Hot Chocolate in the hammock when it's cold. Then eat and hit the road.
Hot Chocolate in the hammock when it's cold. Then eat and hit the road.
My somewhat new (1 year now) process is pretty efficient, whether in a hurry or just relaxing.
1. Heat 8oz water (Toaks 600 pot + BRS3000 stove) - literally 2 minutes or less from screwing on stove to pouring
2. Pour instant coffee into empty double-walled mug
3. Pour hot water over that from a decent height (to eliminate need to stir)
4. Cover with lid. It keeps the coffee hot so I can take my time; I don't like cold or ever luke warm coffee.
Most of the time it's breakfast, break camp and go. However, there are times when a more leisurely start to the day happens and most often, that is not planned.
I love my coffee. Even if i'm not cooking anything I'll heat water up for coffee. While the water is heating, I can start packing. Once it's done I mix it in my insulated mug (GSI Infinity) and it stays hot while i finish packing and eat whatever it is I'm eating, always standing my for a sip. By the time i'm ready to go, if I have any left it's cooled down enough for me to chug it, pack the mug and hit the trail.
Coffee is the ONE THING keeping me from going stoveless.
Variety is the spice of life, so just depends on the trip itinerary. Some days/trips are get up and go, others are relax for a bit. However, i'm always going to boil water for coffee. most mornings I don't do a hot breakfast, but usually have one morning I will throughout a multi day trip when i'm needing a pick me up.
Get up and go where?
Unless I'm hiking a trail and NEED to be somewhere by a certain time, I don't go anywhere because I'm already where I'm going.
I've spent 35 years being in a hurry, stressed out by work, driving in heavy traffic, meeting deadlines, etc.
I get up when I'm good and ready and do whatever I want to do. I generally bushwack into a cool spot and just enjoy it for a few days, no real trail time for me, been there done that!
I can't tell you how many days I've wasted hurriedly hiking trails instead of actually enjoying the wilderness on my own terms.
I enjoy real meals, fresh coffee, fishing, exploring, swimming, navigation, tree & plant identification, photography, etc. and none of that requires I eat cold food, drink cold coffee, or get into a rush just to spend all day hiking trails and missing out on all the things I could be doing instead.
I get a lot out of my day, it's just that I don't go out there only to do trail miles, to me spending my whole weekend hiking is boring.
I like to go solo - off trail - immerse myself in the area - explore - eat really well - and make it back home.
Both - I get up early enough to chill and relax, enjoy the first birds chirping of the day, the lightening of the eastern sky, the fading stars, and leisurely get ready to go. I have coffee and breakfast (via headlamp 'cuz I woke up early). Then if I have somewhere to go, I go. And it's a great morning and day, always
Interestingly, I generally do hike all day and still do very easily manage to enjoy coffee, exploring, swimming, navigation, tree & plant identification, photography, etc... and none of that requires that I spend all day not hiking trails.
u.w.
Hmm.....I think that was exactly my point, maybe I could have worded things better!
Some backpackers, including me in times past, make these things mutually exclusive by spending all their energy hiking from point A to point B at the expense of all other activities.
Not saying there is anything wrong with that, just that it's no longer my cup of tea.
With respect to photography, it may take me the better part of a day with a tripod and camera to get a particular shot I want. I may need to take multiple shots as the light angle changes, or to wait on a particular animal to show up at a pond, etc.
I can't hike and do that at the same time.
With respect to navigation, you can learn navigation while hiking trails, but to actually practise it the way I like to, I need to be well off trail.
Sometimes I spend all day off trail navigating, sometimes I spend all day pounding out trail miles, and sometimes I stay put in an area so I can fish, or set up time consuming camera shots.
The greatest part I enjoy about being out there is that I see no right or wrong way to do things.
I tend to go solo because I don't like being trapped by a group itenarary, or a death march mentality.
I have days where I just lay around all day and enjoy my time in the wilderness, I have learnt a lot just by watching and listening, instead of spending all day staring at the ground or the hiker in front of me.
I like to go solo - off trail - immerse myself in the area - explore - eat really well - and make it back home.
Bookmarks