Packing food on the trail

[galaxy]

I am planning to take some friends on a winter hike to Mt Willard and am looking for ideas on what type of birthday cake to bring for a surprise at the summit. Is there anything that packs particularly well?

I've packed ice cream in on a few summer hikes, but I don't think this group would find the humor of it in January : )

Let me know your thoughts, thanks!

 

[Early Bird]

sara lee

I haven't packed these in winter but sara lee frozen cheesecakes pack well. In summer they defrost by the summit.
Aren't fruitcakes indesructable? Should be some of those on clearance this time of year.

 

[weatherman]

Chocolate cheesecake. Firm enough to not disintegrate, rich enough to not freeze solid, and chocolate always wins.
Or for a sort of non-cake idea, rice krispy bars/??cake made with peanut butter and chocolate.
There's enough calories for a 10-mile+ day in -10 F temps! That would be like 3 trips up Mt Willard.

 

[IQuest]

Cupcakes may survive longer than a whole cake but either sound pretty tasty trailside.

 

[Jay H]

I've packed ice cream in on a few summer hikes, but I don't think this group would find the humor of it in January : )

I would

Anything that will not freeze into a solid rock would work I would think. I have no experience with packing cake but like you, I have packed in a half gallon container of ice cream in May...

Jay

 

[erugs]

I've done small Whoopie Pies for such occasions, along with the kind of candles that won't be blown out but will re-light.

 

[peakbagger]

How about some sort of torte which has no water in it and uses fat for liquid. I have screwed up ghirardeli double chocolate brownie mix in the past by not adding water and it cooked up to a fairly firm consistency (basically its one step away from fudge), then have a small thermos of heated icing (or chocolate syrup) to pour over it on top?. It would not be finger food but I expect it would be appreciated by the crowd. Sort of like lava cake at a restaurant.

By the way, I expect this would be enough calories for a days worth of hiking in every serving.

 

[DougPaul]

I've packed ice cream in on a few summer hikes, but I don't think this group would find the humor of it in January : )

I've been on a winter trip where someone packed in some ice cream. We all had a bit and then "chased" it with a hot drink. Worked well for us!

BTW, the heat value of the calories in ice cream is greater than the heat required to melt it. You just have to survive the period between melting and metabolizing...

Doug