food dye in backpacking food

Is it Necessary? Food Dye in Backpacking Meals & Packaged Food

Food additives are commonly used to prevent or slow spoilage during storage, preserve vitamin content, or alter food’s appearance, taste, and texture. Food coloring is a type of additive that is functionally unnecessary — its sole purpose is to make food appear more colorful. Unsurprisingly, food dye is common in […]

bear canister backpackers cache lid

Where Bear Canisters are Mandatory in the US Parks & Forest

Carrying a bear canister is something that backpackers have to do in many US National Parks and most areas of the California Sierra. Here is the most current information (July 2022) on where bear-resistant containers are required, what type, and when.

wild blackberries

Identifying Edible Berries on U.S. Hiking Trails

Hiking trails in the United States offer an abundance of edible berries that are great for raw snacking. They add fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants to your trail diet. Blueberries, blackberries, huckleberries, mulberries, raspberries, and strawberries, are just a few examples of the delicious and nutritious berries you may encounter. […]

high sodium backpacking meal

Low Sodium Backpacking Food: Delicious Trail Food With Less Salt

A common question we get from backpackers is, “What backpacking meals do you have that are low in sodium?”  Low sodium is a regulated term for food containing 140 mg of sodium or less per serving. Most packaged food will not meet this definition because salt functions as a natural preservative […]