Eating Well OnThe Backpacking Trail

Backpacking is always a great experience in one way or another. There are those times when it can get a little wet or dry, cold or hot or just downright “bug-annoying”. But for the most part it’s ALWAYS an adventure.

How comfortable you are is about your gear and how well you pack, but over the years I have found that two things make for a really GOOD backpacking trip. Those two items are a good pillow to sleep on and good food.

When I backpack, I don’t bring a lot of clothing. I prefer to fill my pack with things I like to eat for the trail and when we’re done for the day. Here are a few suggestions for your next trip.

On The Trail I Carry The Following Items —

• An apple or two: Nothing is more refreshing than a good apple or other piece of fruit at a short-stop in your walk.

• A LARGE bag of 2/3 raisins and 1/3 California raisins: Like trail mix but much better and better for you. Bring enough for a friend.

• A Subway foot-long sandwich (no mayo lasts two days). Great lunch.

• A small bag of hard candy: Hold a piece of candy in your mouth to suck on. This will keep your mouth wet and will help to keep you alert on the trail.

Naturally you can bring other things, but this is good for the walk- in.

For Dinner —

For dinner I usually bring a small grill top (about 12” around from a Hibachi is perfect, carried in an old pillowcase). Reaching into your food bag, pull out your zip-lock bags of sides and your cooler bag of steaks. It’s time to cook.

In your small fire pit put the following along the sides.

• Half a precooked potato in foil. Half a precooked corn-on-the-cob in foil. A small can of beans with the lid half off.

Place the grill on the rocks and place your pre-frozen steak on the grill to cook (I can haul six steaks and sides depending on how long the hikes are).

While your steak and other items cook, you can reach in and grab your “bag-salad” and commence on that while drinking your mini-Coke. When dinner’s ready, you’ll have a healthful, filling and sumptuous meal.

After Dinner —

When you’re done, clean everything up and stow your trash. Now reach in the pack and get out your small pudding for dessert. Perfection!

Night comes and a good pillow helps you be very comfy and get a good night’s rest.

It’s A New Day —

Dawn finds you rested and hungry. You clean up, dress and start to prepare your breakfast.

Place water in a cooking pan and put it on the backpacking stove to heat while you get the following out of your food bag:

Three (3) zip-lock sandwich bags — one with pre-browned sausage, one with onions and green chilis, and one with grated cheese. Open one of your multiple zip-lock sandwich bags, each containing two well-beaten eggs. In the bag with the eggs, add some of the contents from each of the other bags.

Stir the eggs and ingredients with a SPOON (not a fork) and place it in the heated water. When it looks solid, pull it out, carefully open the bag and stir the contents with a SPOON! Place it back in the water.

Take out your tortillas from the food bag and get one ready on your lap. When the eggs look solid again, pull the bag out (careful, it’s HOT!). Tear open the top and one side of the bag and roll the egg mixture onto the tortilla. Roll it up and let cool while you place one dry-bag each of hot chocolate and cappuccino into the hot water. Stir and “VIOLA”; an excellent breakfast burrito and a mocha cappuccino, just for you. MANGIA!!!

You can eat like this for about six days and not worry about the meat and eggs as long as they remain separate from other items and kept relatively cool. After this, it’s hot dogs and bread. ENJOY!!!