Camping for a month

[dcpac]

Hello,
I am having my dredge and fuel brought into a remote claim by helicopter. I can’t afford to have anything more helicoptered in so everything else will have to be packed in 5 miles through rough country. My permit is for 1 month; I am taking leave and plan on camping on the claim for the month coming out on weekends to resupply. I am looking for ideas about types of food and storage for the food. I am going to start packing stuff in a couple of months before I can start dredging and don’t want a bear or other critters to get my stash. I have all the necessary camping gear but have never had to plan for this long of a remote camping trip. Thanks in advance for any ideas.

[Geo-George]

First, I hope you are taking a partner.

[dcpac]

I will have someone out there with me most of the time . Being on shore duty in the Navy and having a lot of days on the books has enabled me to take 30 days off. None of my mining partners can aford to take that much time off

[russau]

since its 5 miles in, id bring dried foods(weight,ease of storage) that you just add water and heat. how clean is your water supply? id bring some tablets to fight off bugs in the water.plus id bring a long rope and container to raise the food up high in the trees so the animals wont get to them,and keep it away from your tent! sounds like a adventure! take some pictures and post them so we can "share the adventure"!

[ROKONRANDY1]

If you can a barrel with a lock ring, Bear prof, are you going into a place were there is heavy gold? . Rokonrandy

[ROKONRANDY1]

evaperator too cool food stocks. drip tubing and gunny sack. OKY ice box. Rokonrandy

[tcfifer]

Concentrate on basics:

Protection...from eliments and critters. Make sure your caliber is appopriate for your environment. A 357 will just piss off a bear...not a good thing to do.
Water supply; how to purify it and contain it
Food supply; what to take and how to store it and heat it
Fire making; for warmth, determent as well as cooking
First aid; plan for a broken leg as much as a hang nail
Ease of transport; usually meaning size and weight
Communications; transport and/or emergency

Don't scrimp on any basic necessities. As soon as you think you won't need something, you will. Plan for the worst and hope for the best.

Go to a backpacking store and talk to an expert who can guide you on what best to take for a month that you can pack in easily. MRE's keep, and not all need heating. Pre-made first aid kits that fit in a pack, hand held water PURIFIER can do hunderds of gallons right from the local water supply. Water and wind proof matches. Don't rely on lighters in the middle of nowhere. Etc., etc. etc.

I'd also buy a comprehensive survival guide and bone up on it prior to leaving so you'll have a decent idea of how to live off the land in case the worst should happen.

Be prepared to spend money. Good supplies are seldom inexpensive.

TC

[DJR]

check this out, this is freeze dried food may save you a trip back and forth.
http://www.costco.com/Common/Category.aspx?ec=BC-EC39718-Cat75277&pos=0&whse=BC&topnav=&cat=90741&eCat=BC|3605|75277|90741&lang=en-US

[Joe S (AK)]

Well, for starters - will you have a good wood supply where you will be? If so, boil your water. In addition, there is always this - lifted from a public source:

Treating running clear water with Liquid Chlorine Bleach - 30 minutes "Pickling Time"

1 quart/1 liter ................... 3 drops
1/2 gallon/2 quarts/2 liters ... 5 drops
1 gallon / 4 liters ............... 1/8 teaspoon
5 gallons / 20 liters ............ 1/2 teaspoon
10 gallons / 40 liters .......... 1 teaspoon

Next - food. There is a surprising amount of dried or non refrigerated food that can be found at the supermarket. Rice, Beans, Spaghetti (there is also dried spaghetti sauce, too), dried biscuit mix (Bisquick), Drink Mix (Crystal Light), Coffee, Tea, Pancake Mix, Hamburger Helper, Beef Jerky - just go to the supermarket and stock up. For meat, consider some canned meat that doesn't need refrigeration. SOS is a real treat when you're hungry. Bacon lasts a long time - but it draws "Midnight Visitors".

Bread and rolls "go south" in a few days. Bisquick works very well to "finish strong" in the bread department. Eggs last for a Long Time at room temperature if they're not cracked. Dried Milk for cooking, Fresh milk is out, but ultra pasturized would work if unsweetened condensed milk won't.

Whenever practical use water instead of milk for mixes. Dried spices like Onion, Garlic, Pepper, Salt, Oregano etc weigh nothing and add variety.

LED flashlights last forever. A .357 Mag has a higher PSI rating than other Mags - contrary to what you might have heard - which makes it a superior weapon compared to most other hand guns. A 12 Ga with rifled slugs makes big holes to let lots of critical body fluids out.

OH, remember that 30 days of leave = 6 weeks - use the other 2 weeks wisely!

Joe - 39 years, 3 mos USAF

[Sierra Sam]

dcpac
If you're going to town to resupply every week I'd eat "real" food, or at least get hold of some Expeditionary Warfare types and score some C Rations, K Rations or whatever they're calling them these days.
Don't forget the wine and Jack Daniels.
Beer works as good as water for brushing your teeth:)
Bagels work for bread and keeps better.
Frozen vegetables are good if you can keep em that way till you use them. They are usually light due to flash freezing.
I live quite well on chili salads. That's a bed of veggies (fresh or frozen) with a can of hot chili thrown on top. A slice of cheddar cheeze is a nice addition.
Two guys can carry a lot of food.
Is my tax dollar paying for he chopper delivery?