What's For Dinner?

[Robert]

Frozen chili and some crackers.

While I do take some frozen items for the first night or next day breakfast (egg beaters comes to mind), on our last trip I made chili with some homemade dehydrated ground meat, a can of dehydrated tomato sauce, and Wick Fowler chili mix. Topped with cheese. I also made corn bread in the Outback Oven. You can't beat that for a cold January night's meal.

[SA Bill]

Lots of great ideas! Thanks!

I really like the thought of of some smoked brisket as the sun goes down! Not sure I can pull it off since I'll be driving out Saturday and won't be on the rim until Monday night.

Soooo...I may just pick up one of those little cans of vienna sausage. Might get some summer sausage to try too. Some crackers...some sweets...I'll survive one night on the Rim!
   Bill

[SHANEA]

Just build a fire and heat some water and have some good Mountain House...   

Ok, bad idea.   

Then, get one of these and boil some water for a good Mountain House meal of lasagna.

Ok, then don't want to spend that much, then how about Mountain Oven - Flamless Heating Kit and some Lasagna w/Meat Sauce (Four 10oz servings)

Personally, I like the JetBoil idea so that you can have some good coffee in the morning.  Nothing like starting the day on the South Rim with a good cup of hot black coffee.  I use Folgers Coffee Singles for a good brew. 

[SHANEA]

BTW - when are you going anyway?

[Ay Chihuahua!]

I really like the thought of of some smoked brisket as the sun goes down! Not sure I can pull it off since I'll be driving out Saturday and won't be on the rim until Monday night.

I don't see why you couldn't pull it off.   

Got a cooler?

[homerboy2u]

Mountain House...shmatn Haus!!!.....grab a goat,dump your backpack on it. Get a chicken dump on it your baby wipes and sombrero. Let them both hump your stuff for you,eat them on the S.Rim. Invite over the bears for a bite and get the best sound sleep of your lifetime.Don't forget the toothpicks and the pictures.

 The best of luck to you, Professor.

[SA Bill]

Hey Shane!
That flameless thing seems pretty cool! In all the years that I backpacked, I always carried a single burner Coleman white gas stove. There was never any question...it was always in the pack...along with extra fuel. That's partly why my pack weights were around 50 pounds. I've turned over a new leaf and don't plan to carry a stove unless I'm going for multiple days.

I leave SA at 8am this coming Saturday!!! I'm taking Friday off to pack and get ready so I can make that 8am departure time. I'm going out I10 and plan to stay at 70mph to maximize gas milage. I'm in no hurry...BB will still be there no matter how long it takes me to get there and 70mph is still a lot better than the 55mph trips I made back in the '70s. It takes a
 L O N G  time to get to BB from SA at 55mph. Not fun.

Hi Ay!
The more I think about it, the more I just might give the brisket a try. Pick some up Friday and freeze it. Keep it in the cooler until Monday morning when I hit the trail. Might work!!

A goat and a chicken!! I like it Homero. Plenty for me and enough to share with the bears. Not sure the Rangers would approve. I'll take lots of pictures for you!!
   Bill

[stingrey]

Yeah, the brisket should work just fine the way you described! Long as it is cool 'till you get there, it should be just fine through the early evening! In terms of drive time/distance/gas, the BEST way to save gas is to go I90... It is about 100 miles shorter. Keep in mind that the speed limit for the larger stretches of distance IS about 70 or 75mph already. I've driven both repeatedly (6x this year with about 4 of the drives being on 10 and 8 being on 90 going one direction or the other) and 90 does seem like the way to go IMO.

[SA Bill]

Hi stingrey!
I used to go 90 all the time. The last couple of years I've been going I10 and found I like it better. My little PT Cruiser gets better milage if I just set the cruise control and don't vary my speed much. On 90 there's too much stopping and starting as you go through all the towns. Plus, I always get stuck behind a slow mover on the two lane stretches and have to use more gas getting around them when the opportunity to do so arises. Then I recently heard about the Pecos bridge delays so I think I'll stay with I10...at least going out. Coming back...maybe I'll give 90 another try.
 
I'm still thinking about doing the brisket!!
   Bill

[badknees]

Yeah, the brisket should work just fine the way you described! Long as it is cool 'till you get there, it should be just fine through the early evening! In terms of drive time/distance/gas, the BEST way to save gas is to go I90... It is about 100 miles shorter. Keep in mind that the speed limit for the larger stretches of distance IS about 70 or 75mph already. I've driven both repeatedly (6x this year with about 4 of the drives being on 10 and 8 being on 90 going one direction or the other) and 90 does seem like the way to go IMO.

I vote for 90. Shorter drive for sure. Traffic isn't too bad and the delays at the bridge seem to be 5 minutes.

[stingrey]

Yeah, the delay at the bridge is minimal... You should definitely take each route, one on the way out and one on the way back... Keep tabs of how much gas you really use and how long it really takes... Be sure to time from the same start/end points, though!

The stopping in the towns part does get old, but to me the fact that each drive is able to come out within a half hour of each other and yet 90 is almost 100 miles shorter puts more bang for my buck on the 90 route. Either way don't let the drive sidetrack you any... Start packing and hit the road as planned once you get up and going. Have fun!