Camping Swanking - June 28 - July 3

[blueerica]

Well, that was already mentioned - so I knew that. My lunches won't require pots, pans, stoves, etc. I'm planning on making myself a sandwich to pack in a day bag if I'm hungry while out walking or hiking. Plus, I hope to be not at the campsite at lunch time.

I mean, we're really bringing up our own stoves to cook one meal instead of sharing?

Like I said, I'll deal - but it's a big turn-off (mostly because it seems wasteful in terms of money, time, space and energy).

[blueerica]

I'm thinking about this further. If there's another group out there that would like to split up tools of the cooking trade to be brought up, send me a PM so we can start dividing up what we'll bring.

[Disneyphile]

Originally Posted by blueerica

This implies each team will bring their own set of pots and pans, stoves, cooking utensils, am I right? That actually seems like we, as a group (all apx 20 of us), would be carrying 5x the equipment... Which seems super inefficient.

I mean, I can deal with it - but it seems weird that we can't share between teams. I'd be more than glad to buy propane to use someone else's camp stove, or have someone buy propane to use mine (well, I'd have to buy a camp stove, first). Or perhaps who ever has a stove brings it, who ever has pots and pans, bring them... Hmmm.

Um, one or two camp stoves for the entire 5 sites won't cut it. Besides the 5 group meals, we'll still have ourselves to cook for on other meals (especially those of us staying more than Friday night to Sunday), and it really sucks standing in line waiting for an available cooking surface.

Also, that means dragging equipment between campsites. Not that they're all like this, but our camp stove requires two people to carry, about 5 minutes to set-up / 10 to tear-down, and weighs about 60 pounds. It's designed to remain stationary for the duration of need. Needless to say, it's staying at our site, and I'm not willing to make our area the official camp kitchen.

Trust me on this - I've helped organize camping for a group of 100 people over 4 years.

[innerSpaceman]

Um, with all due respect to blueerica ... unless she's willing to pull the entire weight for our "team," everyone in camp is going to starve when it comes time for our meal.


I can't do anything but boil water, EH1812 professes just above to not being much of a cook, and am I just assuming from Alex's other posts that he's ready to subsist on Ritz Crackers?


I think our team needs to be reconstituted ... and all of us last picks at volleyball should be spread-around foisted on other teams.

[Not Afraid]

I think it pretty much works out that each "team" has veteran camper(s) on their team who come fully equipped.

[innerSpaceman]

Also ... with respect to the kitchen and equipment ... I don't see us as five separate campsites ... but rather a large group whose tent space must -- by National Park decree -- be spread out among five sites.

I'm sure we will have but one big social center, not three separately going campfires (one for smores, one for getting liquored up, and one for hot dog roasting only).

Similarly, I think we'd be best to pool our efforts and have one, vast Camp Kitchen Extraordinaire. Certainly, we need as many cook surfaces as possible ... but there's no reason they can't all be incorporated into one giant kitchen. Likewise, quadroupling up on pots, pans, spatulas, spoons, and every other such sundry of kitchen life does indeed seem a little wasteful and inefficient.

[Alex]

No, I'm more than happy to cook whatever I am asked to cook. And I can cook. You want fancy breakfast, I'll make fancy breakfast. You want gourmet dinner, I'll make gourmet dinner.

What will happen on the meals I am not cooking for everybody is that I will skip breakfast (even if we pick a breakfast meal and I cook it, I probably won't eat it) since I don't generally eat breakfast and I'll still end up making my own dinners (though when it for myself that generally involves little or no cooking).


At least for my camp I'll bring (and regardless of commitments will have in my car) four burners of Coleman camp stoves. Contribution of propane appreciated. I'll have the basic cooking supplies (a couple pots, cutting board, knife, etc.) if we decide anything additional is needed for what we want to prepare then I'll probably look to someone else to provide it or buy it since this is likely the only trip I'll need it. For example, I don't have a Dutch oven so if we want one we'll have to work it such that I don't have to buy one.

But when it comes to cooking for other people I am more than happy to do so.

[Not Afraid]

Well, I prefer to be self sufficient, but I camp enough so I can be without any problem. And, if you are planning a particular type of meal, there is no guarantee that the equipment you will need will actually be among the equipment that gets brought - hence thinking and providing what you will need the most obvious solution.

In addition, making breakfast or dinner for 20 people (plus coffee, hot water for dishes, etc) will take quite a few stoves to accomplish. Having each team being somewhat self sufficient will ensure we all have everything we need to accomplish delicious meals.

[Disneyphile]

Alex rocks.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Disneyphile

Alex rocks.

Yes, and when I teamed people up, I fingered Alex (and ISM) as the veteran campers on that team.

And, if anyone would like to employ another team on a consultant basis, please do so. I have already offered to assist the poor 3-person team.