I think it is.

From the articles I've read I believe they like to do some pretty good backcountry cooking. I'm fairly certain a spice kit refers to a kit of containers to hold cooking spices like salt, pepper, cinnamon, various seasonings, etc.

I don't see the podcast in my iTunes feed either.

Brilliant Daniel, especially if those caps and carrier are titanium :-) I suspect it'll slide right into an Ursack.

FWIW I always carry a "spice bag" with little containers of favorites: basil, tarragon, red pepper, garlic cloves, etc. Relatively small and light, and a huge boost to certain otherwise bland meals.

Appetite's always a puzzle at altitude, especially after a hard day. Sometimes it takes some persuasion to get myself to eat, and bland food never helps.

Hey all - this is my first podcast upload, so I'll see if I missed something about adding it to the iTunes feed.

Thanks!
Addie

I work for NOLS. I am not intimately familiar with their "fast and Light" courses, but perhaps I can answer some questions.

One of the things that makes NOLS unique is their approach to teaching backcountry cooking. On a standard NOLS course, students learn baking and how to cook creative and nutritious meals using a "pantry style" system of rations. The spice kit is important to this system and is very popular with staff and students. A standard course carries a spice kit varying by staff preference, but including staples such as salt and pepper and often also containing such items as yeast, baking powder, curry, cumin, cinnamon, vanilla, soy sauce, and cayenne pepper.

Some staff spend a majority of their lives in the field and appreciate variety and creativity in their meals. The spice kit helps a lot with this.

Originally posted by Aaron Sorensen
"The bad thing is that they insist that you do a certain weight.
I would (literally) have to bring the kitchen sink to make there weight."

Taking ten deep breaths....

Aaron, have you ever called NOLS to sign up for a course? Did someone there tell you that your pack had to weigh a certain amount? If so I would love to know who. Comments like this do not really help the school move forward in lowering pack weights, something I think we can all agree is good for everyone.

A lot of people are working real hard to make lighter packs a reality at NOLS. BPL has been interested enough to help us try and change the perceptions that you continue to propagate.

I'm glad folks here can have a good laugh at others expense. The spice kit picture is pretty darned funny, and I realize there is always some truth to sarcasm. There is also always an unseen reality behind why things are the way they are. If you all choose to mock and tease rather than have an educated conversation about what this all means for outdoor education and outdoor recreation in general, I think that is sad.

FWIW, Shiela presents an excellent explanation on why spice kits have been hefty.

Sorry if I sound a little irked, I'm spending my day closing down NOLS SW for the summer season and have been dodging swarms of africanized bees and rouge rattlesnakes.

Take care, travel light.

Ryan, Sheila

I'm the one that posted the spice kit picture, I hope it didn't offend, as it was not meant to. I apologize if it did. I carry a spice kit myself, though much smaller and with less variety than the one in the picture since I'm only cooking for myself and perhaps one other person. I agree you need variety in cooking and I'm sure the resultant meals are much appreciated.

Cheers

Dan

Nope, no offense - as I said it was funny and I see the truth to it. Just want folks to know we are taking this process seriously. For the last four years, it has been a big focus of my job at NOLS, I guess maybe I am too attached right now, I should go for a hike and do some walking meditation to release my attachment.

Edited by ryan_hutchins on 05/16/2008 15:44:42 MDT.

I guess it's always important to remember that we are just one portion of the world of backpackers out there. we are the nutty fringe. i know i'm the only one of my friends who would consider hiking 15, let alone 30, miles in a day. and when they hike in a 5L bag of wine to the basecamp 4 miles in from the trailhead at that cool swimming lake, it's hard to argue with that approach. if someone wanted to bake a vanilla cake from their big spice bag for me at camp, i'd be happy.

it's good to see NOLS working on lightening up. it only makes sense. change in big organizations takes time. boy scouts, NOLS, etc. personally i'd think that a 30 pound (or 20) for summertime backpacking would be easy to reach, but that's me.

in general, i'd say keep up the good work. we are all trying to get to the same goal - knowledgeable folks out having a good time in the wild.

for example, off the NOLS page, check out:
http://www.nols.edu/courses/pdf/southwest/lwb_el.pdf
the gear recommendations sound pretty much like any UL/SUL suggestions coming from posts off BPL.

Edited by DaveT on 05/16/2008 15:52:20 MDT.

Daniel - No, I was not offended by your photo either. I laughed (and then laughed again at your avatar). Ryan does have a great point though, and I agree with him wholeheartedly. Before mocking or condemning something, it's worth educating oneself. It's important to understand NOLS pack weights in the context of the school's mission (and the very fact that it is that, a SCHOOL), its history, and the efforts that are being made by folks like Ryan (thanks Ryan!).

As a LWB I also have caught myself scoffing at the base weights of our more conventional brethren. But I have also noticed that many of us go out for two or three days with a sub 5 base weight and then call ourselves hardcore for the pleasure of it. I have never taken a NOLS course (and would love to do so in another life) but I know they get into the back of beyond in a responsible and professional fashion for extended periods of time. I say congratulations to NOLS for a little self-assessment and thank goodness for a little spice in life.

Edited by mpdonovan on 05/16/2008 19:01:24 MDT.

I guess it goes to show that there are so many degrees and approaches to this cool hobby of ours. Myself, I like every facet: I like to hike in short distances and spend most of the day lounging and swimming and eating....and I also like to start out with a 13lb pack and do miles and miles. And everything in between. I had never heard of anyone seriously being upset about leaving a "spice kit" behind, and to be honest with you, the very terms "spice kit" make me chuckle, especially when it's considered a necessary piece of gear, like water treatment, sleeping system, shelter, spice kit.

Oh well, to each their own. Personally, I don't think my back can handle more than 4 or 5 miles with 40 lbs, and I'm only 34. Then again, I don't think I've ever even hefted a 40 lb pack....but then again, I don't stay out for more than a few days.

Always something new to try.

Confession time: I often carry this spice kit on a LONG walk. There is enough there for up to two weeks easily.
Front row: plastic bag of tomato powder: powerful stuff which really adds flavour
Middle row: garlic, garan masala, mint, bay leaves
Back row: Salt, pepper, curry, mixed herbs

Bottles: 8 mL or 1/4 oz, Nalgene laboratory bottles. On average they weigh (full) 9 grams each. But you could use very small ziplocks for less weight.

OK, laugh. You just won't get invited for dinner. :-)

Cheers

Roger, that looks just like what we bring at NOLS for about 2 weeks (then we get a resupply). The rations departments have started using real small ziplock type bags to reduce some weight. On lightweight courses we bring salt and pepper and either premixed sauces or dry powdered sauces packets.

Can I just say it? Salt is NOT a spice. If you need to salt yer food instead carry a bunch of herbs. Better taste and better health :-) salt is only needed in baking ;-)

Anyhoo, I cannot say much. I carry this:


There isn't anything like fresh ground pepper.

Though you won't catch me often with a 40 lb pack.