The Gas Station MRE challenge

[magentus]

Tea was tasty, but too much to eat altogether.

The Mexican rice was good and spicy, and the cous cous was also delicious, but both would have benefitted from a knob (hehe) of butter.

The hot chocolate tasted much better than it looked and the Tunnocks were, as usual, the icing on the cake.

All in all a successful day, and I'd like to thank Nix for suggesting it and organising the challenge, and everyone else for joining in. Cheers all 

[AlephZero]

The Shrade Navitool?  I always wondered how that  one would be doing on a hike?   

I got one a few years ago, it's very interesting one for sure 

Much Ado About Navitool

[GearedForwards]

Well done to all you GSMREers  Been following this along for a while but things didn't line up to take part this time. Great seeing all the variety you all packed in to your own selections! Gotta say though Comis the instant noodle envy is real and Borg the scenery is top notch 

If you're still eating then enjoy! If you've finished then I hope you packed ample TP in your accessory pouches 

Damn! Are they like fortified milk drinks then?

They're basically just milkshakes, though considerably better chilled than at room temp, you can get them in a  variety of flavours (vanilla, banana, choc, strawberry) as well as a more protein enhanced version. Most supermarkets sell them and the local co-op has them on sale pretty regularly 

[Alan K.]

Chow Day 13:40
Lunch time! I don't usually have much of an appetite, but today, with limited resources, I'm hungry.  So, how do you make two boring foods interesting?  You mix them together.  I cooked the instant ramen noodle soup. Boiled it up on the camp stove, then I poured the broth into my cup to enjoy by itself while I put the noodles into a bowl.  I then opened the can of anchovies and added them oil and all to the bowl of noodles.  It was actually very good.  I mean good enough to remember it for future use.  As you can see, these are not the dry, shriveled, salted anchovies that go on a pizza or Ceaser salad.  Nobody likes those.  These are large and moist pieces similar to canned herring or sardines but I think these are better than sardines and about on par with herring.  The ramen noodles were your basic 5 for a dollar ramens.  160 calories, 19g protein for the anchovies and 380 empty calories for the ramen.  Also I've just about had my entire daily allotment of sodium from this "lite lunch."

[McStitchy]

I got one a few years ago, it's very interesting one for sure 

Much Ado About Navitool

Fun read, thanks Aleph 

[McStitchy]

Well done to all you GSMREers  Been following this along for a while but things didn't line up to take part this time. Great seeing all the variety you all packed in to your own selections! Gotta say though Comis the instant noodle envy is real and Borg the scenery is top notch 

If you're still eating then enjoy! If you've finished then I hope you packed ample TP in your accessory pouches 

 

[Borg]

Excellent landscape and lunching Borgy 

 

Well done to all you GSMREers  Been following this along for a while but things didn't line up to take part this time. Great seeing all the variety you all packed in to your own selections! Gotta say though Comis the instant noodle envy is real and Borg the scenery is top notch 

If you're still eating then enjoy! If you've finished then I hope you packed ample TP in your accessory pouches 

They're basically just milkshakes, though considerably better chilled than at room temp, you can get them in a  variety of flavours (vanilla, banana, choc, strawberry) as well as a more protein enhanced version. Most supermarkets sell them and the local co-op has them on sale pretty regularly 

The noodles comis posted look far nicer than anything we get here 

Dinner, Tuna salad, nice and light which is just as well as i wasn't that hungry, i still have some nut biscuit things i can nibble on but i probably wont be eating the other tin of tuna i have or the crackers



And supper 



Thanks Nix, this was fun, at the start i thought i didn't have enough but now i see it was slightly too much, for day 1 anyway, if more days i would probably need more per day but for a lazy saturday it was just about right 

[Adam5]

3:00
Snack time



The waffle and M&Ms were delicious. The cashews were no better to me than they were this morning.

[Sos24]

Chow Day 1215
Time for the protein shake.  This one isn’t as healthy as some with some with 7g of fat, 32g of carbs, 250 cal and 16g of protein.  But it does taste good even room temperature and I can get it at a few places near me including the closest grocery. 

It is pictured on a coozy that I made for freeze dried meals.  It helps keep them hotter while rehydrating.

[Sos24]

In the name of the GSMRE team I want to thank you for testing the Sumnit Bragfast Scramble for us Sir

:Agree: I’ve considered purchasing scrambles before for hurricane stores, but have heard similar reviews.  I’ve heard some of the “skillet” breakfasts are better, but require actual cooking up in pan.  Depending on why doing it, might just prefer making on.

[Sos24]

12:00
LUNCH

(Image removed from quote.)

Tuna salad kit, consisting of tuna, a packet of sweet pickle relish, anda packet of reduced calorie mayonnaise (top mixture) with crackers plus Texas Pete

Salmon salad, consisting of salmon and a packet of mayonnaise obtained from a fast food restaurant (bottom mixture) and Ritz crackers plus Texas Pete

Peaches
Peanut Butter M&Ms (not shown)
Drink mix

To my surprise, the tuna salad was better than the salmon salad despite my enormous preference for the mayonnaise used with the salmon. The bit of pickle relish really helped.

Discovered one major oversight with my GSMRE. While I did pack napkins, plastic baggie, and a spoon, I forgot about a fork or even a spork. How do I eat my peaches?
 
Had improvise with my Core:

(Image removed from quote.)

Not a big salmon eater, but the rest sounds pretty tasty.

[Sos24]

Your wisdom is showing.....   

( But I do like the Ti Sporky bit. )

The “right hand eaters” statement concerns me a little being Left-handed.  Between my Snow Peak, GoBites Uno, and FRED*; I’m pretty good with sporks.  Although the GoBites Duo also has my interest.

Isn’t 3 sporks a badge or something.  This might be a good time to capture and request it.

[Sos24]

Chow Day 1515 (3:15pm)

I know for many this is lunch time, but for me it more breakfast, so time for some coffee and oatmeal.

Picture while water still heating.  The small circular container had some brown sugar and cinnamon.


Still had plenty of both left over after getting my full.

[McStitchy]

Chow day - supper


@Jack:  The rye bread was fresh like just opened   

I currently have the 100g  Cranberry Nuts mix and half of the Veggy Jerky left. It's half past 10pm now 

[McStitchy]

Chow Day 1515 (3:15pm)

I know for many this is lunch time, but for me it more breakfast, so time for some coffee and oatmeal.

Picture while water still heating.  The small circular container had some brown sugar and cinnamon.
(Image removed from quote.)

Still had plenty of both left over after getting my full.

That's my type of breakfast 

[Nix]

Isn’t 3 sporks a badge or something.  This might be a good time to capture and request it.

   Yes!

[Nix]

And here is lunch, boil the noodles for 5 minutes then drain and add the Ginger, shallots, sauce and little black seed things and stir fry for a couple of minutes

   Impressive outdoor cookery, Borg!   

[Nix]

It was actually very good.  I mean good enough to remember it for future use. 

I bet it was good!

( might have been better with Tabasco, of course....  )

[Barry Rowland]

Late posting because I was out at a Boy Scout function all day.  Pics to follow.

[Nix]

The rye bread was fresh like just opened   

Excellent. I found something very similar in a local market. Might have to give it a try.   

[Adam5]

6:00
Dinner



I will admit that I was not looking forward to this meal, particularly the sausage. I ate them quite often when I was younger, and I bought them with that memory in mind. What I forgot was that the last few times I did eat them, indigestion followed. May I be spared this time.

Every thing was okay (not great). It did take some effort to get the first sausage out of the can, and I did leave 3 uneaten.

I will post my thoughts on the challenge a little later when I have more time.

[Nix]

Chow Day (Later on.....until Lunch ):


Packed up my GSMRE, alcohol stove (with refilled bottle of fuel ), a couple liters of water, and a few of the usual day hike items and headed out into the hills.





A warm day, but the climb up was really lovely. After recent snows and rains, the wild flowers are popping out everywhere.





While the walk was really enjoyable, by lunch time I was hot, a bit dehydrated, and had no appetite. Maybe that Summit Scramble was doing its job....

Found a nice shady spot and broke out the Lunch module.



Clockwise from top left:

• Gatorade mix
• Sweetened condensed milk and tea
• Green olives with chili and thyme
• Spam ( an military ration classic! )
• Jalapeño Cashews ( I've had Jalapeño cashews in actual MREs, I suspect these are the exact ones. )

Well.... I was hot and a bit tired. No real appetite. This happens to me when I'm active in the heat. The only thing that really appealed was the Gatorade.




That really hit the spot ( The packet was meant for 20oz of water, so after sipping some, I added more fresh water to dilute to a better strength. ). But still no appetite. I sort of forced myself to eat those neon orange crackers. ( Surely thermonuclear orange additive is good for stamina? ) The crackers were....well, I'm sure you've had them....the taste pretty OK out in the woods.

I was contemplating moving on, but I thought I'd try the olives. Once opened, they looked really good!





The Gerber spork worked well in scooping the olives up, but also in spearing individual olives with the tines. It is a good spork....for righties...given the asymmetrical design.





A brief rest and a chance to enjoy the view from the lunch room:





Then it was time to head back home. I popped one of the Jolt caffeine gums into my gob as I motored home. Minty, but bitter. Still, I had not had my tea at lunch and thought the caffeine might do a little good. Chewing the gum kept my mouth moist as I made my way back down the trail. I guess I got used to the bitter quality and just kept idly chewing it.

[Nix]

I will post my thoughts on the challenge a little later when I have more time.

Hope this turned out OK..... 

( and didn't I say 'Tabasco'!    )

[Sos24]

Chow Day 1820 (6:20pm)
Back from walking Fisher, checked on part of my freeze dried meal.  I took what I thought was about one serving of the beef stroganoff and put it in a solar bag with water then put out in the sun around noon. The bags came in a 3 pack but I never tried them.  Today seem like an appropriate time.  The bag is a stand up heavy weight zip bag that is clear on one side and black on the other.  The inside of the black side is silver.  It is essentially cold soaking a freeze dried meal but with the sun providing some heat so it is not completely cold.

It looks like it is coming along pretty good, although I think I must have misjudged the amount of food and water when splitting the original bag because it looks a little runny.  I’ll probably give it a shot shortly.

I also decided to flavor up my water some with some water flavoring.  I made sure to pack an assortment and decided to go with the Stur Hydration+ Lemon Lime.

[Barry Rowland]

In honor of cbl51 and for just pure fun, I broke out the original pocket rocket, an Optimus 8 stove.  This Swedish wonder will burn any fuel and sounds like a JATO bottle while doing its job. 

Like any old soldier, my day began with the essentials, namely hot coffee. 

[McStitchy]

Chow day - supper
(Image removed from quote.)

@Jack:  The rye bread was fresh like just opened   

I currently have the 100g  Cranberry Nuts mix and half of the Veggy Jerky left. It's half past 10pm now 

Chow day - results
The day is over here now and I didn't touch the remaining Jerky or nut mix.
So some 573kcal are left from initial 2700kcal.

I've then consumed 2427kcal over the day 

The Herring Fillets in Tomato Sauce on Rye bread really stuffed me up in a good way!

[Barry Rowland]

For lunch I had a Cliff bar.  We were on the move, and I find that I actually eat less when I'm hiking.  I think a lot of my eating back in the domestic area of ops is boredom eating

[Barry Rowland]

For a mid afternoon snack, another Cliff bar.

[Nix]

We were on the move, and I find that I actually eat less when I'm hiking.  I think a lot of my eating back in the domestic area of ops is boredom eating

 

[Nix]

Chow day - results
The day is over here now and I didn't touch the remaining Jerky or nut mix.
So some 573kcal are left from initial 2700kcal.

I've then consumed 2427kcal over the day 

The Herring Fillets in Tomato Sauce on Rye bread really stuffed me up in a good way!

Excellent job, McStitchy! 

I fear I am falling short of my 2400 Kcal goal.......