Perishables question...

[cupper]

Hey Folks! I have a few questions about keeping perishable items cold and fresh while camping.

1. Dry ice vs. Wet ice? What do you recommend and where can you get dry ice?

2. What works best for keeping things like milk, eggs, and fish fresh?

3. I am going up near Isabella and I live in the cities... I will be camping for three days... should I buy some live bait in Isabella, or try to transport from my home?

Thanks for your Help! Any other advice is welcome!

Take care,

Cupper

[echotrail]

Regular ice should work just fine for a three day trip. Using a good insulated cooler we use 2 one gallon milk jugs and keep the cooler in the shade. We just got back from a five day trip this afternoon and still had a little ice in the jugs. The ice will actually keep longer the fuller the cooler is. I would buy bait as close to your destination as you can, especially if your buying minnows. Crawlers or leeches will keep just fine in the cooler. We take second cooler for the bait however to avoid confusion as to whats for dinner.

[irvingdog]

I like dry ice. Keep the cooler closed as much as possible!

Tips on the 3 items?

Milk- try powdered. Milk is heavy, bulky and not very forgiving in the "it got a bit warm" department

Eggs- try freezing packages of egg-beaters. Work great, and they're an asset to the cooler that way.

Fish- Catch, clean and eat

[Powerstroke]

Use ice blocks more than ice cubes. Cubes will always melt faster cause they have a greater surface area. A block actually keeps itself cold and will melt slower.

I did the BWCA with an "insulated food pack" and we use 2 1-gallon milk jugs frozen and they lasted a whole week.

[fishermn]

I like the 1 gal. milk jugs, they will last a fairly long time if you have a decent cooler. And, once they do melt ya have a gallon of water that you didnt have to filter!

[IFallsRon]

I'm sold on the Extreme coolers. I've still had ice in the jug after five days. I'd suggest throwing a heavy blanket over the cooler, too. Every bit of insulation helps.

[ice_shack]

Use 2 coolers, 1 for beverages that will get opened way to much, 1 for food that should get opened twice a day. On the last evening you will have enough ice to transfer to the beverage cooler.

As far as bait goes, I always try to buy bait where I am fishing. That way you get a few tips and bait the fish like (usually). Plus it adds to their economy and keeps them around.

[New Yankee]

Cupper, here in So Dak you can get dry ice at Wally's.

Although I'm sure you know, don't put the cooler in the car w/you, or even in the trunk as dry ice puts out Co2 and can lead to a dangerous situation if you've got the windows up and air conditioning on. Just a friendly reminder

[sunnyj]

Heading to Isabella are ya? Make sure to stop at the Knotted Pine and have a cold one and pin a dollar with your name on it to the wall or ceiling or bar or floor or where ever. Fun place, butifull area.