Emergency Rations

[Son of a Beach]

Inspired by this post in another topic:

Got caught out once, a 3 day walk turned into a 7 day. One meal was Deb and Surprise peas and a bit of salt, was not the best meal I have eaten out bush. Didnt need the rationed toilet paper next day!

Always carry a some deb and spare noodles for emergencies

Roger

What extra food, and how much, do people take to cater for unexpected emergencies? I usually take some extra stove fuel, some rice and surprise peas only to be used in emergencies (I've never actually had to break in to my emergency rations yet).

Even for just an overnight walk, I'll take enough rice & veges for 1 decent sized (but very bland) meal, which I consider to be 1 day's worth of emergency rations (ie, I could survive on it quite well for one day). For a four to seven day walk, I'd probably take 2 days worth of emergency rations. For seven or more days walking, I'd probably take 3 days worth of emergency rations.

Note that these emergency rations are over and above planned meals which I also take for expected delays. Eg, when doing a walk that I expect to take 12 to 14 days, I planned for 15 days worth of proper meals, to allow for extra days waiting for weather to clear so that I can climb a mountain, or cross a river, or whatever. The emergency meals are for beyond that extra planned days, and heading into completely unplanned days.

How much food do you take, and what food do you take, to cater for emergencies? Have you ever had to use it?

[norts]

My best wait was the 3 days that turned into 7, waiting for the Gordon to go down. The walk was planned for 3 days and we had 4 days food.
My emergency food is the deb, noodles and usually 1 packet of 2 minute noodles.

Once we realised that we had to wait we started rationing the food. Usually when I am tent bound for a day (bad weather) I seem to eat more (boredom). On this occassion we realised we could be in for a long wait. They were long days in the tent. Hadn't brought any reading material or cards. Didnt want to walk to far as we didnt want to use up too much energy(food).

Roger

[Dave Bremers]

I'm a big fan of Ray Jardine's philosophy about ignoring the weight of food when it comes to total packweight. I apply it to emergency rations as well. So for a 21 day (max) hike I'm taking 24 days food. Its just something I can't skimp on. It really depends where your going; I won't take 3 days spare for an overnight walk, maybe just an extra meal. But the extra is ALWAYS proper food (not deb and peas). But hey, remember: if your pack feels too heavy you can always eat the extra rations!

[Liamy77]

there is a company (no connection to me other than that i have purchased and used their product) that supplies emergency rations - really light and easy to pack.
here is the link for 2 days worth of food... not big in the variety of tucker field but gets you through - especially as a supplement to other dishes you are carrying to pad out the delay.
http://www.survivalstorehouse.com/index ... &Itemid=46
all the best, Liam

[flatfoot]

there is a company (no connection to me other than that i have purchased and used their product) that supplies emergency rations - really light and easy to pack.
here is the link for 2 days worth of food... not big in the variety of tucker field but gets you through - especially as a supplement to other dishes you are carrying to pad out the delay.
http://www.survivalstorehouse.com/index ... &Itemid=46
all the best, Liam

Did you taste the product? What was it like? Hopefully it doesn't taste too good - otherwise you'd be tempted to eat the emergency rations when you don't really need to.

[north-north-west]

I just take 2 minute noodles (2 or 4 packs, depending on length of trip), a couple of extra CuppaSoups, and heaps of chocolate and nuts.
If that's not enough I figure I can always chew my fingernails . . .

[Liamy77]

Did you taste the product? What was it like? Hopefully it doesn't taste too good - otherwise you'd be tempted to eat the emergency rations when you don't really need to.

not yet no.... the "food" [brick / block?] doesn't look particularly appetising but i'll have to try it out and get back to you... got a walk comming up in a few weeks or so... be walking sooner if it wasn't for damn work & bills...
a pack of stock cubes comes in handy too i reckon...and jerky.... and chocky..
startin to get hungry now!

[frank_in_oz]

there is a company (no connection to me other than that i have purchased and used their product) that supplies emergency rations - really light and easy to pack.
here is the link for 2 days worth of food... not big in the variety of tucker field but gets you through - especially as a supplement to other dishes you are carrying to pad out the delay.
http://www.survivalstorehouse.com/index ... &Itemid=46
all the best, Liam

Did you taste the product? What was it like? Hopefully it doesn't taste too good - otherwise you'd be tempted to eat the emergency rations when you don't really need to.

I have tried it (they were freebies and givewaways on our blog just to declare my interest)
They tasted like bit like shortbread. (but not the sort your Mum or Granny would have made) There is a VERY amaterish video I made here that shows me eating em... http://ourhikingblog.com.au/2010/04/sur ... -gear.html

[Liamy77]

beauty... now i dont have ta open the pack yet... looks/sounds better than i expected- i was expecting something like compressed gooey bland dates (although i like dates) - shortbread sounds much more appetising!

[Orion]

I walked with a guy who carried a 9 ounce box of condensed mincemeat as an emergency ration. He said he didn't believe in carrying something he actually liked because then he'd be tempted to eat it when he didn't really need it. I found out about this because we didn't have enough food and I was really hitting the wall, dragging and kind of wobbly for lack of blood glucose. When he took it out I looked at the list of ingredients on the box and it was mostly simple carbohydrates, a good source of quick energy. I ate half of it and it really made a huge difference that day.

But I tasted cloves for about a week after.

[Liamy77]

I walked with a guy who carried a 9 ounce box of condensed mincemeat as an emergency ration. He said he didn't believe in carrying something he actually liked because then he'd be tempted to eat it when he didn't really need it. I found out about this because we didn't have enough food and I was really hitting the wall, dragging and kind of wobbly for lack of blood glucose. When he took it out I looked at the list of ingredients on the box and it was mostly simple carbohydrates, a good source of quick energy. I ate half of it and it really made a huge difference that day.

But I tasted cloves for about a week after.

Just have to stand down-wind from everyone else?!

[Speculator]

I just take 2 minute noodles (2 or 4 packs, depending on length of trip), a couple of extra CuppaSoups, and heaps of chocolate and nuts.
If that's not enough I figure I can always chew my fingernails . . .

I was doing the noodles thing for a while, but when you look at how much energy is in the things, it's really not much (chocolate and nuts on the other hand...). Lately I've been packing extras of my 2000KJ friends as emergency food (and as lunch too sometimes). I think I've got the willpower not to mung on them when I don't need to.

L8r.

[pazzar]

I always seem to come out with way too much food, I guess I find that I dont eat as much when I'm out walking than I do at home. My extra stuff is usually soups and noodles, and I always keep a spare dehydrated meal (I wouldn't eat one of these as a planned meal anyway). Its amazing how long you can survive without food though, although its not the best when you have to keep on walking once your obstacle is cleared.

Maybe we need some of what that guy they did studies on in India who claimed he hadn't eaten for 70 years has. I'd like to see how he goes lugging a pack through the bush for a week!

[22F]

Dependant upon where I'm heading, how long and reasonable expectations on weather (like assuming it wil snow in Tasmania) I carry somewhere in the region of 1 or 2 normal days of extra rations for emerency use.
Under emergency conditions, that extra couple of days rations can be stretched to last awhile more.

The emergency rations tend to be very compact, lightweight but packed full of energy stuff.

[corvus]

I carry a couple of "Winners" Energy Bars cost around $2.00 each , weight total 110g = energy 1576.2 protein 8.8 ,I also tend to have a pkt of 2 min noodles JIC.
corvus

[ninjapuppet]

On this occassion we realised we could be in for a long wait. They were long days in the tent. Hadn't brought any reading material or cards. Didnt want to walk to far as we didnt want to use up too much energy(food).

Roger

This is where meditation may come in handy hey Norts? control the breathing, slow down the heart rate, empty the mind, and be one with nature

I dont know about waiting out for 4 days though!
Do you think it would have been possible to wrap up your packs to make them waterproof, and use them as bouancy aids to cross the river in this instance??

[Speculator]

On this occassion we realised we could be in for a long wait. They were long days in the tent. Hadn't brought any reading material or cards. Didnt want to walk to far as we didnt want to use up too much energy(food).

Roger

This is where meditation may come in handy hey Norts? control the breathing, slow down the heart rate, empty the mind, and be one with nature

I dont know about waiting out for 4 days though!
Do you think it would have been possible to wrap up your packs to make them waterproof, and use them as bouancy aids to cross the river in this instance??

4 days? Geez, I'd be eying off the PLB after 3 (setting it off, not trying to eat it)!

L8r.

[Lizzy]

I've been packing extras of my 2000KJ friends as emergency food (and as lunch too sometimes). I think I've got the willpower not to mung on them when I don't need to.

L8r.

They look good Speculator- do they sell them at the supermarket?

Cheers
Lizzy

[norts]

When we crossed the Gordon it was shin high, when we got back to the Gordon it was over head high.
Wasnt going to risk it floating across and also the water was running very fast. Also neither of us had alot of experience crossing flooded river.

Roger

[caveman]

I have always wanted to try and make some pemmican for use as an emergency ration. Has anyone else tried this?

[rowan]

When I can I make my own food bars from rolled oats, honey, powdered milk, dried fruit and nuts, egg, bit of water, spoon of flour. Roll into 'sausages', pop in the oven for 15 minutes and vacuum pack. They really fill you up and don't weigh much.

[corvus]

I have always wanted to try and make some pemmican for use as an emergency ration. Has anyone else tried this?

Do you men real pemmican or jerky ?

corvus

[johnw]

I have always wanted to try and make some pemmican for use as an emergency ration. Has anyone else tried this?

Do you men real pemmican or jerky ?

"Pemmican was among the supplies taken by the Burke and Wills expedition". This actually came up in a question on Millionaire Hotseat the other night and a comment was made that pemmican is a "type of jerky". If you do make some probably best to avoid whatever recipe Burke and Wills used.

[caveman]

I would like to try and make the real pemmican, as close as possible to its original indigenous form. Jerky made from lean meat is one of its ingredients, along with rendered fat and dried fruit.

When it is prepared properly pemmican can last for a very long time. Burke and Wills pemmican was not prepared properly and went bad before they could eat it. The ingredients are preserved separately before mixing together. If you have any fat in the jerky it will go rancid, likewise any meat left in the rendered fat and you are in trouble.

I reckon I would try jerky made from lean beef in a food dehydrator, beef fat from the supermarket and some dried blueberries.

[corvus]

Looks like an interesting project ,looking forward to your report on the outcome however I think jerky and biltong would taste better
corvus

[Liamy77]

not exactly low in fat though.... hope it tastes good!
i often pack some jerky and dehydrated soup along with some fruit straps and a condensed milk tube

Did you taste the product? What was it like? Hopefully it doesn't taste too good - otherwise you'd be tempted to eat the emergency rations when you don't really need to.

also i have tried the rations mentioned earlier now... and they are nice - kinda like a sugary shortbread ... with my sweet tooth they are a bit too tasty and tempting though (hard not to raid it).

[caveman]

Here is an interesting multi-use item which is described as a "survival food"

not exactly low in fat though.... hope it tastes good!

.

This thing is 100% fat, and its a candle too!

The sellers opinion of the item:

I've had a nibble or two from one of these candles. They aren't as bad as you might think - in saying that - I hope to never do it again - I would much prefer them as a light source - ONLY!!

Mmmmm, my stomach is rumbling now.....

[Liamy77]

what about a drop of the hard stuff for flavouring? maybe a little hazelnut liquer or something...- might even aid the burning too _if you wanna rationalise adding booze to the diet.

[Rocket]

Hey Caveman,
How did the Pemmican experiment go?
Cheers Rod