BushwalkBushwalk
Tool Time
Sonya Muhlsimmer
Are you a gadget freak and do you have a tool for everything possible? What do you take on an overnight hike or for multi-day hikes, does it vary for summer and winter or are you a minimalist all round? This is such a diverse subject and cooking kits vary quite a bit between individuals, so I will try to keep this article as brief as I can. My cooking kit varies greatly between overnight hikes, multi-day hikes, seasons and if I bring one of my nieces and nephews with me on an overnight hike. For my niece’s and nephew’s first overnight hike I swear my rucksack was over 25 kilograms. By comparison I have been known to carry around 22 kilograms for a 14 day hike ... But the kids did carry their own mess kit and some snacks for the hike. I must say my gear is all fairly old as I have been doing overnight, multi-day hiking for a number of years and all my gear I have still works, so when it breaks I will replace it. I am sure some equipment has improved in weight and efficiency over the years.
Perfect rock for cooking on with the MSR stove. Blue Mountains, NSWAll pictures by Sonya Muhlsimmer
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StovesWhat stove do you take, a gas cooker, Trangia, Jetboil, MSR or a Hexamine stove? For some reason I have three Trangias, two MSRs and one gas cooker and I am sure if I look hard enough in my shed I will find my very first stove I ever owned, a Hexamine stove. The two I use the most are my gas burner and MSR. I rarely use the Trangia, but I do use the pots.
The gas burner is simple enough to use, and you can get three different sized gas bottles. I have so many half full bottles it is a bit annoying. However, you can take them on overnight hikes, you just may have to carry a couple of bottles to be sure you don’t run out. At least they then will be used. You can’t take them on a plane so you have to make sure you can get them where you are going. Also you have to be a bit careful in the snow as they can play up in the cold.
The MSR is great when you go overseas, when you can travel again after COVID, as any fuel can be used. They are great in cold conditions and they are bomb proof, but they are a bit fiddly to get going. Sometimes the smell the stove emits can be a bit too overwhelming for certain people so you have to have good ventilation. Perfect for snow camping I say.
Trangias are easy to use and less can go wrong with them, however they do take a while to heat up, and again if you travel overseas you could be searching for metho.
Jetboils are gaining popularity. They work fast to heat up water, but to me that seems that is about all. They are great for a quick cuppa, dehydrated meals or soups. The cooking choices are very minimal, great if you like that sort of thing, however this is not for me.
Hexamine Stoves have a place as they are super easy to use and nothing can go wrong with them, just make sure you take enough fuel tablets. The bottom of the pots can get a bit black and a bit like the Trangia and they can take a while to heat up.
So choose your cooking stove accordingly, oh and don’t forget a base plate (essential when snow camping) and wind shield.
Pots and pansWell, it depends on your menu really, and if you are catering for others. But a general rule of thumb, for overnight or a few days solo hike I usually take one pot with a handle. This is so I don’t need to take a plate or bowl or cooking utensils as such. For multi-day hikes I would take a pot, pan, cup and bowl, utensils and a stove. Don’t forget your spondonicles aka billy grips if your pots don’t have handles. Apparently the Three Stooges named the spondonicle, really though I wonder if this is true.
Stoves, pots and pans
“Perfect for snow camping I say.
“... be a bit careful in the snow as they can play up in the cold.
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Utensils, containers and miscellaneous items
UtensilsDo you spork? They have their merit as you can get some good lightweight ones, and they are cheap. However, I do not recommend using the plastic ones for a cooking utensil as they may melt. I use a titanium spoon and a fork as they are light, won’t melt or break in a hurry. In summer I carry a small paring knife that sits in a protective cover, and for winter I use a Swiss Army knife as it has extra tools on it in case my pulk poles need tightening. Spatulas can be handy. I have a small, lightweight one which weighs only 10 grams and I love it. They are great for cakes, scrambled eggs, pancakes and flat bread. So it depends on my menu if I carry it or not. But gee I really like my spatula. Do you have one?
Containers for oils and sauces For oil, sauces, ghee and dishwashing liquid, Nalgene travel bottles are the way to go. They are available from good camping shops. I have a range of sizes. To be sure that no leakage occurs through your rucksack - it has happened to me - you can keep them in a reusable silicone bag. I also have a cool Nalgene container that is divided into three sections, each with a flip top lid, great for carrying extra herbs and spices. This is a great container I really like to carry. Oh don’t forget to go to one of those disgusting fast food shops and where possible accumulate sugar, salt and pepper sachets. You can always throw in a couple of stock cubes. This selection can spruce up any meal, yep even those freeze dried meals. Occasionally on my eight day annual pilgrimage to the snow we share the cooking, so someone prepares and cooks something
“I use a titanium spoon and a fork ...
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At home preparationPlace all ingredients into the allocated bag. Print out method at camp label and place with the bag.
Method in campIn a bowl add the bread bag contents. Slowly stir ¼ cup of water into the flour, bringing it together to make a dough. Halve the mix and in your hand roll the half amount of dough into a ball. Using your fingers push out into a round disc. Place a pan over a low heat, add the flat bread and cook for about 2 mins on one side. Flip and cook again for about 2 mins. Serve.
Bag 1 (bread mix)
Self raising flour
½ cup
71 grams
Milk powder
2 Tbsp
20 grams
Baking powder
1 tsp
4 grams
Salt
few pinches
Water
¼ cup
To read more about the author or find delicious recipes check xtremegourmet.com
Flat Bread
for a night for everyone. Well, if you find the meal served up to you a bit bland you have a small, lightweight rescue remedy kit for your meal. It works.
Other miscellaneous itemsMy chopping board is solid and has a strainer on one side so it is good for straining pasta. However I have another thin, lightweight chopping board which is also good. Chopping boards are questionable if they are really needed to be carried. If you are taking a selection of cheeses – for my niece of course - then yes it is handy, otherwise the base of your bowl/plate, pot or pan can work just fine. On extended trips, cans are not recommended unless you are able to cache them for later pick up or you don’t mind carrying the empties out. A small can opener is good for such trips. To grate nutmeg over your polenta cake or for your parmesan cheese block carry a small grater.
To be honest, I have never used this gadget, but I do like to have it in my kit, for options. You know.
SummaryAs I said, not one cooking kit will be the same. Perhaps you are starting out with hand me downs or you are a pro minimalist with a compact kit. A basic kit should have at least have these items: a stove, base plate, wind shield, pot or billy, billy grips, cutlery and a mug. Either way it is good to look at your setup once in a while and consider what works and what doesn’t work. There are so many options now on the market. Do you have any tips you would like to share with the rest of us? I would love to hear them.
So here is a quick and easy recipe for your spatula to justify carrying it, just in case you need an excuse.
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