Although lightning is a common and spectacular weather phenomenon – the power is extraordinary. I was reminded of its awesome power when a storm suddenly formed while hiking the summit of the Mount Mitchell mountain range. Luckily, I quickly descended to lower ground and took cover before the cloudburst was released. Within a few minutes of descending, the jagged bolts rapidly lit up the sky. We later learned that a nearby backpacker was struck and killed that same day. The following week, a 20’ tree branch collapsed in a strike and missed my head by a few seconds. Storms can […]
Many hikers rely on GPS equipment for navigation in the wilderness rather than a compass and physical map. If something goes wrong with your device, it is prudent to know how to apply the necessary navigational skills. Using the sun is the most fundamental lesson in navigation. Roughly speaking, the sun rises in the east, sets in the west, and reaches its highest point in the sky at noon. Using the Sun for Navigation The sun always rises in the east and sets in the west. The earth spins towards the east, which means all the planets, the sun, moon, and […]
Our boil-soak pouches are created for backpackers who need a bag to store dried meals and reconstitute them by pouring boiling water into the pouch. These high-temperature standup “cook-in-pouches” can sustain temperatures up to 230 degrees F (110 degrees C). Pouches have a shorter bowl shape and can hold up to 4 cups (.95L) of wet volume. How to use: Place food in the bag, pour boiling water over it, stir, seal shut with the zipper, and allow the food to reconstitute for several minutes. Below, we demonstrate reconstituting a dried meal mix using the boil-soak pouch with Outdoor Herbivore’s […]
Do you have a family member or friend thru-hiking this year? Sending a care package is an excellent way to let them know that you are thinking of them. Long miles on the trail can lead to loneliness, and this gesture can help them feel connected while away from home. Here, we explain everything you need to know to send a care package to a traveler, whether that expedition involves backpacking, bikepacking, paddling, sailing, firefighting, RVing, or military leave. What to put in Care Packages Before putting together your care package, find out if they need anything. Towns near the […]
What is the Approximate Shelf Life of Outdoor Herbivore Meals? If you are looking to purchase a significant amount of trail food or want to put together a vegan preparedness kit, you’ll need to know the storage life. We’ve now added Storage Life on our website for each product to help you with planning. You can view this information on the product description tab. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see it. Outdoor Herbivore’s meals, on average, will store for two years under proper conditions, making them suitable for short-term emergency preparedness rather than long-term storage. The reason for […]