When the cold winter hits, one of the BEST and tastiest ways to warm up is with a nice cup of hot chocolate.
We’ve talked about what to pack on a day hike with your kids, but in the colder months there are a few other things that need to be added:
-gloves/toque/scarf
-hand warmers
-towel
-HOT CHOCOLATE
It may seem like packing up some hot chocolate is easy peasy but there’s some thought definitely required.
3 ways to bring hot chocolate on the trail
**ALWAYS REMEMBER MUGS!!!**
Bring a thermos
If you make up some hot chocolate when you’re at home you can put it in a thermos to bring along.
Pros:
-it’s premade, so less work when you’re on your little adventure
Cons:
-if your thermos leaks in your pack you’ve got a gross, chocolatey mess on your hands.
-unless you have extra drinking water you have nothing to clean your mugs out with.
Bring hot water and hot chocolate mix
You’ll still need a thermos to bring the water. You can either buy some mix or make some yourself with this easy recipe!
Pros:
-you can adapt how strong to make the hot chocolate for each person.
-if anything leaks in your bag it’ll just be water!
-you can save a bit of water to rinse your mugs out.
Cons:
-you need a BIG thermos depending on how many people are in your party.
Boil water with a portable stove
Remember this post on portable stoves? They’re perfect for this exact purpose! You’ll need water, a stove, fuel, and some hot chocolate mix.
Pros:
-you can bring a pot big enough for the amount of people you have.
-you can fit everything you need inside that pot!
-it’s a fun process to set it up and ti gives extra time to explore at your destination while you wait for water to boil.
Cons:
-it’s a bit more to carry. Depending on the ages of your kids you may already have a fair bit in your pack!
There you have it! That’s how Sheena and I like to bring hot chocolate on our little adventures. How do you bring it on yours? Share in the comments below!