Bill Mason’s Wilderness Cooking Wisdom

The legacy of Bill Mason is far-reaching. It is now part of Canada’s heritage. The man is a  legend, a true inspiration for us, not only on a personal level but by ripple effect, on the creation of Cook’n’Escape. Bill Mason was a writer, filmmaker, artist, canoeist; he left us unforgettable images of the wilderness experience. Images of freedom that consolidated, even more, the “Canadian dream.” An image of Bill was even used to make a Canada Post stamp!

An important part of exploring the great outdoors is cooking and eating outside, and Bill Mason knew that he had to show and explain that aspect of outdoor life. In his films, in between two exhilarating rapid runs, there were plenty of images of campfire, birds chirping, boiling pots, frying food… It depicted a rustic, simple, and so enviable lifestyle. In the book Song of the Paddle, Bill shared his wilderness cooking knowledge. Let’s quote him and see if we still agree with his advice. Does it stand the test of time?

-“...what I eat isn’t all that important as long as there is a lot of it.” Agree. The caloric needs should be the first consideration in the outdoors. You need enough fuel, period. And please forget the idea that food will be cooked as perfectly as it will be at home. It won’t, but it does not matter because it will likely taste just as good after a tough day on the trail or the river, “hunger is the best sauce.”

-“Do not rely on fish as food supplement.” Agree. Unless you are someone who does not mind going hungry. We draw a clear distinction between wilderness travel and survival, and if you count on the food you will find or catch during the trip, you are heading for an uncomfortable trip, potentially a survival experience.

-“A bowl can do anything a plate can do.” We don’t disagree. However, deep plates can replace bowls. It is always a matter of compromise between the two. But a container able to receive liquid food should be favored in your trip preparation.

-“...the lid of the food box serves as a table, but with a larger group, we use an overturned canoe.” Bill had creative ways to make a table in the Wild. We agree that a table is convenient to prepare more refined meals. Today, there are great table solutions on the market. Cook’n’ Escape offers very lightweight and simple table solutions for wilderness travelers. Have a look at our folding grill tables.

-“Washing the outside of pots is nothing more than a make-work project.” Agree, once a pot is used regularly in a campfire, soot becomes difficult to remove. Just wipe the pot lightly after every use to remove most of the soot. The metal will stay blackish but it will be less dirty. The inside of the pot is the only part you need to keep perfectly clean.

-“When you buy a nesting cooking pot set, the first thing to do is to throw away the tin cups and plates and replace them with nesting plastic cups and bowls.” Disagree. No plastic cups! Times have changed! Plastics are one of the biggest sources of pollution. Except being cheaper, plastic offers no advantage over titanium cups. Furthermore, as discussed in previous articles plastic cups are no survival equipment.

-“Half the art of campfire cooking is controlling your fire the same way you would your kitchen range at home.” - Yes Bill, agree! But it is easier said than done! In closing, let’s talk about another fire: the passion Bill Mason had for the wilderness. That same passion is in us now, and we certainly hope our kids and grandkids will inherit it too. To inspire them we will share the stories and accomplishments of the Canadian man with a hat and a red canoe.