Preparing meals is an essential step in planning a backpacking trip. You want to make sure you pack out foods that can withstand the conditions of outdoor travel, require minimal preparation, provide you with adequate nutrition, and taste good. You want to remember crucial items like your morning coffee. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planning your backpacking food. 1. Purchase Common Dry Goods from Grocery Stores There are so many dry packaged foods that can be purchased from grocery stores or markets that are ideal for the trail. Get what you can at local markets […]
It is a common scenario: when we get lost in the wilderness, we wind up walking in circles. Much to our dismay, at some point we’ll revisit our tracks and feel despair that we’ll never make it out of this loop and back to civilization. The German research scientist, Jan Souman’s empirical data confirms that humans have a tendency to not only walk lopsided but to self-navigate within a loop when lost. Favoring Loops in Poor Visibility In the study, participants were instructed to walk straight from two different starting positions (marked as red dots). The blue line represents the […]
Food is a mixture of nutrients that produce energy for the body, stimulate growth, and maintain life. The six classes of nutrients: Carbohydrates Protein Fats Vitamins Minerals Water Of these six nutrients, only the first 3 provide calories in the form of energy for the body: carbohydrates, protein, and fat. 1 gram of carbohydrate = 4 calories 1 gram of protein = 4 calories 1 gram of fat = 9 calories Backpacking in mountainous terrain can burn 4,000 to 5,000 calories per day. If fat makes up more than the combined calories of a protein and carbohydrate, why not just […]
Do you save unused condiment packets from fast-food restaurants? These packets can be handy when traveling or if you run out of something at home. Common single-serve packets include ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, soy sauce, hot sauce, parmesan cheese, salad dressing, sugar, salt, pepper, and plastic jelly cups. How long can you keep single-serve packets? If you examine the condiment, most do not have an expiration date. Packets are shipped by the thousand in bulk, and the recommended “Expiration Date” or “Best By” date (established by the manufacturer) is often only displayed on the bulk container rather than stamped on the […]
We harvest trees for various practical purposes – lumber, furniture, paper, writing utensils, boats, signs, musical instruments, crates, boxes, cellophane, adhesive, and more. Most trees are harvested for valuable and long-lasting purposes, while the Christmas Tree has no purpose other than to act as a fleeting ornament. This time of year, millions of Balsam, Douglas, and Fraser Fir trees are chopped from the earth, exchanged for pulp dollar bills, and hauled home. The cut tree is carefully positioned indoors and embellished with lights, ornaments, and ribbon, marking the once-living tree an adored “Christmas Tree.” After a brief 3 – 4 […]