Equipment/food status
Sean,
Although like we discussed on the phone, my participation in this outing is questionable at best (read: don't depend on me being able to provide this stuff until further notice), here is my equipment status:
Fuel: Presently have four 5-gallon plastic gas cans. I’ll secure two more prior to departure. I have one 7 gallon and one 5 gallon propane bottle, and a six-pack of small propane appliance bottles. I need one more six-pack of propane.
Water: Need to purchase two 6-gallon plastic jugs. I’ll also have several 32oz. nalgene bottles. We will pre-freeze at least four, maybe six, 2-liter soda bottles with additional drinking water to be used as cold-packs. Have iodine tablets and a Katadyn purifier for obtaining additional drinking water from any source.
Food: Will also pre-freeze a gallon of milk and a gallon of OJ, in addition to a working gallon each. Unless a large quantity of chocolate is on hand, two gallons of milk should do it for 9 days for two people. Will bring at least one large tortilla per breakfast and dinner meal, to serve as a plate liner to reduce cleaning effort. For cold, longer term storage of ice and frozen stuff, I have an Igloo marine cooler, and for daily food supplies, I have a smaller cooler. All food not required cold, will be kept in stuff sacks in a large Rubbermaid storage container to easily move to the truck cab at night for critter security.
Breakfasts: Two eggs per day per person, kept in daily cooler so they don't freeze. Lots of shredded cheese and pre-cooked ham and bacon and Ziplock baggies to mix with eggs for eggs-in-a-bag, an easy omelet with no clean up. For fruit, we’ll bring one apple and one orange per day per person, purchased right before departure. If in the truck for the day, we’ll eat the fruit at breakfast. If hiking, we’ll eat it on the trail.
Lunches: A loaf of bread, lunchmeat, cheese slices, head of lettuce, beefsteak tomatoes and mustard/mayo for sandwiches. A few cans of beef barley or minestrone soup with the pop top lids, like cat food cans have. The soup heats in boiling water, then you pop the top.
Dinners: Will pre-cook and vacuum seal 1/2 pound of fajita chicken, plain chicken, and plain ground beef per day, per person. At least a dozen packages of ramen noodles to mix with plain chicken or beef. Dried gravy mix and/or beef bullion spices up the beef/ramen noodle combo. Ramen noodles come with a chicken flavor that is quite palatable. I'll bring at least one package of four-cheese mashed potatoes (by Idahoan) per day, too. These are the bomb for potatoes, whether backpacking or in base camp, and they cook up easily.
Snacks: Lots of Triscuits, wheat thins, Honeynut Cheerios, raisins, dried apricots, pecans, and pistachios in sandwich baggies for snacks.
Backpacking overnight: Four freeze dried meals - two dinners, two breakfasts per person.
Reserve food (emergency consumption only) a dozen ramen noodle packages. 4 gallons of purified drinking water in two 2-gallon "Ozarka-style" dispensers. One large box of raisins.
Cooking: I have secured free-standing, two-burner, high-BTU propane stove. I have one 7 gallon and one 5 gallon propane bottle, an appliance tree, a Coleman stove, two appliance hoses. Still need to secure a large pot. The burner is very suitable for cooking and warming large volumes of water quickly for cleaning or bathing as required. I also have a large funnel for returning unused water to containers.
Lighting: I have two small propane lanterns, one will hang from a tripod and be fueled by individual bottles as they are designed for, and the other will top my tree near the cooking station.
Misc. camping gear: Still need to secure an Easy Up Awning with sides. This will be my main tent if my son can come along. I'll also bring my smaller backpacking tent. I have a propane heater fueled by small bottles and two that are fueled by large bottles. One makes a great small-group campfire, where campfires are forbidden, especially in an easy-up. The other is good while cooking and the small-bottle one, while sleeping. Will bring cots for us if my son comes, else bring my sleeping pad.
Vehicle recovery gear: Straps: one 30' yank, one 20' yank, one tree, one 10' tow, 3 shackles, 60" hi-lift jack, two-ton come-along, shovel, two treated 2"x6"x5' planks, four 4"x4"x18" blocks for tire chalks or stacking. Several pairs gloves, 6' chain with hooks, High-lift winching kit and slider/bumper adapter, two road flares, crow bar, small sledge hammer. Various tools, including wrenches, sockets, etc. 3000 PSI scuba tank with tire inflation equipment.
Misc. survival stuff: First Aid kit (backpacking type), fleece blankets, large tarps, spool of twine, two 20' parachute cords, large zip ties, spray lubricant, extra engine oil, waterproof matches.
That is most of the list, with the exception of our day-pack and my internal frame backpacks and lots of appropriate clothes, extra socks, etc.