I will be traveling with a group of 5 or 6. Besides eating fish a couple days we will be eating dehydrated one pot meals with bannock or other drop breads. Breakfasts will be mostly oatmeal with dried fruits and nuts. Im thinking a large pot, one fry pan and a decent sized coffee kettle would be good enough. Im looking at a stowaway pot for the large pot probably MSR or GSI. I haven't had luck finding the right coffee pot yet, and need opinions on the right frying pans. What do you guys think? Any input will help.

Thanks

For a group that size, I would add one more quart sized pot and another fry pan. Size the second pot and fry pan slightly smaller than your first so you can nest them together. You'll spend alot of time cooking if you don't have 2 or 3 burners going. And it depends on how many sides you make with the fish. The fish takes the longest so it's nice to have two pans afrying.

If you had one of the big cast aluminum fry pans - like (some? my?) outfitters have, like the BWJ pan, that should do for 6 I think. With careful planning, you might get away with one big kettle - but make sure you have some bags or someting for leftovers so you can use ithe big pot for washing right away - but I'd sure like a second - and would probably use that for water to make coffee with.

what do you plan on doing in the way of stoves?i would not depend on fires with a crew that large that needs to be fed a couple hot meals a day.any stove needs to have heat control so it simmers or you will end up with burned oatmeal.one that will run full blast to boil water and one that adjusts would be just right.what sort of coffee? aluminum perk pots seem to be all over Ebay and i have seen them a Campmor.two big nesting pots and two frying pans for a group that big.i would buy something at a place like Goodwill or use a good size baking pan.they work great as they have high sides and some are non stick and being square the hold more fish than a round fry pan.pick them up with pot grips.

How far are you traveling, how many portages, and how many days? Last year I brought a group into Parent via Hog Creek (almost no portaging) and brought along my 14" cast iron fry pan with a 2 burner propane stove, some smaller fry pans, a couple of 2-3 quart pots, and a dutch oven. I felt like the Swedish Chef from the Muppets frying fish, cooking deserts, and flipping bannock. The only problem was that I planned on 2 meals of fish, and we ate six. A couple of emergency recipes of note were thinning my red lobster bannock enough to make a batter for frying, and foil baked walleye and perch smothered in fresh cilantro (leftovers from the fish tacos), Taco Bell Fire Sauce, onions, and KFC squeeze butter.

This year's big trip is going to be much more aggressive. The plan is just an MSR Dragonfly and a Jetboil with a light frying pan, jetboil cup, and a 10" aluminum dutch oven. It all depends on the circumstances...but I won't underestimate my need for lots of oil again, and we will never again substitute lard for oil and butter!

Depending on the group, a coffee percolator can be a huge morale saver. If I have more than 2 coffee drinkers on a trip, my 24 oz. percolator comes along. Otherwise it is instant coffee or singles.

I would suggest 2 sets of Trangia 25-5 or 25-6 http://trangia.se/english/5612.25_series_ul.html and gas burners.
With carefully use the nonstick lasts for more than 20 years. It works well in all weather conditions except below freezing point, (Below freezing point you need a better burner)

If you happened to be more than generally interested in the burners, you should look at other more complicated solutions, but this just does the job with a little need of maintenance year after year.

If you don't like nonstick a lot other solutions are there too.


dsk

I picked up the MSR alpine 4 set. I figure I can use the medium size pot for boiling water for coffee and forget the coffee kettle all together. Maybe thats not a good idea seeing as we all will probably drink coffee. I picked up a 19X11 inch non-stick aluminum griddle from goodwill for 6 bucks as well. It seems like a decent pick up but its kinda bulky, and I don't think I could put it on my little MSR pocket rocket( I have 2 pocket rockets Im bringing in). Our group is heading into Kekekabic lake from Seagull in mid May. We will be base camping and doing some serious trout fishing! Do you think I should still grab a percolator for coffee? And how about the griddle, should I bring it or grab a large fry pan like the BWJ one?

Thanks for the responses!

You can make a serviceable oven out of that pot set, just put the lids on upside down and fill with fire coals to make a lightweight impromptu Dutch oven. Corn bread anyone?

butthead

the large cast aluminum pans work best if you do not forget to season them before use. Boil oil at home for some 10 minutes at home. Drain and wipe clean as possible. I use some non-stick spray too. Never use soap or for me even boil water after cooking in these. Store and carry in large plastic bag.

When cooking pancakes, have each person do their own and eat while the next one is cooking. works well with 2 or 3.

I've seen many recommendations to season aluminum, I really is not necessary, Happy Camper Dutch Oven Dude I use an aluminum GSI (non anodized) along with cast iron, and wash the aluminum all the time (not the iron), without any trouble or off flavor.
As far as reducing food sticking, careful preheating an oiled aluminum pot/pan works wonders for me.

butthead

open country cook kit

I use this cook kit for 6, works well, nests. I put it in it's own bag to help keep items around it clean.

MN4..i would take a big perk if you can find one,Goodwill?,a big pot of coffee kept warm by the fire or set with the coals heaped around it will stay drinkable for a long time and a cup when you feel like it or back from fishing really is a treat.it the older camping books and magazines it's not hard to find a photo of a perk hanging from a dingle stick over a smoking fire.