My Favorite Food on the PCT

Food is probably the thing most thru-hikers talk about, so here are some of my favorite things to eat whether I'm cooking, going stoveless, or just snacking.
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[@jamesdarby3991]

Legend has it Raymond is looking for his noodles to this day

[@Nestta5252]

Raymond 😂😂😂😂

[@flyintdub1]

Is it so difficult to say RAW-MEN 😂

[@HomemadeWanderlust]

@@flyintdub1 it’s impossible

[@scottyplug]

@@HomemadeWanderlust I freakin' love that you're still commenting on a 4 year old video!!!! Hike on Dixie!

[@rayross997]

I found my noodles, but lost my mind.

[@Starburst9821]

I add nutritional yeast to almost everything I make, especially potatoes! It has a cheesy flavor and adds Vitamin B12 without carrying too much weight. I also like to add chia, flax, and hemp seeds to oats for added fiber and nutritional value; keeps me fuller longer as well.

[@sarahfryman]

I also add ground chia, flax and hemp seeds to my oats. I'll have to try the nutritional yeast.

[@leapintothewild]

Ditto all the seeds, but going to try the yeast! I also like to mix wheat germ in oats and dinners.

[@nikkineal6431]

I love nutritional yeast. We buy it in bulk.

[@AugustHawk]

We love nutritional yeast! It's permanently replaced Old Bay and Mrs. Dash for our all around seasoning! Awesome reminder!

[@jplxlabelle1681]

vegetablemonster Well done👌. Also, try quinoa. It's super fuel, and can be added to anything as it is almost flavorless. It's a grain like no other.

[@stonetoolcompany3649]

One priceless item my friends and I always carried on the PCT back in the late '60's was packets of Milkman instant milk that had some butterfat in it instead of being non fat. After a really hard day on the trail, we would empty a packet of this into wide mouth canteen (before the Nalgene era), and fill with boiling water, and shake. This was about double strength, rich and comforting, and helped relax and sleep well. Something about hot milk really relaxes you. Each of us often did this. I make soaked 9 grain cereal soaked in home made kefir, and include a few other things including dried fruit and nuts, leaving it soak for a week or so in the fridge, then dehydrating it so I have an instant product (nuts and fruits added later). This creates a very high energy breakfast, and I often reconstitute it with dried whole milk (Nestle Nido) included. My LEM dehydrator has been one of the best investments I've made for backpacking. I do many dried meats, dried fruit leather, veggie powder, etc. Noodle dishes can be made up and cooked at home, then dehydrated..... They take no cooking, just hot water like freeze dried foods, and they are personalized. You can also dehydrate cheeses and powder them for a superior product to add to your noodles, and even sauces can be cooked down to a paste consistency and dehydrated and powdered. With meats, I may make them like jerky, or just dehydrate without the intense flavor, always leaving more moisture than is typical, making them pleasant to eat..... I precook using sous vide before dehydrating. This makes it tender, and allows flavors to permeate the meat. Dehydrating scrambled eggs or just the yokes and powdering them makes for a great thickener to enhance other foods. I also find that I can make egg noodles at home that include various powdered veggies, they hold up well compared to the similar products from the store that tend to break up and lack the noodle texture. Noodles are a very powerful food due to the high egg content. There are l countless ways to make meals for backpacking, make them appetizing and nutritious.

[@andi2234]

Stone Tool Company - your comment made me want to try all of what you wrote about and then go camping. I'm too old to start now, but what you did when you went camping, to me, sounds like the real way to go!! Thanks for sharing :)

[@dianesmigelski5804]

For a whole milk powder I use Nido brand. Nestle owns it now. But it’s full fat and tastes so much better.

[@cubweekly]

Great information, than you for taking the time.

[@toughlikerocks]

I eat overnight oats every day but it never occurred to me to dehydrate them. Fantastic idea! Thank you.

[@lancelawhorn1020]

That mental trick about eat what you love first is the most genius & best trail earned advice I’ve ever heard!!! It was same in army because we would get a whole case if mre’s & I always ate my favorite first!!! Love your channel!!!

[@augreich]

Cheese Tortellini brother! Semper Fi

[@kevindblew6822]

“Always eat your favorite thing.” That was epiphanal for me. If I eat my favorite thing first. When it’s gone, the second favorite now becomes the most favorite. So seems I should always be pretty happy with my meal, right ? Blessings for your journey & thanks for your insights!

[@elizabeths.9718]

Me too! I had to sit there and pause the video to really take in what she said because it was a revolutionary thought!

[@montyollie]

When fuel is no object, it's rice and lentils all day long. The litte red lentils cook WAY quicker than the brown ones. And they are so yummy, so full of protein. A soup cube or powdered onion soup mix in with the rice and beans MMMMmmm

[@RTmadnesstoo]

I could see one of her mayo packets making that great !

[@herenowlife]

Red lentil cook quicker to they are good with those instant rice packets

[@vincetrujillojr510]

yummy! :)

[@Romin.777]

Yummy just as couscous.

[@embunchofnumbers]

Red lentils are not that full of protein

[@sarahdavis3345]

This past season I discovered cherry tomatoes and cut up string cheese with salt and pepper makes a nice little caprese salad to pack out!

[@Sheltonism]

Sarah Davis would make ramen extra good too!

[@kimberlymayo9951]

Or add cut up cucumbers also to the cut up tomatoes and cheese.

[@paulespi]

You had me at Ra-men Noddles :) Your videos always makes my day. Keep them coming Dixie! One of my best tricks on thru hikes is packing up in the morning, have a quick bar and just start hiking to get the body warm. I am an early starter and I found eating breakfast in camp in the cold mornings not too fun and hard to digest. So I would hit the trail and then wait for the sun to rise a bit and have breakfast in a nice sunny spot (even better with a view) down the trail. I can usually get an hour or two of mileage before craving a proper breakfast. Not for everyone but it works great for me. Another bonus is passing all the other campers on trail still sleeping or packing up - hour or so later they would catch up to me sitting at my nice sunny spot eating. Say hello and offer them some hot coffee or tea. Nice way to make trail friends.

[@SandCrabNews]

Hot cocoa: add cinnamon, coffee crystals, evaporated milk, on cold days margarine. Oatmeal: add raisins, cinnamon, margarine, peanut butter, honey, fried egg. Ramen: raisins, canned chicken or tuna or SPAM, egg, soy sauce, frozen mixed vegetables when you have snow. Mashed potatoes and Stove-top cornbread stuffing mix with canned chicken. Snacks: Spanish peanuts, roasted cashews, sliced almonds, raisins, walnut bits, dried apricots, shelled-roasted-salted sunflower seeds, dark chocolate chips. Beef jerky (4 ounces equals a pound of fresh meat). Be sure to carry salt. In fact, I've started using Salt Substitute for Potassium to prevent leg cramps. Lite Salt combines Salt, Potassium and Magnesium. Spices: I mix ground black pepper, chili powder, granulated garlic and oregano flakes in a shaker. For breakfast a mix of sugar and cinnamon helps. You can skip refined white sugar and use brown sugar or even better dark muscovado sugar.

[@AugustHawk]

Coucous. Rehydrates so easily (w hot or cold water) and so many add-in options changes this dish each time. Great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. (One of our favorites is to add taco powder to the couscous along with a few dehydrated veggies and chedder cheese.)

[@RTmadnesstoo]

I try to do a 3 week trip every couple years. I find a road crossing the trail and bury half of my food to resupply and I put a Jello Instant Cheese Cake in the hole for something to look forward to. On the Long Trail in Vermont we calculated incorrectly and ran out of food on the first half. We saved enough bread and cheese for a grilled cheese sandwich the night before the resupply and had no breakfast in the morning. By the time we dug up our food all I could think about was cheese cake and we ate it sitting around the hole while repacking. Definitely the most memorable food I ever ate in the woods. Maybe you had to be there. I have been carrying some combination of cashews, raisins and m&m plus whatever all my life.

[@bartekmuszynski1424]

I love what you said about eating the favorite food in your backpack every time. It's the exact opposite of what most of our parents told us - like you have to have desert last!

[@eatyoriceful]

Mashed potatoes with rehydrated corn, mushrooms and brocollii!!! Tastes like shepherd's pie :)

[@jdraganable]

Dixie, enjoying watching you each week from the canyons of Manhattan. I am 65 this year and you inspired me to section hike the AT in the Shenandoah''s this summer. As we said years ago "Keep on truckin!"

[@tabithaimnottellin]

Dixie I love your video's, very informative. I section hike (one weekend at a time) This past weekend I found a new favorite dinner. I dehydrated pulled pork and some home made mash potatoes. For dinner on the trail the pulled pork re-hydrated perfectly. I re-hydrated the mash potatoes with the pulled pork and ate it on tortillas. I dehydrate my own dinners and this is defiantly one I will have each time I go out.

[@dat2ra]

A great backpacking food resource, especially if you have 3-4 people in a group is the NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) cookbook. Amazing meals of all kinds and all well tested. For me the big breakthrough was the "spice bag" consisting of a few select spices and vinegar which, when used to create the recommended sauces and spice combination made the bland base foods really good. Check it out. Also, I do a lot of touring ocean kayaking. Gear weight (within reason) is less of an issue than volume. I make packets of pre-assembled ingredients for a meal, and often augment it with sea food: clams, oysters, fish, lobster, crab; or with black berries, salal berries, or goose berries. I remember one epic meal of clam coppino followed by black berry cobbler, baked in the suprb and light weight Banks Fry Bake pan with main ingredients gathered at the little island where we were camped on the northern BC coast. I know this is off topic, but .......

[@russelljackman1413]

Time and again, you made me smile and giggle--thanks for that! Your video was not only very informative, it was absolutely enjoyable! Happy Trails, Dixie!

[@IronBubbles]

The mushrooms and seaweed are such a good idea -super healthy and light to carry!

[@scruffy281]

Love the healthy carbs..........so smart!

[@delisubysamich]

I’ve packed out steak on a canoe trip before- they were frozen when we left in the morning and then we cooked them over a fire that night, but my absolute favorite thing I’ve had on trail is rehydrated falafel!

[@jenskimble]

At first I thought your southern accent was going to be annoying, but I quickly fell in love with your videos. Friendly and so informative! Thanks for your straightforward good sense and speaking on my beginner level.

[@abc-wv4in]

My current favorite snack while WATCHING hiking videos is the Blue Diamond dark chocolate almonds. They aren't the usual chocolate-covered; it's almost like infused cocoa powder or something on them. My chair or sofa is the closest I'll come to hiking the AT even though I live in Georgia. LOL Love your videos! God bless...

[@MayoGurrrl]

I also love dark chocolate topped rice cakes. They're light weight but feel like a lovely treat on a hike.

[@Loathomar]

The issue for rice cakes on a thru hike is there size to calories. A large pack of them only has less then 500 calories, but takes a lot of room. A problem if you have 5 or more days and need all your food to go in a bear bag/box.

[@karljoachimgoll]

I hoped to get motivated to start hiking - now I'm hungry and motivated to try making mac and cheese.... .....love your videos.....

[@davidbuckles9950]

I’m a canoe tripper not a backpacker but require similar lightweight meals. One of my favourites is Mac and cheese with a packet of ham and rehydrated peas.

[@SeanHendy]

Rice. Great carbs, so easy to pack, carry, store, cook (steam method). Add sultanas, coriander powder, ground cumin, chilli flakes, jerky, etc for a tasty meal with lots of variation.

[@GlidingChiller]

In Germany, we typically eat Müsli for breakfast, which is rolled oats with cold milk and any mix of fresh or dried fruit and nuts. It's really good and I prefer it over hot oatmeal. So the cold oatmeal isnt weird at all.

[@s.campbell6394]

In warmer weather Payday's are my favorite no melt candy bar. If you need fire starter and it's not too windy, Fritos burn surprisingly well. Thank you for sharing what you've learned.

[@garshaw8404]

Hi Dixie, I have just started watching your channel and really appreciate listening to your tips. I have done a few UK long distance walks but these pale in contrast to the huge distances on the AT and PCT. I have a career break coming up in a couple of years though and the AT is on my list! I found Army issue boil in the bag rations great for multi day hikes if you can get hold of them, they are scientifically designed to provide you with the nutrients you need to be active and pack plenty of calories. They also reduce water consumption as you can boil them up for a meal and use the hot water for a tea or coffee. The down side however is weight, because they are already hydrated they are heavy so I don't recommend carrying one bag for every meal. I generally carry 1 per day as it is a solid fuel source and make up the rest of my food with dry goods as much as possible. I also often eat the boil in the bag for breakfast, regardless of what it is, as it gives you a lot of fuel for the day ahead. Thanks again for the videos.

[@sabreteeth1212]

We toast thick rounds of summer sausage over the campfire to make what we call "meat marshmallows." Greasy, salty, crunchy, hot. I love that you talked about the foods you're sick of too. Happy to see non-bar, non-tuna, non-peanut butter suggestions.

[@alexhearing3689]

Used to fry my summer sausage and then pour "just add water" pancake mix over it. Fried summer sausage is the bomb!

[@deec6535]

I do understand being unable to ever eat anything again. For me it’s bologna (one summer it’s all we had to eat for three months as a kid), and anything out of my 8th grade packed lunch. That was mini bagel with cream cheese, carrot stick, crunchy pretzels, and apple juice. The thought of any of those things still turns my stomach. Every single day for an entire school year, that was it. I’ve never tired of ramen noodles, though. I hope I never tire of peanut butter. Cliff bars are another “never again” for me. I ate way too many of those, Luna Bars, any bar really, while in the military. I can’t even think about eating a cliff bar.

[@kendog53]

A soup with bisquit on the top while cooking covered and big biscuit would form on top of the soup. You will be very happy

[@savannah8638]

You talking about the candy making your days better is so sweet! You're so cute! Much love! I'm a beginner and have only done weekend backpacking trips, but my fave meal on those have been veggie wraps...made with spinach, bell peppers, red onion, carrot, ginger, microgreens...super yummy! I've got a couple trips planned for this summer and am looking forward to trying some of the foods you mentioned. Thank you for all the awesome videos :)

[@luize-ingridklimova3612]

Somehow this vid in particular got me really excited about planning a through-hike for 2018 (not the pct, shorter, but still my first). I mean, who doesn't love anything related to food :D Thanks for the inspiration!

[@googiegress]

The statement about eating the thing that is your favorite out of what's available is really sharp. Great stuff as always, but that really stuck out. Thanks!

[@stellarpod]

I was so surprised to hear you name three of my ALL-TIME favorites, Dixie: 1) Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, 2) Fritos and Bean Dip (I like the *hot* version), and 3) SNICKERS. You have hit the trifecta with me, girl! Great segment. As always, thanks so much for sharing. Steve

[@jimbrown8313]

Ive been backpacking for 40 years and learn something evey time i watch one of your videos. Your videos are the cold standard of videos. Informative, fast paced not filled with "uuhhs and you knows" and pointless babel.

[@sandrakramer1520]

gold standard 🙃

[@gaerdner2k]

Listening to you talking about food feels like being back on the trail again :D... My favorite food was: Oriental Ramen with crunchy peanut butter, even more peanuts and thai chili tuna (+hot sauce and spices if I had any)!

[@Quentin217]

As you described these recipes, some of them sounded like I might like them and some did not. Quite a few seemed alien to any experience that I ever had or would want to have. I had a lot of experience backpacking during the '70's and "80's in the Passayten Wilderness Area of central Washington and on the River of No Return in Idaho. I liked to eat Rice A Roni, Stove Top stuffing, and powdered instant mashed potatoes. If I had tinned chicken or beef, I oft times would mix some with the Rice A Roni. I carried fishing gear and a .22 pistol for to procure additional protein in the form of trout and grouse. I never made a pig of myself, but just took what I could eat for that day or perhaps a trout for breakfast the next day. A body straining under a load at high altitude needs to repair a lot of muscle and needs protein to do it. When I first bought my Camp Trails 3/4 frame pack in '72, I also bought a lot of Mountain House freeze dried foods. That was the first and the last year that I did that because the prices of them tripled by the summer of '73. Running from north to south along the western edge of the Passayten Wilderness area is the Pacific Crest Trail. My first time upon it, I just crossed over it from the Boundary Trail in '79 and then dropped away down to the Three Fools area, Lightening Creek, and ultimately to the shore of Ross Lake. What I saw there ultimately inspired me to buy the canoe which I still own to this very day and have much used and loved. The second time I hit the Pacific Crest Trail was in "81 when I intersected it at the same place as in '79. In "81 I took the Pacific Crest Trail due south to Hart's Pass and then to Rainy Pass on Highway 20 and on south to where I branched off to Stehekin at the north end of Lake Chelan. There I took a luxurious bath in the lake and then took the tourist boat Lady of the Lake to the bustling tourist metropolis of Chelan. There I stayed overnight in a hotel and then took the bus to Oroville where my car was parked at a friend's house. From there I drove home about 20 miles. On that day when I got to Lake Chelan, I stopped for a hour for to eat huckleberries. They were so delicious that I got some idea of what it is like to be an addict. I was very aware of the departure time of the Lady of the Lake and was also very aware of a huge black bear that was also gorging himself on the huckleberries. I guess we both knew that there was plenty for both of us and that we could get along. it was very hard to tear myself away and get down the trail.

[@davidcox9115]

well done Dixie:) lots of info..im starting my thru hike third week of feb..on the AT. going to be cold but id rather have more time to enjoy the trail..more zero days.you can carry all kinds of dried beans also..early in the day pour water in a zip lock bag soak beans as you walk..its a little more weight .but in the evening you can have county Ham and pintos or your favorite meat.

[@SCSlimBoiseID]

+Homemade Wanderlust Good stuff, makes good sense. Food is not only fuel for the body but for the soul. So yeah - eat what you like, not just for energy but for comfort, enjoyment, and morale. Looking forward to your CDT series in the new year. Happy Trails.

[@swagmoneymaddy]

i feel like good camping videos are hard to find but i love yours!

[@adamfleck956]

best tip i have received in a while: Cooking the oatmeal in the bag. Love it. Thank you

[@alexhearing3689]

Pro-tip: add a hot coco packet in that packet, it will change your life.

[@OldPackMule]

1/2 cup of Instant oatmeal (unflavored), cranberries, walnuts and a little bit of brown sugar to taste.

[@djg5950]

Did that one on my section hike. Favorite instant oatmeal (I cook rolled oats at home). Buy the Quaker original unflavored and add dried cranberries, chopped walnuts, and 1 tablespoon brown sugar. I had little packets of the fruit, nuts, and sugar already mixed in a little ziplock baggie. You can find small ones in the craft section of Walmart or in any craft store like Michaels or Hobby Lobby.

[@jenanjuice2003]

Also soy milk powder:)

[@williambranham6249]

@@djg5950 I would rather eat the paper bag the instant oats come in.. I can tolerate instant grits minus the bag, however.

[@djg5950]

@@williambranham6249 I got sick of them real fast when I sectioned hiked. Wouldn't eat them. I only had the brown sugar ones. The rolled oats (not precooked) don't take all that long to cook (suggests 5 minutes) but they can probably be cooked for 1 minute and taste ok. Maybe a little crunchy but that doesn't bother me. I eat them right out of the container, uncooked. I like the taste of oatmeal (oatmeal cookies, yummy !). Grits are ok, too. But I eat those plain, cooked. Most add butter or milk. I just like a lot of foods plain, no sauces or butter (spices, yes) and hate all the sugar added to processed foods. My problem backpacking was that I prefer fresh food and avoid processed sugary, too salty processed foods. Those are the foods that are killing everyone now but what most backpackers eat an abundance of due to weight and cooking time (saving fuel). Also processed foods have a lot of calories. Hard to get enough eating broccoli, asparagus, apples, bananas, and apricots while hiking !

[@williambranham6249]

@@djg5950 Ideally, a food wrapper should be invented that can be eaten along with the contents. Less trash.

[@rayrau76]

I took a snickers bar for all eight days in the Eagle Cap Wilderness, was amazing! I ended up having to share 1/2 with my hiking brother, it became something that we both looked forward to every night. Thank you!

[@bird.1980]

I think between Darwin and Dixie we've got everything for backpacking covered....lets see some trails!

[@livinglike_lisa7954]

I really enjoy your videos. You have a very accepting attitude and engaging personality. I also like your video shots of all of the nature around you on the trail. I am looking forward to my first backpacking trip this spring at the age of 55. Keep them coming! I watched your entire PCT hike and a little of your Appalachian trail especially in New England since that’s where I’m from. I currently live about a half hour south of Hanover, NH, originally from Boston but I also lived in CA and visited my daughter in Oregon this past fall with all of the fires there so that was all very interesting to me.

[@PosterQue1]

Dixie, will you please do a video on your resupply strategy? Thanks! Love the channel!!!

[@EvieVermont]

I spent a summer as a caretaker on VT,s Long Trail and loved my mashed potatoes with some tuna, mayo and fresh tomatoes! I also tried to eat cheese a couple times a week and avocados when I resupplied. When folks came to see me I always asked them to bring me apples and m and mS which I always craved. Soups were great- the ones you just add water to. I loved hot chocolate and developed a love of instant coffee. Your ideas are great! Thanks, because the dried fruits, veg and mushrooms are essential! Oh spices! And the mayo packs, great idea!

[@EvieVermont]

Oops I meant to post this after your FOOD post! Sorry!

[@brianhildebrand6272]

Packet of chicken, packet of stove top stuffing, packet of instant potatoes, packet of instant gravy. It's like Thanksgiving on the trail!!!!

[@massholevanlife9597]

dont forget to add cranberries

[@duanepegg4136]

Dang! That sounds good.

[@briannab5296]

That does sound good, where do you buy it?

[@wanderingjim7402]

Was going to post my similar recipe until i saw this, I add dehydrated corn to mine.

[@junoskinner3718]

@No you - such a baby. Grow up.

[@aileenfinch4882]

You are a delight. Thanks for your pointers.

[@kellirustin7944]

Dehydrated Mexican beans and rice with beef recipe from the backpacking gourmet cookbook is bOmb cold soaked On a tortilla with a packet of squeeze cheese. Also, I bring clarified butter or Ghee to put on everything and to cook fish. Another great video!

[@SandCrabNews]

Store-bought canned refried beans can be dried in an oven. Jalapeno flavor Mmmm.

[@djg5950]

My recipe for bean burritos: 1 can refried beans, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 t salt, 1/4 t garlic powder, 1/2 t Tabasco sauce. Add 1 small can chopped green chilies. Heat on stove and spread thin on parchment paper or plastic sheet that comes with a dehydrator. Dehydrate. On the trail I rehydrate (played around with amount of water, about 1/4 cup and 2 oz bean mix) with hot water. I ended up cooking it after it rehydrated for a few seconds because it rehydrated better (fully) that way. Spread it on a flour tortilla and any kind of cheese and eat. They are delicious and taste the same as fresh made if you cook the beans for better rehydration (not really important on the trail and when you are starving so can omit doing that). I used mostly cheddar chunks cut from a 1 lb. block that I carried but you can use those string cheese sticks or any other type of your favorite cheese. Absolutely delicious meal.

[@elizabeths.9718]

I'm a new subscriber and I have been watching all of your videos incessantly recently because you really inspire me and make me want to complete a thru-hike one day! Thank you.

[@Moodyhammer]

Got water for a few days, grow sprouts in a bag hanging outside your pack in 3 days.

[@E620SE]

no calories :/

[@Moodyhammer]

@@E620SE For the fresh food option on the track, also contains nutrients at a low cost and weight factor. Cant just trek long distance and smash sugar for months on end.

[@GypsyHaze21]

I absolutely love oatmeal for breakfast lunch and dinner! I see people making a lot of oatmeal for breakfast putting sugary things like fruit in it but I have recently discovered that you can add anything that you would put on top of a rice dish to oatmeal and it's the same thing just a slightly different consistency my personal favorite a fried egg steamed broccoli ,turmeric and sriracha. Though I've never been hardcore backpacking (yet) I'm sure this dish would be obtainable , oatmeal sounds more lightweight than rice does. Just a side note, not sure if you know this but you can soak steel cut oats for 4 to 24 hours in milk or water rather than cooking them. It reduces the phytic acid content and helps your body to utilize the nutrients much more efficiently being as there is no heat applied. Anyways thanks for the videos they are hella inspiring!!:)

[@GypsyHaze21]

Haha second later in the video you talk about cold soaking.

[@lorettagallagher]

My personal food tips are always having an avocado on hand use the skin as a vessel to reuse as a bowl Serrano Chile and either a tortilla or bollilo 🍞. So easy and so delish.

[@gonagain]

Great video Dixie! My wife and I used to do extensive ocean sailing and the motto was "If you're always eating the best, then you're always eating the best!" Don't save the good stuff...

[@genewest7690]

always great to hear from you Dixie,I still crack up everytime you SA raymen noodle's... peace

[@2ndSummer]

I like to make a bag with Cheerios, almonds, m&ms, peanuts, raisins. And I snack on that throughout the day. I also love summer sausage and cheese.

[@farstrider79]

I guess you can call me an addict too, I carry instant coffee everyday to work and rarely ever bother to heat it up. Honestly in the summer, instant coffee in ice water tastes just as good as a three dollar iced coffee. Enjoy the channel, keep up the good work!

[@antoniabaker7770]

Kevin does it disolve ok or is it still a bit grainy?

[@casperinmd]

@@antoniabaker7770 I use instant when hiking in cold water, shakes perfectly smooth. I add it to a chocolate carnation instant breakfast, yummm

[@antoniabaker7770]

@@casperinmd Thanks, will give it a try.

[@hillarywalker4587]

I was responsible for breakfast for 7 including my young nephews. It was a cold weather hike, so I wanted something warm. I made Krusteaz pancakes and cooked summer sausage in the pan with the pancakes (the fat from the sausage added a nice crisp to the pancakes). The kids loved it! I even brought some butter and real Maple syrup.

[@swissmiss9749]

Not a thru hiker but we camp in the Boundary Waters for a week at a time and need to carry everything. Thanks for the food tips! For dinner we like to catch fish, mix it with a starch (quinoa is good!) and wrap in tortillas. :)

[@sosteve9113]

Missy Altschwager same here

[@williambranham6249]

I met a Swiss Miss in Gorham N.H. in 1998 at the hiker hostel. You are probably not her but either way, "hello".

[@mikemueting7344]

I love the way you stick to your guns concerning the pronunciation of Ramen Noodles!

[@briannab5296]

Awesome! .. love the tip about eating your favorite food first. TFS 👍😎

[@dereksummers4867]

Foraging is an incredible skill to have if you do enough research. It'll allow you to at the very least find some tasty, fresh, local plants to add to what you pack. Even if you only pack the same flavour of ramen, you'll find new stuff to add every day. Just gotta learn foraging separate from thru hiking because it's not the kind if thing you wanna guess at on trail.

[@williamburton307]

We mix Couscous with our own custom spices, not the over salted ones that a lot of them come with, then we add cashews and dried cranberries:). Breakfast is Pumpkin spiced oatmeal with chia seeds and pumpkin seeds and we add some tropical muesli with coconut, sunflower seeds, dried strawberries and macadamia nuts. Finally, I have hikes hundreds of miles and have never had to wash my pot, I use zip lock freezer quart bags because they can handle boiling water . Every thing I eat can be cooked like that, cause I'm not out there to wash dishes! Love your videos:)

[@bugscheese]

Wow William, I'm trying that...today! Thanks!

[@antoniabaker7770]

Omg William that all sounds delicious. Pumpkin spiced oatmeal. The most extravagant thing ive come across in oatmeal is chai seeds. Lol

[@Philosophy15125]

Oh Moroccan food😋

[@steveallison7950]

I love good food on the trail. I will do/have done the hard work of all the miles, I want a delicious, interesting, satisfying meal - especially for dinner. For me it was worth the time and effort to get a dehydrator and really learn how to use it. Then I built an arsenal of recipes so I can have very different things every day and easily not repeat for a week or more. At home, I like all different kids of food, so it is important to me to be able to scratch similar itches on the trail like mexican food night, asian food night, etc. So when others are breaking out their umteenth pack of ramen, I am having chicken tangene wraps or tamale pie. Yummmmy. Specific suggestions: I use and like the Lipsmackin Backpackin series of books a lot. I have many others that I make meals from, but they are a common and reliable go-to. Use couscous for breakfast in sweet (vs savory) applications. It's easy, works great, and packs in some calories. make or buy powdered breakfast smoothies. It is a big shot of taste and calories to add to the oatmeal. Thanks Dixie. You're the best!

[@MayoGurrrl]

On Camino type long distance hikes where we pass through villages on a daily basis I usually bought pain au chocolat (chocolate filled croissant) for my mid morning snack. Lunch would be an artisan style bread /baguette freshly bought in a French or Doanish bakery with butter, cheese, fresh tomatoes (or some baguette type sandwich made up fresh that morning in a village), or a good quality dried meat sausage. Butter and cheese will keep in not too hot weather. I'd mix it up depending on what I felt like eating... Sometimes I'd pack out tuna or salad or other foods depending on my mood. All relatively heavy-ish but I pack light otherwise so it's worth the weight for me.

[@MRBenchwork]

I have a growing obsession with jerky and I'm currently trying every brand and type I can get my hands on. I'm looking at cold soaking most of my meals so this will be a convenient way to get some additional protein. That said, I'm still going to carry a stove, just not a traditional camp stove as I've found lighter weight options and I only plan on cooking once every 3-4 days. As I'm doing research on foods I can hike with I'm surprised by how heavy some food is. It's not something I've ever paid much attention to but since I have back issues I have no choice but to be an ultra lite snob and videos like yours are very helpful for gathering ideas.

[@greenley77]

Horsey sauce from Arby's in the taters is great too!

[@MrPhins]

So good! Arby's hides the horsey sauce when they see me coming with my pack lol

[@leapintothewild]

I don't like mayonnaise, but will put Horsey sauce on every freaking thing! yum

[@visamedic]

I always snag some extra jelly packets from Mc Donald’s. I hate McDonalds as an adult, but I always gravitate toward them in spring before I start hiking

[@LisaAnn164]

So does the Arby's sauce👍❤!

[@mcgruffallo]

I never tire of lentil curry & fresh nan bread. The secret is to mix the bread dough (the strongest, highest-protein flour you can find, yeast, salt and nigella seeds) the day before. The dough will develop all on its own. No kneading required. The curry sauce can be tomato/onion leathers plus a dry spice mix, or jars of oily curry paste with everything ready-mixed. Some fresh ginger and cardamoms can really bring a curry to life. First, bring some red lentils to the boil and add the curry sauce & spices. Simmer for a couple of minutes then cover and set aside to finish cooking while you do the nan in a second pot. The nan bread is really easy when you get the hang of it. You'll need a little bag of "handling" flour to shape and dust the nan. Squeeze out a flat-ish disk between your palms then toss into a hot pan. Keep shaking from time to time to stop the dough sticking and flip it over when it starts to burn. Good nan is just a little bit burned - but not too much. There's a bit of trial and error here. It's very easy to end up with a lump of dough burnt on the outside and raw in the middle. Try making them thinner if that's a problem. When it works, fresh nan bread hot off the stove and a delicious, fragrant curry makes an awesome meal.

[@joelstudemeyer7720]

Put a packet of instant grits in your Mt. House scrambled eggs & bacon w/ some extra water - tastes great

[@robertsweeney8740]

Yep "Snickers" is the food that satisfies. I always carry powdered Saracha and Tabasco packets. They always put a zing into bland food.

[@wilsongranta]

One of my favorite dinners, one of the dinners that always made me happy despite whatever the AT had to throw at me, was Stove Top cornbread stuffing with bacon bits & dried veggies. One bag of stuff normally made 2 meals. Even when I was consuming almost 6000 calories while doing 14 mile days thru The Whites. I used the real bacon bits & would order 8oz bags of dried veggies of Amazon. Mix them all together, then add water & wait!!! 5 minutes later & with some stirring, you have an amazing meal! I thru hiked the AT in 2018 and I leave April 1st to hike the PCT. I'm definitely going to pack out different foods depending on the section. Yet, after completing one thru hike, I know I can drastically vary what I'm eating depending on where I am. If I want avocados & spinach, I'm carrying avocados & spinach!!! Lmao Tough resupply options on the AT really made use my imagination on how to get calorie rich food while it still being something I'd actually like to eat. I dont eat in the first place & I'm done with (jar) peanutbutter too. I appreciate the videos & will keep watching! Hammocker-for-life! - Shepard

[@daveybernard1056]

Corn bread flavor of Stove Top Stuffing is the only good one. Try frying Italian sausages, then making the stuffing in the pot you fried the sausages in. People's mouths were hanging open at 12,000 ft. watching me.

[@rahvavaenlane]

Good stuff. Whey powder, dried cranberries and apricots, yoghurt powder, for oats, last one works also as coffee whitener, dry chorizo, egg powder, for potato mash etc..

[@jeffcuevas5918]

You can also use Fritos as a fire starter. Cooked in oil they burn for 5 to 6 min each making them perfect for getting wood fire started.

[@Jim-be8sj]

I really like this comment. It's always nice when something one carries can serve more than a single function. I never thought about food doing double duty before. I suppose olive oil could be used in the same way. For the hiker addicted to spicy foods there must be some way to concoct a hot sauce which serves a second purpose as a bear spray. :)

[@GoneFeralWithSquidly]

Chicken packet, drained Ziplock bag with jalapeño slices Taco seasoning packet Tortilla Makes a tasty cold meal. A little crunchy because of the seasoning, but really good.

[@samanthadodd8112]

Add dried ranch dressing too. It's great.

[@GoneFeralWithSquidly]

Hadn’t thought of that! Thanks😁

[@truthpopup]

Nuts are a high-energy snack with protein.

[@Cindy-ys9xb]

Great video! I do want to share my favorite! Ramen noodle base (do not use any of the flavoring packet), add olive oil, lemon powder, basil and salt to taste. You can buy lemon powder which comes in little packets, I carried a wee bit of basil in a little snack size zip lock... very light and very good! Experiment with the amount of lemon powder... a little less than half a pack for me.

[@heidihudgins4793]

Spoiled West Virginian I am, anytime we go camping or hiking, it’s pepperoni rolls! You can google them - it’s our state food and originated due to Italian immigrant coal miners needing a handheld snack that didn’t require refrigeration! It’s basically a bread roll baked with either stick, sliced or ground pepperoni at minimum, and the fancy ones have cheese and sometimes we add chili or peppers. They are true goodness, as any West Virginian knows, and they can hang out for a few days to a week without spoiling. They’re in every gas station here, but surrounding states forbid their sale due to the cheese and meat being unrefrigated. (Wussies). Dixie, lemme know a spot and date on the CDT when a crate of fresh baked ‘roni rolls might bounce your way!

[@spdychevy]

Heidi Hudgins OMG those sound AWESOME!

[@ashtontaylor3483]

They’re also available in PA gas stations.

[@genesnyder2985]

Heidi Hudgins Roni rolls are the best

[@arifahx1743]

Heidi Hudgins ,I'm from bluefield wv..so I know...most beautiful views ever!

[@samstewart4444]

Wow Heidi, your comment brought back some excellent memories. When I was a student at WVU (in the early 70s), I lived on pepperoni rolls. I haven't had one in over 40 years (since I moved to Colorado.)

[@davethewelder1]

Your video inspired me. I take dehydrated ground beef and use that in my soups, sandwiches . I also take a small ham. Cut off a chunk here and there, use it on sandwiches and other meals. My favorite condemints is mustard or ranch dressing. Keep up the great videos. Love them all.😎

[@daniel2segura]

Dixie, I’d recommend putting your product recommendation as a link to amazon. Then, if people buy them, you get a portion.

[@augreich]

I like a mixture of nuts/cashews/almonds and add some m&m's and/or dry fruit. Can't go wrong. Knew to your channel and I love how upbeat you are about everything. That's why you're fun to watch and learn . Keep enjoying the world cause we only live once. I've gotta get one of those camera attachments.

[@heidihudgins4793]

Snickers needs to sponsor you. 😂

[@joepiol5105]

The way she tends to show the snickers bar after mentioning it makes me suspect they already do.

[@briannab5296]

Wont they get melty in a backpack after a couple warm/hot days?

[@williambranham6249]

If you follow a boy scout troop you might have the good fortune of finding the Snicker minis on the trail.

[@williambranham6249]

@@briannab5296 Yep. Makes them slide out of the wrapper easier. I put mine in the creek before eating.

[@rebekahhoefs6598]

@@williambranham6249 Or put in hip belt to reduce heat. Definitely don't put in the hood of the pack :)

[@heklamariaarnardottir4789]

I carry trail mix (nuts, seeds and dried fruits) to munch on over the day and then I mix it into whatever I’m eating

[@samualiam9981]

*No Cook Backpacking* Every time I hear those words I think of the exiled scene from *Fighter in the wind* when Yang is in his hovel eating soaked acorns from a bucket of water and he begins to cry as he eats them...

[@HomemadeWanderlust]

Samual Iam 😂😂😂

[@samualiam9981]

If you can still get this link I would wager that this is how the mind of a thru-hiker feels from beginning to end... kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6SsmaSXrJeUja8

[@dominiqueritchey6795]

Those are gross cold

[@ronaldstarkey4336]

Stop eating acorns... lol

[@DavidThomas-sv1tk]

For a no-cook, rehydrated lunch or dinner, I really like tabouli. I add dehydrated tomato flakes and add olive oil to the commercial mix in advance. The oil is absorbed fully, so I don't fret (much) about any leakage.

[@HikerNine]

I've seen some cold soakers use a plastic Talenti gelato container. It's light, a pretty good size, and the lid screws down tight enough to survive a day in your pack. Heh, there's an article about Talenti containers on WaPo's web site too. :)

[@katiemayer9122]

I always use those, they work great!

[@OutandAboutWithDiane]

Thanks for this video and all the others! You have encouraged me to put in for a permit to thru-hike the PCT

[@bradw.5727]

I feel the same way about ramen as you do about PB. I burned myself out on them way back in the late 1980's in college, and to this day I can't imagine......

[@avelkm]

Chris Walker Bro... that story... I'm dying from laughing!!!

[@avelkm]

And for my ramen story, we used to eat them unhydrated (from the pack) as a crispy snack with a beer in highschool and University. Our local variaety is actually "tasty" dry (or so we thought).

[@ronaldstarkey4336]

@@avelkm yes... they are good that way... save the flavor packet for later... lol .

[@cooziehiker]

Good video. As a section hiker I like to have as much "real" food as I can. Oatmeal for breakfast is a favorite just like you. Tuna and triscuits, PB and honey sandwiches are lunch favorites. Dinner usually a FD meal.. NOT Mountain House. Alpine and backpacker pantry, along with good to go are the brands I like. I may consider a spinach wrap next hike. Thanks for the suggestion. BTW it was nice to meet you on the PCT last week On your way to the Ulrich Cabin.

[@jpawl4362]

Tortilla, peanut butter, honey, nuts and banana...superfood!

[@jasonholly7346]

love peanut butter burritos

[@clarkparry4079]

Dehydrating our own. We supplement with store bought like your examples. Lots of videos out there on dehydrating backpack food. Best investment we have made

[@astrog8tr]

I'm "just" (a simple) day hiker. I like my peanut butter filled pretzels. My dog likes them too. :) (BTW, I don't think Perk was too off base with the thing re: oatmeal, cream of wheat, etc digesting at different times. Cream of wheat is a simple carb and oatmeal is a complex carb, so the cream of wheat would digest first. But I think grits are a simple carb too.)

[@williambranham6249]

Neither wheat nor corn are simple carbs. Sugar is a simple carb.

[@williambranham6249]

@@MichaelTheophilus906 corn and wheat both contain sugar but they are not classified as a sugar. corn has more sugar in it than wheat, but it also contains oil, protein, and fiber. Wheat has almost no sugar as a percentage of calories. It is loaded with protein and fiber. No need to respond to my comment. Your time would be better spent accessing the internet and search corn and wheat nutritional content.

[@fyremanjef]

Another great wrap up video. Although I'm not going to thru hike the AT I live a few miles from it and often take the family camping near the place of the Ice Cream challenge. Makes sense to me now after always seeing people eating there. I like your meal plans as I use those with my camp/emergency foods I keep in my car and bag at work. Keep the videos coming.

[@jeffmitchell9214]

Also tell us about the meals that you bought along the trail . The To-Go stuff and the places to go in and eat. A food guide if you will...... Thanks.

[@SandCrabNews]

Look in your local grocery stores all of the stuff on the shelf. Also visit Asian, Mexican and Natural Foods stores.

[@NoOne-mf2uj]

Julia Marshall i

[@corn_pop6082]

She does have a great blog on that on shopping in towns on the Appalachian Trail.

[@uffa00001]

Taralli pugliesi: a sort of crackers or small dried tiny tiny bread, which is often seasoned with pepper, or fennel seeds, or chili, or basil, or tomato, or any other thing really; salame; coppiette (a kind of dried meat which used to be made with horse/donkey meat but now it's all pork because it's cheaper, but the sweetish horse ones are quite particular); I used to always bring a tube of condensed milk which I ate "as is". Also good is Cioccolato di Modica IGP, a chocolate prepared without the "conching" phase, it is guaranteed not to melt even in very hot days. Salted peanuts (more practical than peanut butter because you don't dirty stuff which is hard to clean) is my last thing because they "clean" the mouth and the salt somehow disinfects it and takes away all those bits of dried fruit (dried raisins, dried apricot etc end up being sticky) and chocolate. And talking about chocolate, "Pocket Coffee" (espresso-coffee-filled pralines) are good on the trail.

[@kfuller1419]

9:15 Little known fact about Fritos. They are fantastic little fire starters! Light one and hold it like a candle, and it'll burn for 5 minutes. Okay maybe not that long but pretty long

[@RiggintheDubVee]

really like watching your content. Can't wait to see you smash the CDT. As always, looking forward to your next vid. Keep up the great work.

[@danielhansen1551]

My favorite breakfast on trail is the mountain house biscuits and gravy

[@Loathomar]

Those are nice, but for more people doing a thru hike, they simply cost too much at ~$7 a pack. If you get the can of it and repack it, it is better, at about $4 per pack, but the same calories from instant oatmeal will cost $1. If you are going out for a week of backpacking, an extra $6 per day for a nice breakfast is nothing, but for the 150+ day thru hike, it is an extra $900.

[@caseymartin552]

One of my favorites are cinnamon raisin bagels with peanut butter and honey. A close second (especially for while I'm hiking) is trail mix. You can mix a batch of it before you go and put it in a peanut butter jar. Then it's just walk a eat as you go.