Ideas for Backpacking Meals 6/15/09 7:19 PM
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Ideas for Backpacking Meals
Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Cold cereal Peanut Butter Instant soups
(dried milk) Cheese Dehydrated dinners
Instant cereals Crackers Instant mac/cheese
(oatmeal, cream of wheat, etc) Rice Cakes Burritos
Breakfast bars Bagels, cream cheese Bread sticks, rolls
Bagels Beef Jerky Instant rice mixes
Dried fruit Canned meat (chicken/tuna/ham) Dried noodle mixes (Lipton noodles)
Orange/apple Dry salami/pepperoni Canned chicken/ham/tuna, etc
Juice Summer sausage Frozen foil dinner, pack in dry ice
Nuts Instant soups PBJ
Beef jerky Apples/orange Quick Cook Chili mix
Precooked Bacon Dried fruit (add summer sausage)
Pancakes/syrup Carrots MRE
Instant cocoa Chips, canned dips Jambalaya or red beans & rice mixes
Powdered breakfast drink Powdered fruit drinks Instant mashed potatoes
Dehydrated eggs Pita bread Fresh vegetables to sauté
Muffins Nuts, trail mix Pre-made frozen chili, pasta, etc.
Cookies Instant desserts
Energy bars Spaghetti/canned sauce
Quesadillas Baked potatoes in foil on campfire
Pizza
Trader Joe’s – instant single serving portions of oatmeal, soups, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes; trail
mix and dried fruits, nuts, canned meats.
Any grocery store – Lipton noodle and sauce pouches, rice mixes, jambalaya mix, red beans and rice,
quick cook chili mixes, instant soup cups, instant oatmeal, canned meats to add to mixes, tuna salad and
crackers in a can, small cans of Pringles, energy bars, powdered drink mixes (lemonade, cocoa,
Gatorade, etc.) Instead of bread, bring bagels, crackers, pita bread, tortillas, hard french rolls, which all
pack easier. Make a pizza with Boboli bread or foccacia and canned sauce and cheese. Instant muffin
mixes which only require water can be cooked like biscuits in your frypan with a lid over low heat.
Fast food restaurants – save extra individual packets of salt, pepper, ketchup, salsa, soy sauce, maple
syrup, honey, margarine, jelly, barbeque sauce, etc. to add to meals.
Popular and REI: Dehydrated meals (expensive), energy bars, instant drink mixes, MREs.
Organize each meal in a large Ziploc bag with all ingredients you need for that meal. After that meal, the
Ziploc bag can be used as a garbage bag, easier than carrying a large garbage bag tied to the outside of
your pack. Get ideas from what the adults and older scouts are cooking. Be creative!
Hiking checklist
Scout Gear Checklist
| Scout Gear Checklist | ||||
| Basic Gear | Packed | | Gear - Personal | Packed |
| Pack | | | 1 small tube of suntan lotion if needed | |
| Pack Cover | | | 1 small biodegradable soap, in a zip lock bag | |
| Ground Cloth / Plastic sheet | | | Mosquito/Tick & Chigger repellant or spray(seasonal) | |
| Sleeping Bag ( Min of 20 degrees, in plastic bag/stuff sack) | | | 1 Lip balm with UV | |
| Foam sleeping pad (closed-cell or Therm-a-Rest) | | | 1 small towel for cleanup | |
| 1 Poncho or rain suit in lieu of poncho. | | | Toothbrush & paste | |
| Straps or cord to tie gear to the pack (NO bungee cords) | | | Several Paper Towels-Napkins-Tissues in a Zip Lock bag | |
| | | | Toilette Paper (1/4 roll in a Zip Lock bag) | |
| Clothing: Wear | | | 1-2 Moleskin Plus pads for Blisters. | |
| 1 pair of WOOL socks. (No cotton). | | | Medical Items: EPI Pens, Medications, etc. | |
| 1 pair Polypro sock inner liners. | | | | |
| Boots (waterproof) | | | | |
| Long Pants or Shorts (Seasonal) Quick dry, no Jeans | | | Gear - Misc. | |
| T-Shirts-Long Sleeve (wicking,quick dry) | | | 1 headlight AND/OR a very small flashlight | |
| Long Underwear (seasonal) | | | Sun glasses (optional) | |
| Light/Heavy Jacket (seasonal) | | | Compass (not Lensatic) | |
| Hat (wide brim preferred for sun & rain protection) | | | Whistle | |
| Hat (wool/fleece knit hat for cold weather & sleeping) | | | Straps (NO bungee cords) | |
| | | | Spare line | |
| Clothing - Pack | | | Scout Handbook | |
| 1 or 2 pair of WOOL socks. (No cotton). | | | Small Pad & Pencil-Pen | |
| 1or 2 pair Polypro sock inner liners. | | | Tri-Pod stool | |
| 1 Sweater/fleece (seasonal. | | | 2 Large H/D garbage bags | |
| Change of clothes & other items: gloves, etc. | | | | |
| | | | Food | |
| Gear - Food & Water | | | Food items in Zip Lock bags: | |
| Bowl (cool whip works great) | | | 1 Night Camp outing: | |
| Spoon/Fork | | | Saturday Bag Lunch | |
| 1 Nalgene bottle w/o tape | | | Saturday Dinner items as assigned by the Patrol Leader | |
| 1 Nalgene bottle w/duct tape (3 wraps) | | | Sunday Breakfast items as assigned by the Patrol Leader | |
| 1 Cup (measuring style) for cocoa, oatmeal, etc. | | | Money for Sunday fast food lunch on the way home | |
| | | | 2 Night Camp outing: All items for 1 Night + | |
| | | | Saturday Breakfast items as assigned by the Patrol Leader | |
| | | | Saturday Lunch items as assigned by the Patrol Leader or Bag Lunch | |
| | | | Extra/Personal Items | |
| | | | Instant Oatmeal, snacks in small bags, cereal bars, etc | |
| | | | Instant | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Hiking/Camping tips - See Links for Meal Tips
The number one thing to remember is “Keep it Simple”. The saying goes, “If you take care of the ounces the pounds will take care of themselves”
Gear:
- You will want to dress warmly and prepare to sleep warmly as well. This will add a little weight to the pack but well worth it.
- Pack one change of clothes for each of you. No more.
- Get good footwear. Some folks like the Keen boots from Blue Ridge Mountain Sports and they give a 10% scout discount.
- Get two pair of wool socks and liners for each of you. These are critical for hiking. We prefer the SmartWool brand from BRMS. Take another pair for camp and sleeping in. Do not sleep in wet socks or clothes.
- Some folks like to use hammocks and tarps. That would cut your costs down. Or you can split your tent between the two of you – one takes the poles and fly, the other takes the tent
- If you want a personal stove, the MSR Pocket Rocket is a good entry level stove. The JetBoil is nicer but it has a much higher entry cost. You just need something to boil water in.
- You will want to have a head lamp rather than a flashlight. Much lighter and easier to manage when setting up camp in the dark. We like the Petzl head lamps. Again BRMS
- Pack Toilet Paper! The Privies do not have paper in them.
- Pack a first aid kit with at a minimum bandaids, moleskin, motrin (for your back) and duct tape (roll short lengths into small packets)
- Pack your pack with the weight to the bottom and back of your pack. Put your food on top.
- Your packs should weigh in at 20% of your body weight fully packed with gear, food and water.
Food:
- See the attached recommended cold weather camping food list. This is a good guide.
- You can buy Mountain House at Dicks or BRMS. Or you can go to the grocery store and make up your own list. This is cheaper. If you do, repack everything into ziplock bags and then put each meal in a gallon ziplock and label it for easy retrieval. Use the extra bags to put your clothes in. This lightens the load, gets rid of trash and organizes things so that you can get to them quickly. Trash just goes back into the gallon bag when you are done and you pack it out. Remember to practice Leave No Trace
- Pack a candy bar for each of you. Save them for late in the day when you are tired. It will give you the boost that you need to get into camp.
- Water, Water and more Water. This is critical you need to hydrate all day long.
- Be sure to pack a rope to hang your bear bag with.
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