Eugene J. was an active 70-year-old who enjoyed spending time in the mountains.
One day, he went hiking in the Mount Waterman area of the Angeles National Forest in California.
During the hike, Eugene became separated from his group and got lost in the forest.
A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department search and rescue team was called in to assist in the rescue of Eugene.
Over 70 searchers looked for the lost man.
After a week lost in the wilderness, Eugene heard the voices of rescuers.
He yelled for help and the search team found him alive.
A helicopter lowered tactical medics into the Devils Canyon area in the San Bernardino Mountains, then airlifted Eugene out of the canyon.
Eugene survived by drinking water from a creek.
At nighttime, when the temperatures dipped, he surrounded himself with warm rocks that had sat in the sun all day.
He slept with sun-warmed rocks around his body to provide heat.
According to one of the rescuers, “He got in close next to the hot rocks because it is very hot up there and those rocks do heat up and that’s how he kept himself warm at night.”
Now, humans have used rocks for thousands of years for things like hunting and cooking.
During a survival situation, rocks can be useful for warming – as in Eugene’s case – and also for cooking.
Here are a few things to know about cooking with rocks in case it might be your best option.
Why even bother cooking with rocks?:
These days, most people wouldn’t think about cooking fresh food on rocks.
But it’s something that is sometimes done in Asian restaurants.
Some places serve raw meat or seafood to customers and cook the food on tableside rocks.
In a survival situation, you might be forced to hunt or fish for your next meal.
And because most folks don’t carry a frying pan in their bug out bag, rocks can be a good option.
What can you cook on a rock?:
Think of rocks like a grill. You can grill and sauté food on a rock.
Some foods you can effectively cook on a rock are meat, fish, and vegetables.
In theory, if you did have a small pan or cup, you could boil water on a rock.
Obviously, it would be much faster to use a fire to boil water, but it’s possible to do it on a hot enough rock in a pinch.
Choosing a rock:
When it comes to cooking on a rock it’s important to choose your rock carefully.
Different types of rocks react differently to heat, and some rocks could even explode under too much heat.
Never use a wet rock, because a rock that has been sitting in water has likely absorbed some of the water.
So, when the rock gets hot, the water inside could boil and could cause it to explode.
Also, you want to find a rock that is about two inches thick, which is a good size for conducting heat.
Ideally, you want to find granite rocks because they can withstand high heat and do a good job of transferring the heat.
Slate and limestone are also good for cooking as long as they aren’t wet, otherwise, they might crack.
The process of cooking with rocks:
Unless you live in extreme heat you won’t walk outside and find a rock hot enough to cook on.
So, if you are camping you would want to make a fire and burn it down to the coals.
Find a flat rock about two inches thick. Shovel some coals under the main rock slab.
Before you start cooking let the rock heat up. This will ensure the rock can withstand the heat before you place the food on it.
Then, place your food on the rock and turn it over every so often for even cooking.
If the rock starts to cool down, add or replace the coals.
After you are done cooking, let the rock cool down on its own.
Don’t add water since this could make the rock explode.
Cooking on a rock can be a useful way to cook meat and fish during a survival situation.
While it might not be the fastest or easiest method, it can help you survive in a pinch.
Now, the best way to ensure you have enough easy-to-cook food on hand, even in the worst SHTF scenario…
Is to invest in quality survival food that’s readily portable.
This way you can add it to your go-bag, vehicle bug out bag, store it in your bug out shelter, and keep it accessible in your pantry at home.
