The 1lb pellets will not last as well as a block. The more surface area the faster the dry ice melts.
I don't know how far it is back to town or if you would be making a beer/grocery run once or twice, but if you do you can get more dry ice.
Important thing to remember. If you put the ice on top it works better at freezing, the food on the bottom.
Too bad you couldn't get some Liquid nitrogen to flash freeze the food and then no need to add a block of dry ice. Don't laugh I have seen it done, and it keeps for a long time..at -195.79°C (77K). A 3 or 6 liter LN2( Liquid nitrogen)tank ( bottle)would give you enough LN2 to keep the food frozen for a month or more even in a normal cooler. Just add a few ladles of LN2 a couple times a day and not only will your steaks stay frozen, but you can use them to pound railway spikes.:joker: