Fundamentals of Backpacking

WHAT ABOUT FOOD?

How much food is enough?

Packing the right amount of food for a backpacking trip can be a real challenge (especially for beginners). Here are some factors to keep in mind: (1) Portions should be large enough to keep your energy level high; (2) A tasty meal can be the best possible reward at the end of a long day of exploring; (3) The more food you bring, the heavier your pack is going to be; (4) Most beginning backpackers carry much more food than they need on their first several trips.

What kinds of foods do I have to choose from?

You can carry just about any kind of food you want with you into the wilderness. But the longer and more difficult your trip is, the more you should concentrate on packing light, compact, non- perishable foods. You can choose from: (1) Fresh foods; (2) soft-package, ready-to-eat foods; (3) dry or dehydrated foods; and, (4) freeze-dried foods. Include foods from all or most of the food categories listed above in your menus. No matter what kind of trip you have planned, it's a good idea to take a few easy to prepare freeze-dried meals, for nights when the weather is bad or you're too tired to prepare a big meal.

Click here for a few
Quick Meal Ideas!