rw wrote in message om...

Cooking on a campfire is not only fun -- it's economical. Instead of
carrying a stove and fuel, a mere grate is enough. There goes a couple

When by myself, I don't think I've ever made a campfire. I like to
enjoy the silence and the "blending in", so to speak. With others,
of course, there's a whole social aspect, and campfires are great.

I'm very minimalist, and "frugal". I only carry one of those pocket
fuel-tablet stoves, 2 tablets/day, and one small aluminum pot. I
don't bring any food that requires anything more than boiling water.
instant oatmeal packets for breakfast, "coffee singles" (like tea bags),
instant soups otherwise, occasionally something else like instant
mashed potatoes, etc. Instant bean soups are really good (I used to
be able to get a good black bean soup but haven't seen it at the
local stores recently), lots of nutrition. I usually throw in a
couple of power bars and some beef jerky. There's no sense buying
overpriced "camping" dried food when your local supermarket has a
great variety anyways. I generally don't eat much and backpacking
is a good way to lose a couple of the extra pounds we all have
anyways.

I used iodine tablets for a long time, but my wife recently bought
me a water filter for a birthday. It's great and all, but honestly
it's just another thing to carry.

If you google on ultralight backpacking or similar phrases, you can
find some real serious devotees, and some good recipes for lightweight
high-energy trail "gruel" that obviates the need for any stove. If
you read old-time accounts (e.g., John Muir's _My First Summer in
the Sierra_) it's amazing how little they took into the mountains.
Someday I'd like to try it.

Jon.