What food do you carry as primary or back-up /emergency instant food that does not need heating? I mean straight out of the rucksack useful calories, when you need it immediately or to prevent a foreseable energy crash/problem later, potentially without water. There can be a variety of reasons why cooking is not possible and why this might be important. A bit of Kendal mint cake is not going to cut it.
I watched a very recent youtube vid by a fairly aware/experienced young lady. She needed to call out SAR on a failed solo hiking attempt on a scottish mountain route earlier this month. Very brave of her to lay it all out, vids as it happened, the emotional distress and aftermath problem after rescue. This was her third attempt at a route that others have done before.
It is easy to criticise, but she did this so that we could see a real event, and maybe learn from it for ourselves. Very brave and commendable.
With 20;20 hindsight I think one of the critical issues was that she ran out of energy and did not eat enough en route or at her emergency camp. This affected her ability, thinking and mood, and slowed her down, and ultimately her will to continue, with even her Plan B Return.
She said/felt that she did not have anything to eat that did not require heating. She had managed a hot drink but due to the conditions felt it not possible to do more.
In view of the un-forecast conditions, I think she was right about not using a stove. A lot more than a few energy bars was needed, although they would have helped. Presumably she only had dehydrated food or, was not thinking straight enough to recognise any other option.
It got me thinking, packable instant food of decent calorie value, not just sugar. that I might carry, and use anyway? In the end I made a substantial typewritten list, I broke it down into 3 categories; Dried foods, Processed food (e.g. cheese) and Pre-prepared commercial and homecooked. But then looking at it, found very little that I usually carry. I think I shall revise my menu planning accordingly!.
