Homemade cookies
Backpacking
Backpacking to Woodhall Spa
Saturday
Early in the day I had to share the path with a huge number and variety of snails.
Bardney Lock
Lunch
I found a quiet corner just off the path for a substantial lunch – in a cold wind and light drizzle. The poor weather did not continue, it brightened up by the time I reached Kirkstead Bridge.
Southrey public art
Water Rail Way
Sunday
Gone – Woodhall Spa Campsite
Sunday morning was sunny and bright. I had breakfast with fresh coffee by the lake. Packing away is easy when carrying all the gear, I do not have much with me so it does not take long to pack up.
Backpacking to Woodhall Spa Read More »
New cooking kit photo – new Alpkit gear
I have added some new Alpkit gear to my lightweight backpacking and camping cook set.
I have a busy weekend of paperwork for Octagon.
Alpkit gear
However I am going camping in Scotland for Easter – so I took some time off to sort my backpacking cooking kit and make a new annotated photo for the website.
The main changes this year are the new bits of Alpkit kit – a titanium mug with a lid and a titanium folding spoon. This is a bit of kit that when added to the micro sized Alpkit Kraku stove makes a real minimalist cook set.
Alpkit is a great UK company, producing great gear at a reasonable price – we should support them.
New cooking kit photo – new Alpkit gear Read More »
Water treatment methods and their effectiveness
Whilst browsing Pinterest this morning I found a excellent document published by the USA government organisation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about water treatment methods. This is a particularly useful, one page pdf description about the ways to treat water when wild camping and their effectiveness against various water borne pathogens.
Water treatment methods
a guide for individuals intending to use untreated or poorly treated water as a drinking source
Link to the CDC page – A Guide to Drinking Water Treatment and Sanitation for Backcountry & Travel Use.
More about water – Backpacking water, bottles and bladders
Water treatment methods and their effectiveness Read More »
Camp Coffee
How do I make camp coffee?
Camp coffee – I was asked last night, had I got a recommendation for a “camping gadget” for making fresh camp coffee when hiking or camping? I do have one, but my answer was unexpected. My friend was expecting me to recommend something from GSI or some other ultralight gear manufacturer. Instead I suggested a plastic tea strainer.
Here are some recent posts about camping coffee:
- Walking along the River Slea
- How to make camping coffee?
- Walking along the River Slea with lightweight gear
Here is a photo from a trip to Wales – fresh camp coffee whilst camping on the Welsh coast. I am dripping the coffee into some milk that I have already heated in my steel British Army Crusader mug.
The coffee filter
I use the tea strainer as a coffee filter. It is not as fine as commercial filters but it does a good job – but there will be a few grounds in the final brew.
It is very lightweight, simple to use and pack. It is also far cheaper than the commercial camp/backpacking coffee makers.
I chose a strainer with a plastic mesh because it is easier to pack, as it can be crushed, and it has a finer mesh than the metal models.
How I make camp coffee
I make my camp coffee in two ways:
Make in the pot method
I measure the grounds into cold water and then bring the mixture to almost the boil, stirring occasionally. I leave the coffee to stand for three or four minutes before gently pouring it into a mug through the strainer. I am careful not to stir up the grounds once they have settled. With this method I can make more than one serving of coffee and can make a stronger brew if I want.
Drip method
I pack the coffee into the strainer to cover the mesh and press it down firmly with the back of a spoon. I drip/slowly pour through, nearly boiling water. The strainer holds enough grounds to make one mug of coffee.
This method makes less washing up so is my favourite when wild camping.
Early morning coffee on the summit of The Old Man of Coniston – read the full story here.
My “coffee maker” is an essential part of my backpacking and camping cooking gear and I use it on most trips. I bought mine a few years ago and it cost 20p at the time. Asda and The Range sell suitable tea strainers, today, at about 50p. I’d recommend anyone to try one out before spending more money on a coffee gadget.
There are other coffee makers on the market!
Jeremy and I saw this portable coffee maker when we were in Truro last year. Click this link to read the blog post.
Fresh Coffee Update
To make packing easier I have cut the handle down on the tea strainer – see the story here.
Breakfast in bed – Scotland August 2016