Extreme Cold Fueling
So what do you eat when it's freezing outside and everything that has water in it is frozen? Ever try to bite into a rock solid Clif Bar or suck back a very solid goo... It is not fun. So I am facing this dilemma in regards to the Susitna 100. Libby and I also had a small issue with this in Zion as well. Our solution on the go, in the cold but not terribly freezing temperatures, was to rotate goos into our legging pockets after eating one so that it would have enough time to warm up by the time we had to take the next one. This may have been a good solution for us at the time but what happens when its -20 degrees out and you need fuel right now and everything is frozen!?
Dehydrated everything. You can't have anything that has water in it. People have recommended dried fish and dried beef jerky along with dried fruits and veggies. This however is a bit of an issue. I am a vegetarian and have been for a long time. Downing a packet of beef jerky in the middle of a 100 miler sounds like the last thing I want to do. As for dried fruits and veggies they will work, but I am looking for something with sugar, salt, and calories without having to eat a pound of dried cranberries. So I reached out to Skratch Labs hoping for answers to my problem. They suggested making my own goos they didn't give me an exact recipe but pointed me in the direction of a recipe and this is what I made up from a combination of a few recipes and just from my mind. So take it with a grain of salt (pun intended) and modify as you like!
Ingredients:
- 1 large egg
- 2.5 cups of raspberry Skratch powder
- .5 cup of water
- 1 cup of marmalade
- half a stick of salted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar
Gear:
- Large mixing bowl
- Large pot
- Spoon
- Optional: wax paper, edged pan, whisk
Cooking Directions:
- Combine Skratch mix, water, butter, and tartar in pot. Stir on medium heat until Skratch mix and butter is completely dissolved and then bring to a boil.
- Let boil for a few seconds and then add the marmalade and stir until it is completely dissolved and boiling.
- In the mixing bowl add the egg and beat for a few seconds.
- Slowly pour the syrup into the mixing bowl while still mixing.
- Beat with a spoon or whisk for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Place the bowl outside your van in the snow over night
OR
- Line a edged pan with wax paper and pour the mixture into the pan. Then place it in the freezer over night.
- In the morning the mixture should be a little harder but not stiff.
- Scoop the contents into a jar for storage and or plastic baggies for on the run and or wrap in Skratch paper tubes for on the go.