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Cynthia Fish

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Atacama Crossing (2016) blog posts from Cynthia Fish

08 August 2016 01:00 am (GMT+08:00) Beijing, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Urumqi

Comments: Total (6) comments

Mathieu Deliens

Posted On: 12 Sep 2016 09:50 am

For the pouches, my experience which worked well is the following: I keep only one Expedition food pouch that I will use for all meals. I don't have any bowl, I also use the same pouch to have my coffee/tea (yes, you may have a bit of mix of different taste, but that is weight and space optimization!). Then I get rid of all other pouches and reload all meals in Ziplock bags. It is lighter and take less space as the pouches are quite rigid.

Cynthia Fish

Posted On: 22 Aug 2016 12:48 am

The convenience of the freeze dried bags is worth the sometimes questionable taste of the freeze dried food contained within. So I would probably go with the pouches. They stand on their own, they close up nice and tight, and if you have a long spork, they are perfectly attainable, down to the last drop. You don't even have to open them. Once you get to San Pedro, stick a needle at the top of the bag, as close to the seal as you can, and then deflate. That way, you won't have any opening accidentally and risk the entire contents of your bag being covered in bolognese powder..... I did the cleaning out of the pouch and re-use it method in Namibia. It's quite popular. However, I was a little leery of how hygienic it all was... just sluicing hot, boiling water didn't fill me with a huge amount of confidence, considering the intense heat throughout the day. I didn't ace biology, but I do remember the whole "bugs like warm dark places to grow" section. I didn't get sick, I haven't heard of anyone else who uses this system getting sick, but it niggled my mind every once in a while. Currently, I do the noodles in a bowl system. The bowl is smooth and I clean it with hot water, and one of those little ez towels (add water and it explodes! Very light, small and useful for 'any' cleaning situation.) The bowl may still harbour dark warm loving bugs, but I feel better about it- which is about the best I can ask for.... Happy packing!

Kirk Baird

Posted On: 20 Aug 2016 12:45 am

Excellent read!!!! Great food tips!! Thank You!! One question: I'm torn between leaving meals in original pouches (opening and squeezing out air), reloading all meals into ziplock bags, cleaning and re-using a few foil pouches; or bringing a collapsible bowl. Do you open and condense all freeze dried meals in original pouches or dump into ziplock bags and only bring a few meal pouches to warm meals? Just trying to avoid intestinal issues. Any guidance would be much appreciated.

jacqi liddiard

Posted On: 14 Aug 2016 08:12 pm

This is such great info! Thank you so much for sharing. I'm super new to the multiday thing so this is priceless :)

Cynthia Fish

Posted On: 11 Aug 2016 12:08 am

Also a lime. Seriously! A lime on day three in the heat, sliced thin does not just stave off scurvy, but it also makes you feel like a human being! Civilized and rational and refreshed! The dust falls off and the air is fragrant with pleasant memories of afternoon breezes in shady terraces sipping the essence of perfection: the gin and tonic! A lime. Trust me. A lime.

Bruce Ferree

Posted On: 09 Aug 2016 07:53 pm

Thanks Cynthia, you provide a lot of insights and info to be digested (no pun intended!).