Cheap Trail Food Alternatives, Hemlock Falls- New Jersey Woods

B

bearthedog

Joined
May 17, 2006
Messages
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Here are just a few ways to save a few bucks when buying trail food. I’ve never been a Mountain House or MRE type of guy. I do however like a warm meal in camp or even for a day hike. I have come across a few mainstays that I wanted to share. Please feel free to post your findings for the benefit of us all here.
All of the trail food listed here requires hot water only and usually serves 2.5-4 people.


Rice Rocks!



Coffee was a cheap 99 cents for a pack of 8


Mashed Potatoes



Trail cup was $3 and is an aluminum .7 quart Imusa brand that weighs 2oz.








Looking for the falls






Hemlock Falls (my water source)






Someone didn’t finish their shelter



Ivy



Tulip Poplar



Birch






Trail breakfast/lunch



Poplar lid



Boiled water for rice and coffee





Small lunch fire for roasting spam to add to the rice













-RB
 
Trail food doesn't have to be expensive. :)
Looks like a good time.
 
I like and have used all the options you've pictured, I just wish they weren't all so high in sodium.

Mountain House=stomach cramps
 
Awesome post. I second those potatoes. I like oatmeal as well. Its light and cheap. Also i put a carrot from the garden in my pack sometimes along with some of the same stuff you like. Carrots don't bruise easy. Plus there fun to peel.
 
Pioneer Valley said:
Awesome post. I second those potatoes. I like oatmeal as well. Its light and cheap. Also i put a carrot from the garden in my pack sometimes along with some of the same stuff you like. Carrots don't bruise easy. Plus there fun to peel.
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I like that idea, good to throw in for a stew also.

-RB
 
Two ounces of home diced vegetables like onions, mushrooms and bell peppers in a ziplock can really fancy up one of those rice pouches. If you really want to go all out, pack some pineapple tidbits and soy sauce. Simple additions can really liven up a pouch.
 
Codger_64 said:
Two ounces of home diced vegetables like onions, mushrooms and bell peppers in a ziplock can really fancy up one of those rice pouches. If you really want to go all out, pack some pineapple tidbits and soy sauce. Simple additions can really liven up a pouch.
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OHHHH CHILD!

Good tip, simple and like you said, it livens it up.

-RB
 
I've carried that kind of food long ago for backpacking. Snoop around in your grocery store and you can find lots of good choices that are inexpensive, light, easy to fix.
 
I'm a fan of the chicken or tuna in foil pouches. Lighter than a can, and great for mixing with rice, eating on crackers, etc.
 
bearthedog said:
OHHHH CHILD!

Good tip, simple and like you said, it livens it up.

-RB
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Seems you did a fair job of that very thing by adding the bites of roasted Spam to your rice dish.

I've experimented with a wide variety of "trail foods" over the years. Everything from "C and K rations" to MREs to freeze dried trail meals (very lightweight but also very expensive and often bland) to carrying a complete complement of fresh groceries. I am aided in this last bit by mostly using a canoe as my pack mule when outing for multiple days. I still occasionally carry a FD pouch meal for emergencies since it takes very little prep and cleanup like when I need to eat during a driving rain or when I arrive late in camp and don't feel like going through the prep, cook, wash and cleanup of fresh foods. Dressing up the grocery store foil packs is a middle ground that can be surprisingly good with not a lot of fuss or cleanup.
Inazone said:
I'm a fan of the chicken or tuna in foil pouches. Lighter than a can, and great for mixing with rice, eating on crackers, etc.
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Plus one on this. To which I will add bacon (zip-locked into a smaller portion package), summer sausage and those little single serving cans of potted meat, chicken and beef. Ritz crackers now come in serving packs as well and add a chunk or two of a favorite cheese to make a zip-lock lunch that really fills and provides energy. Of course some desert helps too like those bite-size chocolate bars if the weather isn't too hot.
 
Thanks for posting one and all.. At 57yrs and still learning!! John
 
Most of the bagged rice/noodle dishes benefit from a shot of squeeze margarine. Dried morels reconstituted in cognac can also dress up a meal.
 
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