Backpacking meals take prep

By Mike Gale
Recreation

Backpacking into the backcountry doesn't give one the option of stopping at a restaurant for a quick meal when hunger hits.

Eating on the trail can be a challenge. And carrying pounds and pounds of gear doesn't leave much room for food.

But everyone has to eat.

So to eat and not take up much room in the pack there are some ways to make meal preparation easier.

One way is to begin preparing food before even heading out. Dehydrators are relatively inexpensive and can be used to make one's own beef jerky, as well as dehydrating fruits and vegetables. Pasta sauce and hamburger also can be dehydrated.

The advantage is you condense nutritious food down but keep all the nutrients and make it easier to pack and carry.

Instead of carrying ingredients in their original containers you can pre-mix ingredients and carry them in zip-lock freezer bags. This cuts down on weight, and trash.

To keep critters out of camp, keep food stored away and pick up spills. Never sleep with food or other attractive items like toothpaste or gum in your tent. Those critters have a nose for such things and can disrupt a peaceful night of sleep. Hang it in a bag from a high tree limb or put it in a bear-proof container stored away from camp.

Pack snacks for the trip. Be sure to bring foods such as the dehydrated fruits or the beef jerky or some trail mix to eat while hiking. That way, you won't be famished and impatient when it comes time to cook the real meal.

Don't underestimate how much food a hiking group will need. Hiking uphill all day with a 40-pound pack does wonders for the appetite.

SURVIVAL: Ready to rough it or learn preparedness for survival? The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will hold a wilderness course in late February intended to equip participants with confidence and independence in the backwoods. The two-day Land Navigation and Wilderness Survival Clinic will be held from 9 a.m. on Feb. 25 until 4 p.m. on Feb. 26 at Fort Hunter Liggett in Monterey County.

The cost for participating is $50 and space is limited. Participants will learn how to effectively read and understand the different maps used in land navigation. They also will learn how to understand compass bearings and a global positioning satellite system.

The clinic will cover survival kits and first aid, as well as how to cross streams and rivers and build emergency shelters. Instructors also will teach different wilderness techniques to collect water, start fires, and signal for help. Accommodations for the weekend will be at the military barracks with two students to a room. Bathroom and shower facilities are available in the barracks. Meals cost $9 a day and are in the military dining hall. Individuals interested in attending clinics can print registration forms from DFG's Hunter Education Program web page at www.dfg.ca.gov/huntclinics. The deadline for registration and fees is Saturday.