My buddy swore by his 'no-cook' food plan for the John Muir Trail

He said packing only bars and cold-soaked meals would save weight and time. I tried it last summer on a five day section from Tuolumne Meadows. By day three, I was so sick of sweet, mushy food I would have traded my tent for a hot dinner. The weight saved wasn't worth the total lack of a real meal after hiking 15 miles. It made the trip feel like a chore, not a reward. Has anyone else tried a no-cook plan and actually enjoyed it for a full week?

3 comments

3 Comments

paul_taylor213d ago

Totally get where you're coming from, but my brain works the opposite way out there. I did the whole JMT last year with no stove and loved the simple routine. Grabbing a cold soaked ramen bomb or a peanut butter wrap while my friends were still fussing with their pots felt like freedom. The weight saving meant I could carry more snacks, like good cheese and salami that didn't need cooking. For me, a hot meal just isn't a big deal when I'm that tired, I'd rather be in my bag staring at the stars.

fiona_west213d ago

Funny how this whole hot meal debate shows up everywhere once you start looking for it. My buddy rebuilt his entire truck to be simpler, ripped out the AC and power windows, says it just feels better to drive that way. Meanwhile I'm over here adding heated seats to my winter beater because I hate being cold. Both ways get you down the road, just changes what kind of day you have while you're doing it. Guess some people are just wired to find peace in having less stuff to mess with.

rose_reed3d ago

Respect the no-stove life, man. My version of that is forgetting to pack a lighter half the time, so I end up with a cold soak dinner anyway. Once tried to start a fire with my glasses and the sun like a cartoon character, which tells you how well my trip planning goes. Your cheese and salami plan sounds way better than my sad, unheated beans.