I am suspended a few feet of the ground, a slight swing in my hammock, surrounded by impeccable views. My pack is a few feet away. It contains the essentials + a few items that elevate the weekend to new heights. This weekend, I experimented with an idea that has been brewing in my mind for a while. It is a simple idea if rightly executed could cause exponential enjoyment. With the essentials accounted for, it was time to put the experiment to test. It was time to make backcountry pizza. Months prior, I made a stovetop pizza in the front country. It was simple and delicious. I asked myself, "How can I make this happen in the back country?" The answer was simple: Buy the right ingredients, bring the right gear, enjoy with good company. As the date approached to set out to Pear Lake for my final trip as a Trip Leader for Poly Escapes, I thought to myself, "This is it! This is the backcountry PIZZA trip!" After a beautiful six mile hike, we set up camp at Pear Lake. As soon as we arrived, half of the group jumped into the chilly waters. If anything could make backcountry pizza taste better it is enjoying the pizza after a chilling dip in an alpine lake. Before the pizza party began, I had to find the perfect hammock spot. Check! Campsite number 1 has the perfect trees + impeccable views! Now we can pizza party. First, assemble the ingredients.
With the pizza party prep completed, the experiment could begin. Shape the dough into a large disc, the size of the frying pan. Cover the frying pan with oil and place over the flame. Place the dough on the pan. Cover with a lid. Let sizzle. The dough is like a giant pancake. You wait until the dough is golden.. Then flip! Cue patience once more.. As soon as both sides are golden.. Flip again! With good backcountry food packing etiquette, you unpack your double bagged pizza sauce from your ziplock baggies. Pour the pizza sauce over the golden dough and spread the sauce with your spatula. String your string cheese and place atop the pizza, sprinkle some cheese blend, and arrange your salami delicately on top. You are a pizza artist! Cover with a lid.. Cue patience. Lucky for you, you are in the backcountry! Look around, smell the fresh air! Look at your perfect hammock home! Look at the glassy lake below, the change of colors in the sky, the granite faces! Looklooklook, the cheese on your pizza is melting! It's working! Cue backcountry pizza party! The final piece of the pizza party can ensue. Invite your good company to surround you. Cut the pieces and share goodness with one another. Food is essential. Pizza is essential+
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