Nuts are an important source of food for backpackers. Nuts promote a healthy immune system by restoring nutrients and calories that are lost through backpacking and outdoor activity. Nuts also make a delicious snack food and add a crunchy texture to freeze-dried backpacking meals. When it comes to caloric density, nuts are king. After pure fats and oils, nuts are the richest source of foods we eat, averaging 600 calories per 100 grams (3.5 oz, about 1 cup). When trail food supplies are running low, nuts make the difference. Their high […]
Dietary
Whether you are experiencing sore hips or knee pain from hiking, an injury such as a twisted ankle, or a severe headache, there are certain foods you can eat to ease the pain. In this article, you’ll find a list of foods that contain potent anti-inflammatory compounds to help counteract inflammation and soreness in the body. In the curious adventurer, we mentioned how eating right plays an enormous role in your ability to finish a thru-hike. Pain is undoubtedly a common ailment experienced by most thru-hikers. Fortunately, nature has provided us with plenty […]
Although our routines may seem insignificant, the decisions we make in our daily lives impact the wellness of our health, family, community, and world. For instance, conserving energy by turning the lights off in empty rooms is a start to environmental awareness. This small habit is sensible because it saves natural resources and money. This action may lead to other changes, such as making non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning supplies using vinegar, baking soda, and lemon. Adopting more significant practices, like using a bike instead of a car for short-distance trips, could […]
Anyone spending time hiking, cycling, or skiing, has experienced chapped lips. The condition of dry, chapped lips often starts as a minor annoyance. Left untreated, it can lead to painful and unsightly cracking and bleeding. A more severe condition called angular cheilitis (also called perleche) is a fungus that causes painful splitting at the corners of the mouth. Chapped lips are caused by a lack of moisture when the layer of oil naturally produced by the body to coat the lips dries up. Exposure to cold and dry air, intense […]
Coconuts are harvested from the coconut palm tree. These trees flourish in tropical climates such as the Philippines, Thailand, Mexico, and India. They also grow on the U.S. mainland in South Florida. Coconuts have made it to the shore of nearly every continent, unassisted by human effort. They can travel up to 3 months in the ocean, wash up on sandy island shorelines, and sprout into a tree that will bear up to ten thousand coconuts in a lifetime. This is why coconut palms are found growing throughout island beaches. […]