Green Your Hike -- Provisions

Minimize the environmental impact of midsummer hikes with this week's tips.

Tip #4: Pack light, eat well. Packing the right food for a long hike can be tricky proposition for the eco-minded: Opt for convenience, and you might end up with excess packaging. Bring poorly-balanced or too-heavy provisions, and you'll lag on the trail. What's a green hiker to do? Start with these two steps, and you'll be on your way to a lighter footprint.

Bulk it up: Whenever possible, avoid individually-wrapped foods. You will likely remove the extra packaging before hitting the trail (every ounce counts!), so look for foods packaged in multiple servings and then portion them out in reusable bags.

Try organic: If organic food isn't part of your regular diet because of cost or limited access, the occasional trek is a great opportunity to give it a go. After all, your shopping list will already be packed with unusual items. Can't afford to go all out? Even a few staples grown with greener practices (MaryJane's Outpost has an extensive selection) can make a difference.

Share your tips: Tell us about your favorite fuels for hiking and backpacking. How do you save money on supplies?

Comments

[Jim]

I like fresh lobster flown in from South Africa on my hikes. I quadruple wrap it in aluminum foil. It keeps it fresh. Sometimes I take along manatee jerky or Bald Eagle burgers too. If I can afford the outrageous cost of it, I take along Panda patties as well.

[Charlotte]

I'm sensing a little sarcasm in the above comment! Good for a laugh at work, though!!

[Sara, Norfolk, VA]

I eat Jim on my backpacking trips! Actually, I use a dehydrator and dry all my food! Fruits, veggies, even soups. I never buy the specially packaged camping and hiking foods. Nuts are also a great source of energy considering how much they weigh! If you're up for it, you can make one of those solar dehydrators we keep reading about.

[Valerie]

To save money and cut down a bit on packaging, we make our own backpacking food. If you have a dehdrator and some imagination, it's easy to adapt many recipes for backapcking. There are some quick and easy recipes (for most you don't even need a dehydrator) at www.mountainbackpackers.com. Check it out!

[econouvelle]

Where can I buy a relatively inexpensive dehydrator? I would like to use it to dry apricots, figs and plums from my backyard.