Poll: Would you rather do group meals or cook your own?

[jdeerfoot]

Always preferred group meals since I cook almost nothing. My lifelong tradeoff has been I always do all post meal cleanup. It has worked for me living off-base in the military, while a college student, at home with the wife of 50+ years and on all of my canoe trips. Almost no one would want to eat as I do on solos - off the shelf heat/serve meals with maybe some added chicken/meat etc. And I have found I don't even need to heat some meals, just open and consume.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

I don't like to cook, don't want to cook, and hence don't cook. For anyone. Including myself. At home or in camp.

At home, I eat cold or microwave. In camp, I just boil water or open the wrapper of a low-carb bar. Also, I'm often on a specialized diet of my own creation. Group meal planning, cooking and cleanup are for the birds—at least for this bird.

Even when on a group trip, I've always made it clear that I'm solo for all meals. Usually, no one cares.

None of the above prevents me from sitting at the same table or around the same campfire as the food groupies.

 

[eckilson]

My lifelong tradeoff has been I always do all post meal cleanup.

Don't worry @jdeerfoot, if you ever make it to the northeast and come on a trip with us we won't expect you to always do the dishes. Everyone gets their turn. No doubt about it, group meals can be a lot of work, but there are lots of ways for people to do their part.

First there is the cost - not that it is more expensive than doing your own, but the cost does have to get allocated out.

Then you have to get it there and keep it safely stored. Less of an issue if you are using dehydrated, but most of the trips that we do are less than a week (no portages), so we bring coolers. And you need animal safe storage (barrels) for the non refrigerated stuff.

Then you need all the cooking gear - pots, pans utensils. Between the coolers, barrels and wannigan box, you are taking up a lot of space in the boats. When you set up and take it down camp all that stuff needs to get lugged around.

Then you need to cook it. Not a big deal on stove, but we tend to cook on the fire, which means gathering a lot more fire wood.

And of course you need to clean up after. Someone needs to do the dishes, and there is a lot more trash to deal with. Some if it can be burned, but a lot of it needs to be lugged out.

I guess I have made a pretty good case for just boiling water, but working together as a group is part of the fun and satisfaction of the trip. To me, every meal tastes better when it is cooled like this.

https://flic.kr/p/2qDeosi

Even when on a group trip, I've always made it clear that I'm solo for all meals. Usually, no one cares.

None of the above prevents me from sitting at the same table or around the same campfire as the food groupies.

@Glenn MacGrady - you would also be very welcome on our trips. We have had some folks come along and do their own thing, but to be honest, they usually don't repeat. It is just a different pace and tempo if you are cooking like this. The paddling days are shorter, and everything in camp takes longer. Eventually, they just get sick of waiting around - especially in the morning as we are packing up camp and getting on the river. It can become a source of friction. Best if everyone is on the same page. Works both ways. I've been on trips with folks who are less interesting in cooking, more interested in paddling and do their own thing, so that's what I do.

 

[Paddlinhal]

I'm ready. I usually do what the person who planned the trip wants to do.

 

[tketcham]

We have had some folks come along and do their own thing, but to be honest, they usually don't repeat. It is just a different pace and tempo if you are cooking like this. The paddling days are shorter, and everything in camp takes longer. Eventually, they just get sick of waiting around - especially in the morning as we are packing up camp and getting on the river. It can become a source of friction. Best if everyone is on the same page.

I've done trips with both types of paddlers and although I prefer the groups that cook solo, I can deal with shared group cooking if that's what they want to do. I do stress over my meal responsibilities (which is why I don't like it) but then enjoy the rest of the meals on the trip. And I've been accepted by group-cooking paddlers if I want to cook solo, though they think I'm a bit nuts for eating cold soup out of a can or eating freeze dried while they dine on meals that could be served in a three-star restaurant. I don't mind hanging out with them as they cook and eat, especially if there's a cocktail hour vibe going on. Or, I'll read a book, sit and observe wildlife, do some fishing, or just go paddling by myself. And there were times when a couple of them quietly mentioned to me that they're kind of envious of my camping style.

 

[jdeerfoot]

eckilson - great photo!