Food is a huge part of backpacking. It’s your fuel, it’s morale, and after a long day on the trail, it’s what you look forward to.
There’s a funny thing about trail food: something that might seem “meh” at home can taste like the most delicious thing you’ve ever had in the backcountry.
The problem is, food is heavy and everyone has different preferences. Most guide services handle this in one of two ways: it’s either “you get what you get,” or they don’t provide it at all and you have to bring your own.
We do things differently. We have two distinct tracks to make sure you get the fuel you need, in a way you’ll actually enjoy.
Option 1: The Expert-Curated (Our Default)
This is our “set it and forget it” option. You tell us about your dietary restrictions, any allergies, and any strong dislikes (e.g., “I hate mushrooms”). We take it from there.
We’ll build your entire menu—breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks—from our proven, trail-tested recipes.
Crucially, we don’t use standard, off-the-shelf freeze-dried meals. We make all our dinners ourselves, based on a simple, lightweight formula: a protein, a carb, a vegetable, and a flavor pack to make it tasty. Breakfasts are typically oatmeal or granola, and snacks include trail mix, jerky, hard cheese, and (of course) candy. Snickers is pretty much the ideal trail food.
This option is for those who don’t want to think about it and trust our expert-curated menus.
Option 2: The Full Customization
For those who want total control, we offer a full customization system via a web form. You choose everything.
Breakfast: Choose from different types of oatmeal, granola with powdered whole milk (so you can have cereal), or high-calorie meal replacement bars from Range.
Lunch: The base is often a peanut butter and tortilla wrap, but you can add honey, raisins, or other add-ins. We also have options like cold-soak couscous with dried fruit.
Dinner: You build your own meal. You select your protein (freeze-dried meats or textured vegetable/soy protein), your carb (mashed potatoes, ramen, minute rice), your freeze-dried veggies, and your flavor profile (repackaged marinade mixes).
The Build-Your-Own Trail Mix: This is our favorite part. You start with a core (granola, chocolate, nuts) and then add anything you want from a list of 20+ ingredients—dried fruits, different candies, pretzels, etc. We then mix it all to meet your specific calorie goals for each day.
An Honest Note on “Backcountry Tasty”
We have to be upfront. We love our meal-replacement bars. We’ve tested dozens and these are our favorites.
But “tasty” is subjective. My son, who is used to Chipotle and In-N-Out, tried some of my favorite bars and didn’t like any of them. So, your mileage may vary. This is backpacking food—it’s designed for fuel and weight, but we’ve done our best to make it as enjoyable as possible.
The Logistics: Ready Before You Land
Whether you choose Expert-Curated or Full Customization, the end result is the same.
We package all of it. We label it by day. We pack it perfectly into your bear canister—part of our all-inclusive gear system.
When we pick you up at the airport, your pack is in the van with your food already inside, ready to go. You don’t have to do anything except get in the car and ride to the park.
Ready to experience backcountry food that actually tastes good?
Request a free consultation and we’ll talk through your dietary needs and preferences. Or learn more about our all-inclusive charter system and how we handle every detail.
