An Oldie But Still Goodie

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping.

I've been cleaning out my gear from the places I used to store everything, and I discovered what I think is my very first piece of equipment that might be called "Prepping gear".

PALCO Camp Set

Palco Set

 

 

I got this set sometime in the early 1960's for use on Boy Scout camping trips and used it well into the 80's while camping and hiking between Tahoe and Yosemite.. There was a plastic cup originally with the set, but it was lost (or more likely melted) somewhere. To replace it, I had a no joke, real-deal Sierra Club cup, purchased before they went completely 'off the rails'. The set nested well and took up very little space. The bottom portion with the handle served as a skillet and general purpose cooking pan while the pot with lid was for boiling water and cooking larger volume meals. 

The rich kids in the troop had the matching canteen from Palco, but that meant hanging a strap around your neck, while a surplus canteen would fit on a webbing belt and not swing around. 

Contents

 

My friends all were Boy Scouts, so our gear was very similar and easy to plan around. Freeze dried foods were just being introduced at this time but were extremely expensive for us, so we packed in canned goods. After eating, the cans were put in the fire to burn off any residue, stomped flat and carried out with us. Once, on a longer trip, we hiked in 2 weeks before and buried supplies at the half way point. At the time, packs were all external frames so lashing a 5 gallon pail on wasn't a problem. 

From the 60's to now I can't remember how many sleeping bags, tents, rain flys or jackets I've owned and worn out, but this pot set always seemed to stick around. It appears that the Worchester Pressed Aluminum Corp. went out of business in 1976 after 45 years, so buying a new set isn't going to happen. I could find a set in very good shape, with the original cloth cover on eBay or Etsy for $20 and up, if I really wanted to. I don't, but someone might want to recreate their youthful camping trips.

Other Supplies

While shopping at my local Sam's Club, I found not exactly my favorite emergency food, but a good choice anyway: the Augason Farms Variety Emergency Food Supply Pail.

https://amzn.to/3lFM7Hk

Specifications:

• Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal (1 pouch)
• Strawberry-flavored Cream of Wheat (1 pouch)
• Morning Moo’s Low Fat Milk Alternative (1 pouch)
• Italiano Marinara (1 pouch)
• Fettuccine Alfredo (1 pouch)
• Creamy Stroganoff (1 pouch)
• Chocolate Pudding (1 pouch)
• Chicken-flavored Noodle Soup (1 pouch)
• Cheese Powder (1 pouch)
• Cheesy Broccoli Rice (1 pouch)
• Creamy Potato Soup (1 pouch)
• Creamy Chicken-flavored Rice (1 pouch)
• Hearty Vegetable Chicken-flavored Soup (1 pouch)
• Elbow Macaroni (2 pouches)

As I said, this isn't my first choice but the price and finding one on the shelf (the last one, too) was why I bought it. The meal mix is good and the Augason reputation is too, so this was an easy buy.

This particular item is now out of stock at Sam's Club, but it can still be ordered from Amazon. 

Recap And Takeaway

• Using what you have that works, no matter what it looks like, is a wise use of money.
• One Augason Farms Variety Emergency Food Supply Pail, bought at Sam's Club for $59.98 but available at Amazon for $79.99.

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If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.