Vegan Backpacking

Hey, this page is clumsy at the moment.

Well, I made a brief search of the ol’internet and didn’t find any sites designed for vegan backpacking. Mayhaps I didn’t look hard enough. I’ll build on this page more and more as I collect the resources necessary.

So far, I have the follow tops on this page:

Zen and the Art of the Outdoors

General Info, mostly for vegans, but other stuff as well.

Other Stuff and Tips

Food suggestions for camping.

Equipment

Links

Zen and the Art of the Outdoors

I don’t know much about Zen. I don’t know much about the Outdoors. Perhaps, that makes me less qualified to talk about it. Or, maybe it makes me more qualified.

Once there was no outdoors and humans did fine.

General Info

Boots/Shoes. Shoes don’t give you the protection boots do. You are more prone to twisting your ankle, getting your feet soaked, muddy, and dirty. However, shoes give you much more flexibility, and are much lighter. A few trips would have been miserable if I had worn shoes, and a few others would have been 10 times better if I had wore shoes.

If you have a heavy backpack, boots are almost necessary, no matter. However, if you pack light, you can wear shoes, because you aren’t putting as much pressure on your feet and ankles.

You also have to find vegan boots or shoes. Shoes are easier, boots are a bit harder. Leather seems to be one of the best materials for boots, sadly. As wool is the best material for socks, hats and some clothes. (it loses almost no insulation value when it gets damn/wet). Doubtful you’ll find non-leather boots at most camping stores. Shoes are a easier to find, and more often labeled synthetic.

Check the link list below for non-leathe boot links.

Break in your shoes before hitting the trails. I’ve been told to buy a shoe/boot size ½ larger than your foot.

Weight. Obviously another debate on the proper weight. Usually I go with a pack the weights between 40-50lbs. That’s a load. A good aim is 1/3 to 1/4 th of your body weight. If you want to be a minimalist you will be shooting for 18lbs to upward of 30 pounds. I’ve always noticed the cusp between heavy and light is somewhere between 35 and 40 lbs.

Food should encompass your largest percentage of weight in your pack. You should pack about 1 ½ - 2 lbs of food per day per person. A week long trip you’d have 10-14lbs of your pack weight as food.

Reducing weight. Cut corners off your maps. Cut the end off your toothbrush. Whatever is unnecassary should go… extra straps.. ect ect. Use good judgement. Each day think of what you could do without, and what you could reduce.

Coordinating your Packs If you are packing with others, it should be a goal to coordinate your packs. Obviously, it is a matter of politics. The level of coordination will be similar to the level of intimacy. Do you share only a tent between you? Or do you eat all your meals together and share underware?

Coordination is important for many reasons. It allows for a lower pack weight and better packing efffieciency. It gives you more room and/or more items. Instead of 3 guys brining 3 pans, 3 stoves and 3 girlfriends, you can share one and reduce overall weight, and overall headaches. J The politics is who carries what and when you eat what at what time.

I’d suggest bring the main meals for eating communually and also brining your own supply of snacks and supplemental food. Also, comprimise is where everyone loses and nobody wins!

Physical fitness Two days after the trip most of the pain will be gone and you might, just might be in shape. However, if you don’t go hiking with a good pair of lungs and legs it is going to hurt and it isn’t going to put you into shape. The only good thing about being in poor physical shape and having your whole body in pain is that the food tastes 10 times better. Hike hills, it can never steer you wrong.

Clothing Well, sleeping bags are often down filled. Goose down, not like the verb ‘to goose’ but the noun: a water foul. (not a baseball in your beer (which isn’t vegan)). Wool is the best material for gloves and hats and socks and other stuff. However, wool isn’t vegan, so you’ll have to go with synthetic. Whenever possible DO NOT BRING COTTON! Cotton has no insulation value when wet! It dries very slowly! Synthetic sleeping bags, socks and other necessities are all available at any decent camping store.

Layering is important, and a general rule of thumb is to not bring more than you can wear at once. Protect yourself from wind, rain and cold weather.. .example… windbreaker, insulated inner shell, long sleeved Non-cotton shirt, and long underwear. A hat that covers your ears and I’d suggest mittens over gloves. Wear a hat to bed at night if it is cold out.

Break in your boots. Wear your raingear in the shower… basically test your clothes out before you you hit the trails.

Buying Equipment It is a hard balance between price and quality. What is quality, anyway? Usually the higher the price means the product is better than others, or the name brand has a bigger ego. Buy the quality stuff, it will last longer and treat you better.

Other stuff and TIPS If you want to bring a book you can. But, once you finish it, it will then be 2 lbs you can’t get rid of for the rest of the trip. However, if it is a survival book, or tracking book or something like that then it could serve its utility to justify it. It would be wiser to bring magnetic board games (chess), cards, dominoes… whatever tickles your fancy pants.

Each time should serve a mutlipe of functions. A food sack will help you keep your food together and it can also be used to hang from trees to keep away from animal. The more you can maximize each item, the less you need to bring. For instance, you could bring a big spoon to dig holes to bury poo and then use it for eating too. Heh. Kidding. Seriously, I am. No I haven’t done that. I don’t know why I thought of it. A walking stick could also serve as a tent pole, or battering ram. Or for impaling non-vegans you cross in your paths.

Keep your sleeping bag dry! Keep your sleeping bag dry! Keep your sleeping bag dry! Most sleeping bags are made to function really well when damp and sometimes even wet. Then again, you could freeze to death also. If it gets wet, you will probably survive the night. Unless you are on Mt. Everest. Then you’ll die. But that is what you get for $50,000, dummy.

A good easy way is to get a backpack rain cover. It protects everything in your backpack! Although they cost an arm and a leg, which you’d probably lose to hypothermia anyway. I actually don’t have one, but I would if they weren’t so expensive.

After the first 15 minutes, take a break! Re-adjust your backpack and reties your shoes and make other needed adjustments. It might just save you a face full of dirt.

If you are in an area with lots of chipmunks, squirrels.. ect.. open up your backpack so if they do get into they don’t have to chew their way in. Hang your backpack whenever you can.

Surprise! Pack a surprise for each night. Maybe assign everyone to bring a surprise for at least one night. I don’t know what… maybe bring a Disco Ball along so you can dance by the firelight. Disco All NIGHT LONG! YEAH! Or maybe just bring something you know your friends like… a book of scary stories, a book of poetry, body paint… J

“If you become winded, slow down. If you become restless, speed up." ZATAOMM

Heat your food. Insulate your food. Set it aside. Instead of just cooking it forever. Cook it part way and let the insulation do the rest.

Bring a journal. You really only need something small, a few pages. It is nice to look back and remember your adventure from your own writing. Catalog your pictures

Daily Log Sheets! I just decided I wanted to keep a better track-o-things. I write down the FACTS. I jot down all the eq I used, what I didn’t use and how I rated its performance. What food I ate, how I rated it. Travel distance, beginning and end points, weather, temperature, any suggestions to my future selves. And rocks with cleavage… oooh la la. Check the links below for my log sheet.

Food

I’ve only recently begun to make a bigger effort at packing in great foods. My last trip to Isle Royale we brought fresh sweet corn. (We were kayaking, but even so, the weight would be worth it.)

I had some soy margarine and one of our campsites even had a grill. It was heaven. We took some potatoes and wrapped them in foil and put them in the coals.

Fresh fruit and vegetables usually keep for a few days, depending. Dehydrated foods can be enjoyable or just plain hell. Or, if you want to pull a Doug Peacock, you can just bring granola.

Food Weight

Calories, Salt, Fat

The average human is supposed to consume about 2,000 calories a day. You’ll definitely want much more than that, probably double. Also, nothing tastes as good as salty or fatty foods. You definitely crave these in your diet.

So, while just bringing rice along will sustain you, it won’t give you the content ‘full’ feeling you probably might want. I’ve easily devoured a fourth to half a jar of peanut butter while on the trail in one day. (watch out for those diglycerides.) Obviously moderation is important. Pack your food for one-day rations. That way you don’t have to spend hours each day managing your food.

Freshness

Freshness is something overlooked in many packpacking experiences. I remember the day I brought about ten packs of Ramen noodles. (Onion flavor, don’t ask). I thought each pack would be one meal. Needless to say I ran out of food trying to get nourishment.

I’ve since discovered that fresh wholesome food really makes your camping experience amazing. I brought bagels one year that kept very well. I’d make myself a nice bagel and PB sandwich, each day for about 4 days. Comapre a nice bagel to a ramen noodle and you understand what step up that was. It was almost a leap.

Although I’ve never used these, here are some pre-packed meals. I found the following information on the internet, so use it as you will.

Wild Wild Rice, Carrot Salad, Cool Hand Cuke Salad, Desert Ratatouille, Curried Vegetables with Cous-Cous, Cuban-Style Rice and Beans, Vegetables With Barley, Flying Burritos, Chili, Reddy Spageddi, and Pea Soup. For information write to Uncle John's Foods, PO Box 489, Fairplay, CO 80440; or call (800) 530-8733.

Nile Spice Foods, Inc., Box 20581, Seattle, WA 98102 manufactures Pack-It-Meals such as Black Bean Soup that simply need boiling water added. Milford's Lightweight Foods, 315 Flat Creek Road, Black Mountain, NC 28711.

Food Suggestions for camping

Breakfast

Pancakes in a bag (add the egg substitute, and powdered soy milk) add water when ready to cook. It is a bit of an art form. Of course then you need to cook them in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Real maple syrup or soy margarine or fresh cut fruit can be some toppings.

Cream of Wheat. It is an old stand-by. If you bring maple syrup you can add it to sweeten it. Or if you want you can probably find some flavored cream of wheat.

Oatmeal. Same deal as the cream of wheat. Both give you a good amount of energy in the morning. Plus, the they cook up fast and hot.

Hash Browns. I found some dehydrated hash browns once. They turned out horribly. But with a little practice I’m sure I could have gotten them to work.

Potato Pancakes. Basically add water and fry them in the non stick pan. Pretty much tasteless.

Fresh fruits and vegetables (see list below.)

Lunch And Dinner

Falafel – Add water, let sit, and then fry up in a pan with oil. Obviously by themselves they aren’t too tasty. Bring along a tahini sauce, maybe some pita.

Vegetable Stir Fry – bring some dehydrated tofu and fresh vegetables. Maybe some peanuts.

Fantastic Burger Mix – I collect the small ketchup packets throughout the year. They are evil. But my friends/family will just throw them away. They work well for something like this.

Baked Ramen Soup/Instant soup – It is a good snack and can really hit the spot for a quick lunch. They don’t really seem to give you staying power, or really contentment.

Spaghetti/Pasta with Sauce – Easier done than said. The first day usually hurts no matter what. I pack in noodles and sauce. If it is a small trip, I just bring the bottle. If not, I either zip-lock the sauce the day I head out. Usually double ziplock bags and then put it in my pots so it doesn’t smoosh. Or, you can use one of your water bottles to hold the sauce. I usually eat this the first night! I have yet to find a Vegan sauce the is dried and you can just add water. I’m sure I could make my own.

Couscous (Roasted Garlic, Tomato Lentil...) – There are many brands on the market. Buy it plain and add a boulion or buy it already flavored. It cooks quickly and cleans fairly easy.

Mashed Potatoes – I’ve found a brand that is just potato flakes. I add water or margarine if I have it to make it. Usually as a side dish with a soup or fresh vegetables. Also, you can make gravy easily with boullion.

Instant Stuffing – hard to find. Just don’t get stovetop, obviously. J Goes well with mashed potatoes and gravy.

Instant Rice mixes – Often the bane of camping. Some of them are good, some are just MSG. I do have for the Saffron rice with mashed potatoes.

Red Beans and Rice – Usually fills you right up.

Homestyle Lentil –Lipton/Minestrone Soup –Lipton.. vegan I think. These are two that are just instand soup mixes that used to be vegan. I’d have to check them again though to be sure.

Bagels/Pitas – Good any time of the day. Get ones you know will last at least a couple of days. You get less and picky as the trip goes on.

Dehydrated tofu – Never tried it, but I saw it in the store the other day and it looks like it could add a whole new dynamic.

Hummous – Fantastic or other instant hummous. Eat with pita (fried pita if you want to fry it), bagels or falafel mix.

Tabouli – I’ve never had a mix I though was worth a darn, but hey, it is weird food.

Vegetables and Fruits

Potatoes – I love my potatoes. Bring some aluminum foil and wrap them up tightly. Put them in hot coals. (A good bed of coals is necessary) Leave them in the coals for 20-40 minutes. Pull them out and you have baked potatoes. Or, slice them up and put in spices and cook them the same way.

Apples – An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Yum. You leave them on your counter top for weeks. Why can’t they survive in your backpack for awhile?

Fresh foods that pack well on the trail:

Apples, oranges, onions, carrots, peppers, avocados, garlic, broccoli, cauliflower, corn. And a few others, but that’s sufficient. Things like grapes and bananas don’t pack as well.

Spices and Supplements

Garlic Salt/Garlic – Bring the real stuff if you can. Add to cous-cous, rice, cool-aid (heh)

Curry Powder –Works well in soups and other odds and ends.

Salt and Pepper – A stable for many, worthless for others.

Bouillon (corn starch also) – If you add the boullion you can make plain rice nice. Boil some water with the boullion, add corn starch (make sure the corn starch is disolved in water first) and then bring to a boil again-à makes gravy.

Soy Margarine – Or any vegan margarine you can find. Half a pound is a lot of weight, but you can add it to anything and it gives you fat, salt and other health problems. J

Olive Oil – Bring a little for frying, or adding to recipes instead of margarine.

Ketchup packages – They are everywhere. Or just bring a tight container to keep a small amount of ketchup with you. It has salt and vinegar in it, so it should be fine as long as it doesn’t get too hot.

Snacks

Cliff Bars/Granola bars – energy and taste. Yum.

Mints – Rare vegan mints.

Trail Mix/Granola – All you really need if you have the right combo.

Dried Fruit – Figs, plums, apples… it is expensive, but enjoyable.

Cookies – On the rare occasion you find good vegan cookies.

Fruit Leather – Expensive, but not bad.

Seeds/Nuts – A good source of protein and for munching on while hiking.

Apple Sauce – individual packed ones waste resources, but you can add them to the pancakes also.

Peanut Butter –watch out for those mono and diglycerides.

àIf you are vegan you already have a favorite vegan snack. Find a way to bring it.

Beverages

Tea, for hot tea

Lemonade

Ice tea mix.

Instant Juice.

Coffee. Bleh.

Equipment

Equipment Page

Links

Daily Log Sheets

REI.com* A co-operative outdoor suppler company. The comparison charts are a must, and they have a great website.

trials.com* A guide to trails around the US.

Weather.com* Check the forecast by zipcode!

Send me your Idears: jordanbbates@hotmail.com