I hate making water during winter trips. Last weekend I melted my favorite coat making water for dinner and I'm really p*ssed about it. So I ask you, what is your favorite winter menu items that don't involve a lot of water or doing dishes?

not the answer you are looking for, but making lots of water is a big part of winter camping. it's almost a meal-time ritual amongst me and my buddies. brewing-up water to make a big cup of ramin at the end of the day has much significance to the happiness of the group as does the cup of coffee/hot chocolate and hot cereal in the morning. that and it helps warm you and keep you hydrated. What are you bringing to cook on and what’s your style of camping. I’d luv to bring a couple of cans of dinty moore stew for dinner, but I’m not gonna carry the extra weight of the liquid when I have limitless amounts of snow that can be turned into water.

Obviously making water is an essential part or winter camping and something that I'm not going to get away from. So I left out a little bit of information, I typically go with my 9 year old and I'm stuck with the task of making water for both of us. So if we have a meal planned that requires a lot of water, almost all of my time is spent making water.

For example, last trip I had to make nearly 2L of water before dinner so I could cook soup and hot chocolate and that took a while. Then I had to make 2 more L of water for dishes and to have enough water ready in the morning for oatmeal and more hot chocolate. Then after breakfast I had to make 2L of water for the rest of the day.

So I'm just looking for ideas to help reduce some of the water requirements and everything associated with making water such as time and fuel.

Mike

I usually take a package of Jacklinks steak nuggets (3.5oz) for those times when I am too whipped to cook. That along with one or two of those little small wax covered cheeses and maybe some Ritz crackers and I don't suffer much. I also frequently take sandwiches made with flat round bread for no cook meals. A package of dried milk mixed a bit rich makes a nice treat. The Milkman brand with 2% fat is good if you can find it. Personally, I think a bigger pot is worthwhile in winter if you will be melting a lot of snow. Less tedious and makes a handy snow shovel too.

Kids require lots of hot chocolate, so theres no getting around that!

I use the same as non winter, since I try to pick foods that won't melt in hot temps and work okay for winter. I would keep next meal in pocket to thaw if needed. The snickers will be mushy during day in hot temps, but is firm the next morning for eating.

Breakfast: Oatmeal, snickers bar
Morning Snack: Almond M&M's
Lunch: Peanut butter crackers, fig newton bar, granola bar
Afternoon Snack: Almond M&M's
Dinner: Oatmeal, ramen, salmon or tuna, hot drink

Edited by jshann on 02/25/2011 22:42:49 MST.

There's nothing like a good pot of chili on a cold winter night.
I bring dehydrated meals (like Hawk Vittles)- only takes 1 - 1 1/2 cups water.
Of course I cheat by mostly hiking near rivers (or bring an ice auger and camp by lakes) so I can access water without the need to melt it.

Well - I have been down all of these roads before and I was kinda hoping to get some new ideas. I actually think the answer is to throw some more weight on it. I think I'm going to pick up a Bemco Backpacker Oven and try cooking pizza's and stuff while I make water. Since I'm pulling a pulk, I don't think that I will feel the addition of 30 oz of weight so it is worth a shot.

Now I'll have to buy a new remote canister stove, so maybe I can make up some weight there. I'm thinking warm banana bread in the morning is going to be way better than oatmeal. That should take less water and let me cook while I'm melting snow, so I can do two things at once.

Should be interesting.

Mike

Well OK then, how about a nice two burner Coleman Expedition Stove, $46.95 at STP.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/4269,83704_Coleman-Exponent-Xpedition-Stove-2-Burner.html

It's hard to get around melting lots of snow, as others have said. If you're pulling a pulk and don't mind the weight, you can bring in whatever "skillet" meals look good in the freezer aisle of your grocery. Usually they contain all or most of the necessary water, are easy, and quick to pack for a trip. Not light.

Do you hike where you are able to have a campfire? It's a bit more cheery for hours on end than a stove.

Good luck.

I've never tried it but supposedly you can melt snow in a black plastic bag - especially in the sunny southwest. That would speed up the process and use less fuel too.

I have a 2 L. JetBoil pot W/ its neoprene cozy and "Flux Ring" corrugated heat transfer thingy on the botom. That's my winter pot for faster melting of snow.

My stove is an MSR Dragonfly for winter camping because of its high heat output and very low simmer ability for baking.

As with EVERY stove I have I use an MSR heavy foil windscreen. It's even more important in winter.

OOPS! I meant 2 L. pot (corrected above)

Edited by Danepacker on 03/05/2011 00:11:45 MST.

Eric, I just got a screaming deal on the JetBoil Helios stove system that has both the 2 L and 3 L pots, so now I have a lot of options. I'll play around with it, I have a Primus stove on it's way and I'll see how the two pots work with that stove.

Mike