Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Do you take a cooler?
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ockycamper |
Scoobs: "jewp: "We do. Yeti backpack coolers fit the kids perfectly. I wouldn't go without one. Would I carry a hard side cooler, no, but I wouldn't take an alaskan basecamping tent either -- doesn't mean I don't bring a tent. Sure, if you want to eat dehydrated meals, don't bring one. I enjoy bacon and eggs cooked over the fire for breakfast, we will always have a cooler. No different than any other gear, get the right gear and it works fine. I don't go up there to see if I can live on nuts, I know I can. I go up there because I enjoy it, and I enjoy a good fresh breakfast in the bw even more. We also bring nuts." There are a lot of options other then a cooler to do this. We have taken an Ice Mule, as well as Polar Bear soft sided backpack coolers. We were able to bring eggs, bacon and frozen foods and keep them cold for a week. Polar Bear Soft Cooler Pack Polar Bear soft sided pack |
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Z4K |
arm2008: "Depending on size of cooler, bear "proofing" can be a challenge. I believe some coolers are bear resistant if locked with a padlock. I imagine they are on the heavy side." Yes, most rotomolded coolers (like Stimpy's above) have a spot for a padlock. As I understand it they are not 'bear resistant' unless there is a padlock installed. I brought a 30l yeti hopper into the bwca for a few years until the zipper failed. It's claim to fame was keeping enough ice to pack lake trout out after a 9 day trip. I've brought smaller 'coleman' style coolers in a few times as well but never expected them to last more than 4 days. Gallon zip bags of frozen entrees make great 'ice' but my favorite trick is putting the entire loaded cooler into a chest freezer a day or three before leaving. I've never taken a cooler when I expected to move more than once or twice. Cooler or not, ribeyes are always the best bet for day 1. |
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ockycamper |
Forward 12 years later and we realized it was taking us two hours minimum to prepare those huge breakfasts, eat and cleanup. Dinner prep would start at 4 and by the time we ate and cleaned up it was 6. Then the reflector oven and dutch ovens came out for cinamon rolls etc around the fire. When we looked hard at it we realized that all the prep, eating, and cooking occupied well over half the day for our group. Not much exploring, fishing etc. We had several conversations and came to the decision that we didn't drive 16 hours to eat like at home, or better then at home. Now it is oatmeal for breakfast, and a two pot dinner from freeze dried foods for dinner. We lost the coolers, the two burner stove, the tables, the dutch ovens. . .basically everything but two small backpacking style stoves and a GSI pot set. Dinners for the week for 4-6 guys fit in 1-2 bearvaults as they were totally freezedried foods. Now portages are far easier and we have a lot more time for what we drove 16 hours for. . .exploring and fishing. Most of us are in our 60's. There may come a time when we bring back the coolers, stoves, etc and just park in a base camp and never leave. But for now we don't miss the cooler days. |
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Hammertime |
The boys have been kicking around the idea of portaging a cooler full of IPA growlers, might be fun. |
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Blackdogyak |
I freeze a half gallon of juice as my ice block. Meat is good for 3-4 days....just be quick when you open and close it. The advantage is that it's lightweight and it gets smaller as you use up the food. I'm dehydrating more but it's still nice to have cheddar cheese, limes, some fresh meat, yogurt, etc. |
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RunningFox |
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HowardSprague |
treehorn: "We have soft sided coolers that fit in the bear barrel for the stuff we want to keep cold. Put it in there with frozen water bottles and/or freeze packs. No big deal. It is heavy on the way in, but we eat very good, and it's empty on the way out! Exactly! |
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ockycamper |
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Pilgrimpaddler |
Obviously this isn’t an ultralight process, but it works great when there are some strapping young sherpas to carry the food pack. |
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RoyAlex17 |
jewp: "gopher2307: "Yeti backpack cooler...not the version shown above, but the soft one actually sold as a backpack. Last September it held ice for 3-4 days. For a short travel distance, base camp trip, it is worth it. It immediately throws out the potential of single portaging, though. We bring a soft side yeti ms30 and base camp with lots of frozen meals for our usual 5 day trip. Agreed, our mules are 10 and 13. As much as they eat, carrying the cooler is the least they can do. |
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Scout64 |
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billconner |
Scout64: "I do not, we usually do quite a few portages and I just don't want to carry the extra weight. " Not critical, just makes me smile wondering what you carry that I think of as extra weight. Everyone has different essentials. |
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TRadam |
We deepfreeze quart sized apple juice containers for the top and bottom and fill in with frozen drinking water bottles as required. If you only go into the cooler when cooking, keep dead air space to a minimum (cut some reflective material to create layers) and you can bring lots of food options. You also get apple juice or Cold water to enjoy on the trip. Good for 4 days. Dry ice would add even more time. We did a ton of research on methods to keep items in coolers frozen and from my recent experience building reflective liners should be on everyone’s to do list. Also, we now follow the rule of having a cooler only for beverages (Back at car camp) Sodas, Beer and ice only in a separate cooler, food in the other. All of our “hard coolers” are bear proof and they really hold ice well. Expensive but worth it to me. We sold the RV and went back to tenting or sleeping in a cargo trailer. The only thing I missed was the fridge! |
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airmorse |
We were primarily base camping with minimal portages. We were amazed at how tough that cooler was. We watched a bear one day go paw over paw hanging from one of the ropes that was used to suspended that cooler in the air. He never got any food for all his hard work...Those were/are tough handles. I still have that cooler and think of the trips that it went on. |
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TuscaroraBorealis |
treehorn: "We have soft sided coolers that fit in the bear barrel for the stuff we want to keep cold. Put it in there with frozen water bottles and/or freeze packs. No big deal. It is heavy on the way in, but we eat very good, and it's empty on the way out! Pretty much sums up my approach as well. |
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MikeinMpls |
At this point in my adventures, one-pot meals are excellent and filling. Freeze dried dinners have come a long way since the mid-80s, when the only choices seemed to be "turkey tetrazzini" and chili mac. I like eggs for breakfast, and the eggs mixes make a great scrambled dish. I know some bring up fresh eggs so they can have them sunny-side up, but that seems like a lot of work just to have the same protein in an alternate form. Mike |
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nofish |
If its a back pack type cooler that makes for easy carrying then its really just about the weight you want to carry. Personally my food pack is a repurposed hiking pack that I had. The layout and pocket design just so happens to work well as a food pack. The main part of the pack is broken into 2 compartments that can be accessed from 2 different locations. I use one of the compartments as the cold food storage area. It fits a soft insulated bag where the cold stuff is kept with a frozen bottle of water or 2 and can also have additional reflectix added for more insulation. I usually bring enough cold food for the first day and the next morning and then I bring some other items that don't HAVE to be kept cold but might be a bit better if they are. |
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Heyfritty |
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butthead |
butthead |
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jewp |
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scramble4a5 |
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Jackfish |
Look at buying (or renting) an insulated food pack or eating your perishable food early in your trip. |
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Inmyelement |
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boonie |
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halvorsonchristopher |
We still bring 1lb Ribeyes tho.... Frozen and air sealed. No cooler bag. Usually eat them on night 2-3. Depending on air temps. I bet we could eat them all night 4 or 5 if we put them in soft-sided cooler, and then place them in the CCS solo. |
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RunningFox |
Perhaps off topic, but I also have a food saver and I re-package perishable items prior to freezing them. I believe vacuum sealing makes food last longer. With planning and care you can keep food cold for a week In June. |
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AmarilloJim |
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sylvesterii |
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straighthairedcurly |
The only non-dehydrated, fresh foods we bring along are cheese and summer sausage for lunch and we don't bother to refrigerate them. |
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fadersup |
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woodsandwater |
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Savage Voyageur |
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billconner |
Savage Voyageur: "Please explain how you secured your cooler full of food from bears. Did you hang the cooler in a tree? " Many if not most hard coolers are on the bear resistant list. I'm curious if any of the backpack coolers are listed as bear resistant. I've only taken a small soft side cooler - fits perfect in bottom of CCS deluxe food pack - 2 or 3 times. Always travel everyday but now in 70's, I consider base camping, and backpack cooler is intriguing. |
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Jaywalker |
fadersup: "Why bring just one? I like your style. |
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Scoobs |
jewp: "We do. Yeti backpack coolers fit the kids perfectly. I wouldn't go without one. Would I carry a hard side cooler, no, but I wouldn't take an alaskan basecamping tent either -- doesn't mean I don't bring a tent. Sure, if you want to eat dehydrated meals, don't bring one. I enjoy bacon and eggs cooked over the fire for breakfast, we will always have a cooler. No different than any other gear, get the right gear and it works fine. I don't go up there to see if I can live on nuts, I know I can. I go up there because I enjoy it, and I enjoy a good fresh breakfast in the bw even more. We also bring nuts." Nothing beats bacon and eggs over a campfire in the morning. Totally worth a small cooler for that comfort alone. :) I'm tempted to grab this... Cordova - Traveler Day Pack Cooler ...just for packing a few packs of bacon and eggs alone. |
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WonderMonkey |
I have never taken a cooler on a trip that I have to portage on. |
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HayRiverDrifter |
AirPrex: "For all those coming up with solutions to bring bacon precooked or in a cooler, you can also just buy old fashioned dry cured bacon which is shelf stable for 3 months. A little saltier than the bacon you're likely used to but is very tasty. We buy whole slabs from Broadbent so we can cut to various thicknesses for different uses and then just vacuum seal each portion separately. 1/2 inch thick cut bacon steaks cooked over an open fire for breakfast is always something to look forward to, thin strips wrapped around some breaded walleye chunks later in the trip, cubes to render and put into things like Ramen to add some fat and richness. There's a lot of ways it can be used." 1/2 " bacon wrapped in bacon fried in bacon grease is the best. |
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AirPrex |
HayRiverDrifter: "1/2 " bacon wrapped in bacon fried in bacon grease is the best." Can’t argue with that |
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billconner |
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HayRiverDrifter |
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plander |
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cmanimal |
As fare as do I take a cooler? Typically, No. My summer tripping style is take less, explore further. It not to the level of a thru hike on the AT, but closeish. In late fall my trips are shorter. and with less daylight there is inherently more time in camp, so an insulate lunch bag usually make the trip, and sometime something as large as a soft side 6 pack cooler may join us. At that time of the year there is a 50/50 chance that it is keeping the items cold, or preventing them from freezing solid. |
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AirPrex |
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schweady |
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lindylair |
It was very nice to have fresh food for a couple dinners and breakfasts as well as a few cold beverages and yes...some delightful IPA's for evening campfire chats. May not ever do it again but for this trip it worked great. In the photo you can see the cooler in the Duluth pack at the bottom left of the picnic table. |
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BigDadE |
Hammertime: "I haven’t brought a cooler because we don’t do elaborate meals. If we’re spending significant time cooking/prepping it’s for a fish fry. Seems like a personal preference. We always bring multiple coolers. Smaller ones, however we single portage and basecamp as several paddlers are 65+. I just purchased and Otterbox venture cooler. It’s bear resistant. If you’re not doing multiple portages and want some variety in meals it’s a no brainer. If we were tripping and doing multiple portages we likely think differently and only take some kind of backpack cooler that’s easier to portage. Also, the growlers would need to be plastic as bottles and cans aren’t allowed…the rangers we our a lot more last year than we’ve ever seen. |
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tumblehome |
AirPrex: "For all those coming up with solutions to bring bacon precooked or in a cooler, you can also just buy old fashioned dry cured bacon which is shelf stable for 3 months. A little saltier than the bacon you're likely used to but is very tasty. We buy whole slabs from Broadbent." Well there you have it. A web site with nothing but bacon. I will add this to my favorites!! |
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mgraber |
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OCDave |
I don't carry a cooler but, I do like to eat well when camping. I find meal planning without refridgeration to be an enjoyable challange and perhaps one of the most rewarding aspects of backcountry camping. I do carry a Helinox camping chair. There is likely some guy that thinks "Real camping" requires sitting only on logs or rocks. Do what makes ya happy. It would be best to avoid inviting criticism of your camping style if it is going to diminish that happiness. |
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unshavenman |
Most folks here who bring fresh food will use an insulated food pack like the CCS Deluxe Food Pack. . It's designed specifically for portaging and fitting well in a canoe, and as the pack empties of food, other items can be added to the food pack to lessen the weight of the other portage packs. |
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Savage Voyageur |
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Inmyelement |
We used an RTIC backpack cooler. We were able to single portage without any difficulty. Age and health are on our side so this bit of extra weight really wasn't on issue. |
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scotttimm |
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Nigal |
Inmyelement: "In a different topic, someone inferred that those who take coolers are lesser campers as a result of taking a cooler. We just got back from our first trip with a cooler and will likely be bringing it on every trip in the future. We ate so much better than in the past. Are coolers common or too close to glamping? " I have taken a 12 pack cooler in that fit the food pack perfect. A few frozen water bottles and vac sealed the meat. Ate like KINGS! Was it heavier than freeze dried? Of course. Anyone who looks down their nose at you for carrying a cooler has never had piri piri south african bbq game hens on day five of a week long trip. |
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Nigal |
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Northwoodsman |
Nigal: "Inmyelement: "In a different topic, someone inferred that those who take coolers are lesser campers as a result of taking a cooler. We just got back from our first trip with a cooler and will likely be bringing it on every trip in the future. We ate so much better than in the past. Are coolers common or too close to glamping? " What did you do with the bones? |
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Nigal |
Northwoodsman: "Nigal: "Inmyelement: "In a different topic, someone inferred that those who take coolers are lesser campers as a result of taking a cooler. We just got back from our first trip with a cooler and will likely be bringing it on every trip in the future. We ate so much better than in the past. Are coolers common or too close to glamping? " Resealed in a double zip lock and packed out. Nothing gets burned or left behind. |
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PineKnot |
Inmyelement: "I'm not sensitive enough to get upset over anything on the internet. I just like seeing the different ways people do things. We all have to eat, and since I cannot catch a fish to save my life, eating what I catch is not an option. It's taken me a long time to realize how to catch fish in canoe country (let alone how to cook them). 40 years later, well kinda simple. Really comes down to being on a lake with good fishing. If you'd like, shoot me an email and I'll give you my number. I'd like to help you out with catching fish. Fresh fish in canoe country is fantastic. Btw, I like your attitude and ability to carry a cooler...used to do that, but then age had other ideas.... |
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Jaywalker |
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4keys |
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Stimpy |
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bwcadan |
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gopher2307 |
Will be doing the same for an EP 16 trip to agnes in September. |
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jewp |
gopher2307: "Yeti backpack cooler...not the version shown above, but the soft one actually sold as a backpack. Last September it held ice for 3-4 days. For a short travel distance, base camp trip, it is worth it. It immediately throws out the potential of single portaging, though. You just need to bring one more mule...I mean kid...to carry it. About 10yrs old is perfect. |
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sns |
Nigal: "Anyone who looks down their nose at you for carrying a cooler has never had piri piri south african bbq game hens on day five of a week long trip. " South African BBQ? I believe you mean Braai ! |
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arm2008 |
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treehorn |
As far as the old Coleman 2-handled hard-sided cooler we all grew up with...hard pass. |
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Nigal |
sns: "Nigal: "Anyone who looks down their nose at you for carrying a cooler has never had piri piri south african bbq game hens on day five of a week long trip. " Braai is a bbq method. The piri piri is the Portuguese sauce. Milk Street’s recipe is the best I’ve found. https://jalapenosandanchovies.com/2019/06/18/milk-streets-piri-piri-chicken/#wprm-recipe-container-1169 |
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sns |
But - that was a slow-moving family trip. Not going to do that for 2-man or solos where we are covering distance. |
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BearBurrito |
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Blatz |
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Inmyelement |
PineKnot: "If you'd like, shoot me an email and I'll give you my number. I'd like to help you with catching fish. Fresh fish in canoe country is fantastic. Btw, I like your attitude and ability to carry a cooler... used to do that, but then age had other ideas...." Thanks so much for the kind offer! My biggest issue currently is that we are limited to fishing from shore. I'm not quite brave enough to have two eight year olds fishing out of one canoe. Once we can upgrade to two canoes, I may take you up on that offer. |
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rdgbwca |
Inmyelement: "In a different topic, someone inferred that those who take coolers are lesser campers as a result of taking a cooler. " I think the forest service video does this too. They show someone bringing a hard sided cooler, hanging it in a tree and the contents falling out. Probably a good idea to show to people who don't know what they are in for. I haven't brought in a cooler, but bear proofing it would be my main concern. I could see bringing one on a basecamping trip. Probably something soft sided. |
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MuskyMike |
I've done the dehydrated food thing.... We prefer to eat well and an extra trip across portages is very much worth it to my friends and I. |
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cofit |
Half the time I think it's nuts, but then a bourbon on ice at the end of the day tends to make it all worthwhile. At least through about day 5. We basecamp sometimes but generally only have one layover day. I think the most nuts/most appreciated beverage might have been on Poohbah when the temperature was about 90. |
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shock |
you only have to carry a loaded cooler one-way , food will be gone for the trip out then stuff the cooler with tent ?> cargo bag ? other type items. one year i brought in a pint of milk and we had bearnaise smothered Lake Trout and it was freak'n fantastic !!! you want to talk about a kettle full of chunked up lake trout disappearing ;) (pic from home) |
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ppine |
In the West we run big rivers and lakes with few portages. Sometimes we line boats so a cooler is a pretty normal thing to have on a canoe trip. On raft trips and drift boat trips we bring large coolers with blocks of ice and have fresh food and beer for a week. |
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mmrocker13 |
But YOU DO YOU. If you want to carry it, and you're not bringing in prohibited items, why would you let other people's opinions determine whether you bring something. (And by opinions, i mean them thinking you are glamping) Don't let anyone yuck your yum, dude. ;-) |
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ppine |
Grilling steaks and drinking cold beer on a back packing trip is splendid, almost as good as steak and lobster at 9,800 feet in the Ruby Mountains of Nevada. We brought dry ice and made ice for the bourbon. Chef prepared meal was the best I have ever had. |