Cooking Water vs. Drinking Water

[sleepy]

I'm like bdann, taking at least one hot meal per day.  it's nice to either start (hot oats, dried fruit and almonds) or end with a hot meal. I think I've said this before my favorite backcountry low-rent meal is tuna casserole: MH mac-n-cheese with some jalepenos (the juice from the can counted as water needed), a foil pack of tuna and topped off small bag of crushed lays potato chips.  For me, hot and delicious outweighs the inefficient cup of water.  I also err on the side of over packing water.  If you have one thing too much, it's got to be water.

[TexasGirl]

Water consumed counts as water consumed, but as MountainDocDanny pointed out, factor in what else you are consuming--principally sodium.  

To veer off a bit, Backpacker mag's new gear guide issue mentions two new electrolyte tablets to be added to water, easy to carry and well-endorsed.  Interesting.

[BIBEARCH]

Sorry, TWWG - too many years of carrying the 70# pack and now the knees don't like it.

The wife and I tend to choose hiking routes that take us by water sources. Freeze drieds and a Katadyn filter. Supplemented with a little canned tuna/albacore/ham/etc. meat, some granola/power bars of some kind, crackers and cheese, a bottle of good wine. No, packing out the bottle wasn't too bad - the memories of that evening on the ridgetop and the sunset made it worth it. The worst 10-day trip in the Quemadas was when I forgot the M&Ms.

[xseption]

I prefer the Clif bars for breakfast, lunch, and snacks with some trail mix to make it interesting. I used the Mountain House for dinner, because by then I can eat the hot, huge portions and sleep happily thereafter. Plus on a cold night, the food generates some extra warmth!

[sstrong42]

Probars are pretty tasty, and very calorie dense for their size.  Those along with Clif bars make for good snacks.  I like oatmeal or granola for breakfast.  I find hot meals to be very comforting, so I too go with the Mountain House freeze drieds.  They're pretty good for the most part, my favorite has been the Turkey Tetrazzini.