The Chili Debacle: A Spoonless Tragedy

Some meals are unforgettable because they taste incredible. Others are unforgettable because you’ll never stop hearing about how badly you botched them. This is the story of the latter, almost anyway.

I set out to make the perfect camp chili for our group. The ingredients were lined up, the pot simmered beautifully over the fire, and the aroma drew everyone within a five-mile radius. It was the kind of chili that could’ve been in a magazine, or at least on a decent food blog.

And then it hit us: no spoons. None. Not one. We had a steaming pot of chili perfection, but no way to eat it like civilized human beings.

Cue the improvisation. Sticks, spatulas, tortilla chips, and even one brave soul trying to drink it straight from the pot (don’t recommend). It was messy, ridiculous, and one of the funniest meals I’ve ever had on the trail.

Lesson learned? Double-check the kitchen kit before you leave home. Or better yet, always pack tortilla chips, they’re nature’s edible spoon.

Got a “forgot the gear” fail of your own? Drop it in the comments-we’ll laugh with you, not at you.