Packing lightweight and delicious food for an overnight or multi-day trip into the backcountry is a challenge but it doesn’t need to be.
I met a group of boy scouts a few year ago who were hiking along at a snails pace with backpacks that looked so heavy it hurt just looking a them. When I asked what was in their packs the answer included things like canned beans and two gallons of water. Ouch!
Leave the heavy stuff at home. A full day’s supply of vittles shouldn’t weigh more than 2 pounds and there is no reason to carry more than about two quarts of water – not in Montana anyway. (there could be exceptions in specific areas).
Everything you need from breakfast lunch and dinner should fit inside a one gallon zip lock bag and won’t weigh you down.
Here’s what’s on the menu for backpackers in the know:
Breakfast
Oat meal packets or pancake batter (just add hot water)
Pick a few huckleberries along the way for those pancakes!
coffee
Lunch
Torilla, Tuna packet, 4 oz. cheese, mayo packet or
Tortilla, 3 oz. peanut butter, 1 oz. brown sugar or
Tortilla, 4 oz, pepperoni, 4 oz. cheese
I bag of GORP and or granola
Two or three bite sized candy bars
Dinner
Dehydrated meals like those from Mountain House -or-
One serving dry macaroni and 4 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, salt, pepper
Butter, garlic, salt pepper and then catch a fish – yum!
Ramen noodles and dehydrated mashed potatoes
These meals are easy to prepare, cheap and don’t weigh much. Next time you are headed out for a few days leave the heavy stuff at home. Boil water in camp and make delicious food that isn’t tough to carry.
Happy Trails!
