Trail Food: Drying and Cooking Food for Backpacking and Paddling

Spending time in the great outdoors is an exciting experience, but it can be hard on the palate and the stomach. Gourmet cooking is not something that is generally associated with camping and hiking, but in “Trail Food: Drying and Cooking Food for Backpacking and Paddling,” Alan Kesselheim shares lots of tips and tricks pertaining to eating well while in the wilderness. Best of all, you won’t have to break the bank to eat in style - or to gain his insight, since the book itself only costs about $11.

Kesselheim, a father of three who has published hundreds of articles relating to outdoor topics, shares plenty of ideas for backpackers who hope to enjoy a tasty meal or two while they’re out on the trail. He includes dozens of recipes, catering to hikers who travel ultra-light as well as those who don’t mind carting around a dutch oven. The main focus of “Trail Food: Drying and Cooking Food for Backpacking and Paddling” is on drying food, and Kesselheim, who has extensive experience with this, provides enough useful information that newcomers to dehydration should be able to pick up on the basics.

While his book is intended for campers and hikers, its tips are valuable to anyone who wants to live a healthier lifestyle and prepare for emergencies with organic and dried food. He includes nutritional information for each of the recipes he suggests while encouraging readers to get creative with their own recipes. “Trail Food: Drying and Cooking Food for Backpacking and Paddling” is a slim volume with just 112 pages, but it is packed full of useful facts and charts. It’s the kind of book that is worth keeping handy, both in the kitchen and on the trail, and it would make a great gift for an outdoorsy person.

Dehydrated food may not sound very glamorous, but after reading Kesselheim’s book, you may find your mouth watering in anticipation of some of the meals he describes. The practicality of removing the water from your food will soon become clear. Take a walk on the dried side with “Trail Food: Drying and Cooking Food for Backpacking and Paddling.”