Let's hear your favorite backpacking food!! Mine would have to be: Fernweh Food Co's Mushroom Pot Pie: bit.ly/3OWPbiw Delicioats Blueberry Vanilla Overnight Oats: amzn.to/3CczQCU JoJé Bars Lemon Blueberry Quinoa: bit.ly/3Cu9xs1 Also a big fan of mini tortillas with dehydrated hummus + kale chips! How about you??
I have tried about a half dozen various Mountain House meals, and a couple Good To-Go brand ones, and they’re surprisingly tasty (especially after coming off of experiencing MREs). I would recommend buying camping meals from a company who wants to keep your business, not one that provides to the military in the field who have no other option.
Thank you so much for the Monolithic comment! Watching other RUclips channels, you would think that the only "right" way to backpack is Ultralight. As a 60+ year old woman who solo-backpacks, I often carry loads that the guys would consider ridiculous. But the things I carry make me feel safe. So what's wrong with that?
Aged 65 I've been backpacking for over 50 years. At my peak, in the 1980s, I spent from 15-25 nights on the trail and covered 20-25 miles a day. Nowadays, it's more like 4-6 nights over two or three weekends and I only cover 10-15 miles a day. But I'm still backpacking!
I’m 74 and keep trips to one or two nights but as long as I can carry a pack and put one foot in front of another, I’ll keep backpacking. Modern lightweight gear has bee a godsend. Absolutely wonderful video as usual Thanks.
Love this perspective. My old man turned 65 last weekend and has been a hiker his whole life. Now that I'm old enough I'm dragging him out on trips like he did with me as a kid. I carry a lot more than he does, and we gotta plan a little to avoid steep descents, but with a bit of planning we can go most of the places he used to reach 20 years ago. Safe to say I'll be pulling him out to campfire cook in the backyard of his care home one day haha
Wow! This really is inspiring. i am 33 and new to the mountains and was thinking if i would ever be able to backpack. Max i have done is 13 miles hikes, 2600 ft gain
I heard a "contacted" person say on an interview, he asked aliens about bigfoot (he saw one inside the ship) when he was abducted, they told him "well, they are companions, like you have dogs... Sometimes we let them off the ship in the woods" 😂😂😂
You don't have to be fit to go backpacking! Love that you remind people of that. I'm a fat backpacker/weekend warrior and I love getting out into nature, even if I'm only going 6-8 miles per day
As a backpacking family of five, the prepackaged backpacking meals are simply out of the question due to cost. 3 teenage boys EAT A LOT! But, I've come up with simple and delicious ideas instead. Our favorite is what I've named trailside chicken tacos. Honestly, its super easy and cheap. I add some taco seasoning (I use the chicken taco seasoning) to some of those chicken packets and heat it up. Then we bring tortillas, cheddar cheese (which will keep for a few days), avocado and even diced tomatoes. Another thing we do, usually on the first night, is hotdogs (a great way to use up all those ketchup packets you have in a drawer 😂). Because there are 5 of us, we can distribute the slightly heavier community food amongst our packs. Knorr Pasta Sides with some chicken packets added is another great option.
I agree the Knorr sides are a great option. Another inexpensive favorite of mine is the soup mixes from Bear Creek. Most are just-add-water but you can mix things in if you like.
As someone who's just straight-up broke, thanks for your ideas! 😂 I'm absolutely going to be doing something other than freeze-dried backpacking meals!
What do you mean by chicken packs? I usually rely on granulated soy for my protein, its cheap and together with instant noodles and some instant sauce you can vary the taste and save on cooking time by cold soaking it before cooking it
@@karencaskey6210 thank you, I've never seen them, I'm not in the USA though, so it could just be that they don't have these where i am. We do have canned tunable not canned chicken afaik
As a plus size backpacker, I was really hesitant to start out because I feared that I wasn't "fit enough". Finding gear was a challenge as well; there are a lot of great outdoor brands that cater to plus sizes but you unfortunately have to dig to find them and/or buy online and HOPE that things fit bc stores won't carry the sizes/gear in store.That is a whole other issue though!I have officially been backpacking for a year at the end of this month and I can honestly say that the only thing that has made me feel in good enough "shape" IS backpacking. It's amazing how much your body will start to adapt the more you do it. I did a trip last August that put me in so much pain, I wasn't able to move for DAYS fallowing. I went and redid the trail earlier this month and the next day, I was moving around without issue. It was a night and day difference in the way I felt fallowing the trips. I know my personal limitations so I plan around that as well. I don't like up hill and I don't like multi-day trips so these are things I avoid (for right now). As long as you are enjoying your self, there is no right or wrong way to backpack!! The outdoors are for everyone regardless of size, shape, ability, etc. - You just need to find what works for you!
I'm also a plus size woman and would appreciate the names of some online places to buy clothes etc. I say online because I'm in Australia so cant visit US stores. Thank you.
I’ve been all sizes over the years and love to hike and backpack! Walking at your own speed and carrying what you’re comfortable with is the only ‘requirement’ IMO - oh, and a good pair of shoes… 😂 The clothes issue is real if you’re not a straight-hipped single-digit size. 🙄 But it is getting better in the last few years, I think. Personally, I found that Columbia offered more realistic sizing and often more comfy elastic waists, esp for those of us with curves where the waistband is always too big once we fit out hips and thighs. I usually design and sew my own bottoms so they fit and have enough freaking pockets, so my best advice for anyone having trouble finding clothes is that it is absolutely worth finding someone to sew for you!! You’ll spend more on that first item since it may mean drafting a custom pattern and getting the fit right, but the cost will go way down afterwards for add’l items. There are amazing tech fabrics, high quality zips and snaps, choose split hems or roll up tabs or whatever, and those pockets to fit your particular stuff! And if you know how to do basic alterations, you can buy a bit of yardage or thrift something to cut up, and modify what clothes you do find that’s close to what you want. Cotopaxj makes really fun stuff in mixed colors using factory scraps - great inspiration for us!
@@leapintothewildwhere in the world do you source outdoor fabrics from? The only place I know local is Hobby Lobby which is limited to a stretch mesh and some kind of jacket liner, they don’t even carry a rip-stop nylon. 😂 I’ve bought ripstop off Amazon before. All of the fabric stores I used to go to are gone.
Can you bring your friend back again. I can't remember her name but you took her backpacking for her first time and then she planned a backpacing trip all by herself the second time we saw her. I'd love to see how she's doing now.
Thank you for saying it's not an endurance test! I'm doing my first backpacking trip this weekend and was worrying it's not "real" backpacking bc it's only one night and a one mile hike to the camp site. I figured this way I could carry in enough water, sandwiches/cold breakfast, and the bulky tent and sleep system I already have so I can figure out if I actually enjoy it before buying more gear.
That's exactly what my husband and I have done: one mile, one night at a state park. It was a great way to dip our toes in the water and see if we like it.
I feel like that's actually a perfect way to begin. Don't drop a couple grand on all the "must-have" gear just to learn you really aren't that into it. Use what you have, compensate for the comparative bulk by keeping the hike easy, and see if the experience is something you want to invest in repeatedly over time.
“Type 2 Fun” I love this! My crew refers to this as ‘retrospective falsification’ We hate it when we are doing it but then 2 weeks after we get home we are planning our next adventure. Then while we are hiking uphill the next time someone always says “Who’s F’ing idea was this?!”
I started off with ultralight backpacking at 19 and learned a lot about minimalism I then climbed and did mountaineering and taught me how to be humble Then bush crafting which taught me confidence. Now, I just camp at state parks with my lady and remember every lesson of each sport.
Funny because I lucked out one time and happened to be in the same area as a horseback camping group. Sure enough, they had a campfire going, with a cast iron skillet, cooking steak, and they had plenty to share.
Backpackers Pantry has an amazing Pad Thai! I always bring my own marinated tofu and grill it on my little stove to add in the Pad Thai. Totally recommend trying! And it’s plant based 😊
While I agree that backpacking doesn't require hardcore survival skills, there is a level of "resourcefulness" that folks should have before heading out into the backcountry. For example, know/have at least two ways to treat water to make it drinkable. Know basic first aid. Know how to navigate using something other than the app on your smartphone (even if it's just "the sun is setting over there, so that's West, and I need to be going South, so it's this direction"). Can you go backpacking without knowing these things? Sure...if all of your gear works as you expect it to. If/when something doesn't work, though, you'll likely get all stressed out and panic, which is never a good thing.
The survival skills section reminded me of something. I took my friend car camping a couple years ago and on day two we were sitting around sweating and she looks at me, dead serious with this look of disappointment in herself and says "I don't think I'm cut out for Alone" out of nowhere. And I just started laughing and pointing at her and then I looked at her again to double-check she was serious and started laughing again. Turned out she was one of those arm-chair quarterback Alone viewers who doesn't really go outside much. Such a fond memory, I'm never going to let her live it down 😂
I want to say thank you, I've been watching for a little while, I've always loved being outside, but watching makes me want to go out and do more. I am going to work at a summer camp this summer again and I am going to now be biking 98 Miles to get there, bringing all my things I can fit on my bike. I've planned a lot and I'm looking forward to it!
Regarding the first thing: Something I love about the AT is Pennsylvania is that there are parts suitable for elderly people who just want a nice walk and sections that challenge seasoned mountaineers. My position is that anyone with a pack *should* have basic emergency gear in it, but the word 'backpacking' covers a massive range of experiences and challenge levels. I'm glad you touched on this! There's a spectrum of outdoor activity between 'Brooklyn' and "Bear Grylls.'
Backpacking vs bush craft. I agree that you don't NEED to have a lot of bush crating skills as a backpacker, but it certainly doesn't hurt to have some of the basic bush craft skills under your belt. I'm 60 years old (Canuck) and have been venturing out into the wilds from about the age of 12 (obviously not solo in those early years). I've run the full gamut from bush craft/survival style woods living, military outdoor living, car camping, canoe camping, backpacking, to now, more RV "glamping" than the others. You are quite correct that the gear varies quite a bit for each style as do the skills but I do feel that basic bush craft skills (firewood processing, knife and axe work, basic navigation and basic boo-boo treatment, basic open fire cooking (even if its just boiling water) even just down to the basics like site selection food security, basic wild life comprehension and security etc are cross over skills that serve all who venture outdoors for more than a few hours. Keep up the great work. It warms the heart of this old greybeard to see younger folk ranging out into the outdoors and not just surviving, but thriving.
Miranda! I'm so so happy I found your channel. I'm going on an epic road trip from Texas to Alaska this summer. Just me and m'dog. I'm car camping the whole way up. As I watched youtubes and did my research I really just felt like backpacking is super hard and best left to the dude bros. But then I found you! I'm 55 and not in great shape, but your vids have convinced me to try a few easy backpacking outings on my trip. Some of the options in Alaska just look too beautiful to miss and your vids are giving me the confidence to give it a go. I'll start with something easy and see how it goes. Thx for the myth busting and helping me understand backpacking is for everybody! Cheers
Just camp across your channel ive subscribed, what an awesome video many great Myths busted love it , I am 65 I love been in nature I backpack quite a bit here in Ontario, I just take my time and enjoy nature. sit have a lunch with my stick stove over looking a waterway. here in Ontario were often told watch your back as a bear or bear's could be watching you and ready to attack you. Guess you must carry bear spray to be safe , or the other one is if your a girl alone a human may attack you. . loved the video well done . Ontario.
When I go backpacking I always have a ‘perishable’ hobo pack for the first meal. I make it with sausage, potatoes, and green beans with plenty of butter, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Wrap that in a double layer of heavy duty aluminum foil. Keep in in a cooler on the drive to the trail head and cook over coals of a campfire when you get to the campsite. It’ll still be cold when you get there if you had it well chilled in the car. Only works for the first night though unless winter camping
The biggest one is the belief that thru-hiking is backpacking. I've seen people make fun of destination backpackers for carrying things a thru-hiker wouldn't dream of carrying. They don't realize that some people backpack to a specific remote spot to set up camp for the duration of their 2 week vacation. Often those people will be bushwhacking off trail to get away from everyone, so they'll be wearing things like heavy pants, and carrying things like a frying pan for cooking fish they catch, or eggs and bacon . Those idiots judging even go as far as to call those different types of backpackers noobs, when they themselves are the noobs for believing that. I just want to slap them.
Regarding survival/bushcraft skills: I do agree that certain skills like knowing how to set up a figure 4 deadfall trap or how to tell the difference between a chanterelle mushroom and a jack o lantern mushroom aren't entirely necessary for backpacking but i will say that all backpackers should know how to properly start a camp fire. Not just out of the need for that skill, but for safety. Imagine if a backpacker started a fire on ground with a lot of roots, unknowingly starting a smoldering fire that could flare up and cause a forest fire 2 weeks later. Or even more likely, a backpacker who doesn't completely put out a fire because the area around them is "damp enough"
Miranda, I absolutely LOVED your old video where you taste tested several vegetarian backpacking meals. That was super helpful and I have since tried a few of them. Yes - peeing on your shoes is no fun, especially if you're wearing sandals. Type 2 fun? That's part of the adventure for me - I love the challenge of finding the inner strength to get through. And while I'm embracing the suck I work on my story that I'll tell my friends back home. Lastly, is it a myth that you have to know map and compass skills? Please tell me yes. I stick to the trails and so far it's all been good, but I am afraid that I'll get lost.
I have to take issue with Myth #1. I distinctly remember backpacking in the 80s with my Boy Scout troop, packing along a coleman 2-burner for the group, A-frame tents, and rectangle bags. It wasn't comfortable or easy but we carried everything in on our backs.
I appreciated myth number 4 being busted. I use my jet boil and dehydrated meals. I’m not the best at making a fire so for camp lights, I use fairy lights, headlamp, or a small lantern depending on if I’m backpack camping or car camping. I feel better knowing I’m not the only one that doesn’t make a fire at camp.
Oh I am SO with you! I love the Big Agnes tent lights at camp - and I’ll wrap my headlamp around my water bottle to create a little lantern too! I love that you are making your own vibes at camp 💚
A campfire is a lot of work at the end of the day! And then you have to potentially waste precious water to make sure it’s safely out. But my big issue is that once it’s burning just right and I’m settled in, the wind shifts and smoke in the face! Every.damn.time 😂
Campfires are not necessary for cooking BUT, When you’re soaked and days from a laundromat, a fire can make the difference between being comfortable or borderline hypothermic. Nothing brings hikers together like a warm fire and jokes about icicles in your underwear.
There was some nice return gear at REI that was tag as customer did not in fact enjoy camping. Just found that kind of entertaining. It's not for everyone ad that's ok.
I remember one day walking down the trail crying and I stopped to take a pee and peed on my backpack suddenly I was laughing and was stunned by the beauty that surrounded me.😊
You can’t just drop a teaser like that and then ghost us! How did you manage to hit your backpack? Was it off to the side but the pee came out at an angle like happens to guys sometime? And did it at least hit a part that didn’t touch your clothes or skin? 😂
@@philsmith2444also doable as a girl, I'm far too lazy to take it off. My shoes do suffer a bit of backsplash, but I've saved having to take my pack off and put it on again
One easy way to reduce risk while backpacking is to go backpacking in Summer, if you are new to backpacking. When the weather is warm, the gear is lighter (and cheaper!), and the consequences of a gear failure tend to be easier to bear. Also, don't plan to go far until you are sure you can go close. The two biggest risks while backpacking are accidental injury, hypothermia, and dehydration, all of which are easily manageable risks with a small amount of care. Remember that most human beings can actually survive for quite a long time without food, 2-3 weeks, so don't worry so much about food. You can't live for more than 2-3 days without water, and probably only a few hours without heat, so those are the most important things. You will be uncomfortable without food, but you won't usually die from being hungry for a few days, if the worst happens. All other fears about backpacking pale in comparison to these three. The most common injuries while backpacking result from missteps and falls, so just be careful and mindful of where you are putting your feet when you are a long way from rescue or help. Stay dry on the outside and wet on the inside.
Dehydrated meals can get expensive so I am working on my own versions. Favorite go-to is peanut butter. I also like ramen w/o the flavor packet, add powdered bone broth and sometimes dehydrated veggies and meats to it.
So, I've been watching your videos now for a few months as I gather information to restart my backpacking hobby after 27 years and I have to say, I think you may be my new favorite RUclipsr. Thanks for putting out totally enjoyable content Miranda. Happy trails!
Regarding backpacking and camping gear being the same. A coworker did the West Coast trail on Vancouver Island about 20 years ago. He saw one guy carrying a 2 burner Coleman stove and another guy with an acoustic guitar.
Just got back from a glacier climb and smiled and mouthed "type 2 fun" just before Miranda said it, lol Can confirm! Lots of parts can suck in the moment but damn it looking back it's super cool when you've completed something
My favorite backpacking meals: Bushka’s Kitchen Hunter’s Pie Bushka’s Kitchen Hearty Harvest Bushka’s Kitchen Unstuffed Pepper (I just adore Bushka’s Kitchen!!) Delicioats Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal (hands down the BEST oatmeal for backpacking/camping) Or for a quick lunch that doesn’t need to be rehydrated - hard salami, cheese, and a tortilla!
Rainer is in absolutely zero way sponsored by or endorsed by Bushka's Kitchen, but I can confirm that I've seen him eat their Hunter's Pie at home. By choice. It's a true love affair.
ALT ROUTE MEALS !! Plant based woman owned She holds events for community clean ups nd holds her partners accountable for also doing so if they want to sell her products Delicious nd variety to choose from
I like to think of "camping" as a spectrum of outdoors living. At on end is people with air conditioned RV's and the other end is people who are happy with a flint knife and loin cloth. Most of us fall in between. Backpacking is one form, canoe tripping is another, but there are all kinds of ways to do it.
I always walk to the Supermarket and carry my groceries home in my backpack. It's funny to even compare this to backpacking but similarly with actual hikers, I will carefully select items that are not too heavy, or at least balance out the heaviest items I need to buy over the course of a week. Walking down the aisle I'm like, "Nope, too heavy. Yep can get that, nice and light". I get completely preoccupied by my total weight. So yeah, I guess I really AM a backpacker!!
Ok. I expected a burp or two but to see it has a time mark sent into a head shaking, ground staring laugh. You are taking your channel to the next meme level . Thank you.
Not going to lie, I always bring a stove, but when I'm car camping, I LOVE to cook in/on a campfire. Easy meal is hot dogs and baked potatoes. But I've also been fancy and done ratatouille! The smoke made it SO much better.
I love this video! For my last backpacking trip I did instant rice with flavored snack tofu and furikake from the chinese grocery store. there's so many different ways to eat on the trail.
I liked this. I’m here much more for information and encouragement to be outdoors then for, say, the potato house video. I enjoy your being silly, but I always watch because I want to learn. Please keep the good info coming!
I really did find a lot of value in this video. I used to do a great deal of day hiking around 30 years ago. Now, I am in less-than-ideal shape. I was thinking about doing some training and was wondering what type of training to do. When you say that backpacking it the best training for backpacking, that really hit home with me! Thanks for that! I am starting to gather some new equipment. It is amazing how much the gear has changed in the past few decades! Everything is so much lighter! I think I'm going to have fun!😀
2:56 Not only is backpacking not bushcraft or survivalist, the backpacking ideal of “leave no trace” is antithetical to many bushcraft and survivalist practices.
Pre cooked chicken and veggies in a ziploc bag. You can heat them up in the water you are boiling. Works great. The beef stew from Mountain House is a go to.
Thank you Miranda!!! All kinds of YES in this video for me. It's like you were speaking to my little backpacker soul. There's no one right way to backpack. You don't have to be a certain body type or have a certain fitness ability in order to be a backpacker. My favorite backpacking meal? Anything I can add boiling water to that also doesn't require me needing me to clean out my pot.
Omg I just love this so much! So much truth here! I would maybe add the myth of the “backpacking aesthetic.” Backpacking and backpackers don’t look any one particular way- and it doesn’t look like how you see on Instagram or in a lot of ads.
i'm a camper and a backpacker... best of both worlds and a vast array of gear! GREAT video, you always have a fun handle on the most intriguing issues, you always get me thinking:) (type 2 fun: lol)
Great Vlog as always. Try cooking over a fire you’ll like it. It’s all about heat management. Best stew ever was in a 2 quart light weight pot, a can of potato’s, can of mixed veggies, Knor onion soup mix, beer and a fresh deer heart simmering over low heat. Note, you can Substitute any fresh red meat for deer heart. Happy Camping😊.
You should really connect with Backcountry Foodie. Aaron really knows what she’s doing, and has a wide variety of backpacking meals. Thanks for your videos!
I once backpacked to Havasu Falls in Arizona, and the group next to us had Alaska king crab, among other things, which they had packed in dry ice for the hike in. They had the most wonderful meals, and the dry ice evaporated over a couple of days.
This was a fun one video. As a bushcrafter and backpacker I can say these are definitely true. There is a lot of crossover between bushcraft and backpacking, but the intentions behind each are completely different.
Fernweh plant based backpacking meals are amazing!!! I also make my homemade “thanksgiving dinner” with instant potatoes, stuffing cubes, mushroom gravy, cranberries, dehydrated green beans, corn and then dried crunchy onions on top! 😻
The Mountain House Lasagna with Meat Sauce is the best processed dehydrated food I've had. I usually add to it with a vial of spices and another vial of hot sauce, measured out for the hike. A lot of dehydrated food is pretty aweful, although you can make some pretty gourmet stuff if you do your own and know what you're doing. Mornings of choking down oatmeal don't make me nostalgic for oatmeal when I'm not hiking. On longer multi-day hikes I like to bring a small package of smoked salmon as a treat mid-way through (and burn the packaging right after eating so I don't attract bears). I've also packed an onion and a couple frozen sausages to cook on the first evening (provided it didn't take a day or more just to get to the trailhead.
Good to see some reality about backpacking. The ultralight folks have taken over a lot of discussions and the culture of backpacking but depending on where you are backpacking some of their advice can be reckless and unrealistic. It's also often ageist and/or ableist and definitely classist often ignoring rest and recovery aspects related to equipment costs, injury, age etc. that might require extra gear they find superfluous and costly weight wise, but is really essential for recovery in the field or is more affordable on a tighter budget. I carry a thermorest 3/4 length sleeping pad and a thermorest chair adapter, and that thing allows me to lean back and kick back after a long day of climbing and walking. I consider it essential gear to recovery and in doing so avoiding injury the next day. It's worth every ounce. I also always carry a Sven Saw and bear spray. And have used the Sven to save my life a few times in PNW weather which on shoulder seasons can be upredictable and deadly -- especially above 3500 feet. Hell with even clear skies in August one can still get soaked to the bone with fog drip that can dump what seems like gallons of water off of off every single surface of every leaf one walks through. It's extraordinary and unbelievable and Sven saved my ass in those situations. I was in full on hypothermia in 75 degree weather. I also don't do ultralite tents on shoulder seasons relying on a solid well made bivy set up that allows tucking into more sheltered areas very quickly in seconds with minimal fuss or need to rely on stakes etc. It's more weight but still sub 2 pounds and one could use a fire hose on it and I will not get wet. So keeping weight in mind is very very important and trying to find that balance can be tough but it is not necessary to be so minimal you're rolling the dice on expecting the best conditions in areas and regions where that's just not a great idea and ignoring rest and recovery and some comfort.
LOVE this video, completely agree with all of it! As far as bushcraft skills, it is more of a hobby thing, definitely not essential if you invest in proper gear. That being said, it is seriously satisfying to build a large tarp shelter for friends to chill out under and have a campfire when it's super rainy day!!
I've been a day hiker and camper all my life. So it's definitely interesting to finally start getting ready for backpacking...and really think about all the gear I have that's not suitable for the change. I'm starting over.
To go with the "backpacker as wilderness survivalist" myth, there is the opposite: that backpackers are sketchy bums that can't hack real life. Okay maybe that shoe sometimes fits, but it's more likely that backpackers learn to be resourceful, independent, flexible, innovative and generally confident. A broke backpacker may rummage for plastic, tin cans, twine and duct tape for gear, but is not likely to resort to thievery or other desperate acts, because backpackers tend toward self reliance and the freedom it brings.
I'd disagree with point one. Backpacking combines camping and hiking to remote places. Camping requires just getting to a campsite by any means. So backpacking is camping, but camping isn't backpacking.
Man, you made me remember how we used to go camping. Walk for a day or two along the coast, set up camp and just chill there until the end of the week.
everyone should have 72 hour skills if theyre going outside regularly, good planning should include filing a flight plan so someone can come find you if you get lost or hurt, and you need to be alive and able to assist being found when they start looking. people get turned around on trails, lost off trail, hurt, caught in unexpected weather etc. this doesnt mean rambo training and adding 20 lbs of bushcraft gear but being able to set up a tarp shelter, start a fire safely to stay warm, and make some safe to drink water is never a bad thing to know.
my go to meal when I'm camping in one spot, using a small methylated spirits burner with a 1 litre cooking pot is: rice, beans, new potatoes & sweet potatoes, with fresh tomatoes, red onions, spices & herbs, balsamic/apple cider vinegar
I am 62, OW, but LOVE to hike(slow, but get there), and love camping not sure how much I can backpack, but wanna start somewhere while I still have the strength to do it. I so enjoy your channel, videos, and ironic sense of humor. Love the myth buster, explained some things that I thought were actually true but aren’t. So here goes nothing, have to wait for cooler weather cuz here in Bama, we feel like God is cookin us right now- on HIGH heat!!!!
If I'm camping with a larger group, we tend to make a fire, but very seldom do even our large groups cook over a fire. I think the last time I did, it was specifically to cook up celebratory steak and potatoes. Every other meal on that trip was on a Coleman range or my Jetboil.
wellllll, i’d probably say everyone should know how to build a fire. Good points though. Lots of folks head out thinking they need to “live off the land” (youtube is full of that type of content, ugh). This mindset frames the activity as consuming the wilderness, rather than leaving it like you were never there.
I used to teach beginner backpacking to flatlanders, especially women, and my advise is to study what you are afraid of. Learn all you can about bears in the area you plan to go. Have several backup flashlights if you fear the dark. Take too much food the first time if you are afraid of being hungry then modify that the next time. Fear of lost; know the basics of a paper map, orient it to the landscape and look at it every half hour. Fitness is not the criteria, common sense and some level of preparation and knowledge goes a long way to being confident and safe. I did lots of solo backpacking and loved the freedom, but at first go with one other positive person. My first 20 years I carried 40 to 50 lbs of gear and had a glorious time. As I got older it was down to 30 total pounds for a week of 6 to 9 mile days in the mountains. 20 miles makes no sense to me at all. Don't compare yourself to RUclips people. The point is not perfect gear or perfect skill, it is being present in the wonderous world of wilderness to feel nature in our DNA and just stop and look, smell, touch and hear silence.
For those venturing deep into the wilderness, it's very important to develop survival skills. It may not seem important until you become lost, having to endure multiple days and nights alone in the woods.
@@ilovemydog0179 Yeah, I started last year! So, not a ton of experience, but I'm hooked. Look around for a local sprint race - they're typically 800m swim/20km bike/5km run. If you already come from a running background, then you can prepare for one of these just by spending a bit of time in the pool and going for a few rides (including at least a couple bike/run brick workouts). There's training plans you can find online, and your local tri club would probably be thrilled to have new blood and can give you a lot of advice. A lot of new people jump straight to doing an ironman or 70.3 for their first race and come away from it saying "never again", so I would say work your way up to that if you catch the bug, which I'm sure you will. :)
@@kmetz878 Thank you so much! I’ll try some swimming workouts since I’ve never done that before and maybe sign up for one next summer, since I can’t do it in the spring or fall because I’m in season. Good luck on your upcoming races :)
I've cooked in a camp fire lots of times! Usually I make chicken foil meals if we're just going for one night in a camp fire safe area. It's a wonderful to get the fire started and get camp set up then cook in the hot coals. But my last backpacking trip we brought Backpackers Pantry Pad Thai and ended up cooking and eating it while crouched under my hammocks rain fly.
I haven't labeled myself as one, but I do enjoy me some backpacking! I think I've been on about 3-4 trips in my two years of hiking (I dayhike a ton, though!), but I'm game to do more backpacking soon!
#4 cooking over campfire… you didn’t know my Girl Scout troop leader… she could really cook over a campfire, but it was better to to be with her in a drive-in campsite at a state park because she loved using her caste iron Dutch oven. She said the purpose of us having a campfire at night was to get the coals perfect for cooking…
Let's hear your favorite backpacking food!! Mine would have to be:
Fernweh Food Co's Mushroom Pot Pie: bit.ly/3OWPbiw
Delicioats Blueberry Vanilla Overnight Oats: amzn.to/3CczQCU
JoJé Bars Lemon Blueberry Quinoa: bit.ly/3Cu9xs1
Also a big fan of mini tortillas with dehydrated hummus + kale chips!
How about you??
An 8 lb wheel of hard cheese.
I have tried about a half dozen various Mountain House meals, and a couple Good To-Go brand ones, and they’re surprisingly tasty (especially after coming off of experiencing MREs). I would recommend buying camping meals from a company who wants to keep your business, not one that provides to the military in the field who have no other option.
@@RainerGolden You're fired
@@MirandaGoesOutside It’s a myth that you can fire me. BUSTED!!!
@@rjensen2586 Oooh good tip! I’ll try it!
Thank you so much for the Monolithic comment! Watching other RUclips channels, you would think that the only "right" way to backpack is Ultralight. As a 60+ year old woman who solo-backpacks, I often carry loads that the guys would consider ridiculous. But the things I carry make me feel safe. So what's wrong with that?
Aged 65 I've been backpacking for over 50 years. At my peak, in the 1980s, I spent from 15-25 nights on the trail and covered 20-25 miles a day. Nowadays, it's more like 4-6 nights over two or three weekends and I only cover 10-15 miles a day. But I'm still backpacking!
I’m 74 and keep trips to one or two nights but as long as I can carry a pack and put one foot in front of another, I’ll keep backpacking. Modern lightweight gear has bee a godsend. Absolutely wonderful video as usual Thanks.
Love this perspective. My old man turned 65 last weekend and has been a hiker his whole life. Now that I'm old enough I'm dragging him out on trips like he did with me as a kid. I carry a lot more than he does, and we gotta plan a little to avoid steep descents, but with a bit of planning we can go most of the places he used to reach 20 years ago. Safe to say I'll be pulling him out to campfire cook in the backyard of his care home one day haha
Wow! This really is inspiring. i am 33 and new to the mountains and was thinking if i would ever be able to backpack. Max i have done is 13 miles hikes, 2600 ft gain
BIGFOOT IS REAL!!! Miranda never says it wasn't!!!
You can't bust a myth if it's not a myth 🤷♀️
😂
Tenacious D tried to tell the world once, but no one would listen
😆 🤣 😂 😹.
Okay 👌
I heard a "contacted" person say on an interview, he asked aliens about bigfoot (he saw one inside the ship) when he was abducted, they told him "well, they are companions, like you have dogs... Sometimes we let them off the ship in the woods" 😂😂😂
You don't have to be fit to go backpacking! Love that you remind people of that. I'm a fat backpacker/weekend warrior and I love getting out into nature, even if I'm only going 6-8 miles per day
Heck yeah!! 6-8 miles a day is my happy spot for backpacking too - but some of my fave trips have been
Fat ≠ unfit. 6-8 miles is impressive!
The best thing you can do is start with whatever fitness you have
As a backpacking family of five, the prepackaged backpacking meals are simply out of the question due to cost. 3 teenage boys EAT A LOT! But, I've come up with simple and delicious ideas instead. Our favorite is what I've named trailside chicken tacos. Honestly, its super easy and cheap. I add some taco seasoning (I use the chicken taco seasoning) to some of those chicken packets and heat it up. Then we bring tortillas, cheddar cheese (which will keep for a few days), avocado and even diced tomatoes. Another thing we do, usually on the first night, is hotdogs (a great way to use up all those ketchup packets you have in a drawer 😂). Because there are 5 of us, we can distribute the slightly heavier community food amongst our packs. Knorr Pasta Sides with some chicken packets added is another great option.
I agree the Knorr sides are a great option. Another inexpensive favorite of mine is the soup mixes from Bear Creek. Most are just-add-water but you can mix things in if you like.
As someone who's just straight-up broke, thanks for your ideas! 😂 I'm absolutely going to be doing something other than freeze-dried backpacking meals!
What do you mean by chicken packs? I usually rely on granulated soy for my protein, its cheap and together with instant noodles and some instant sauce you can vary the taste and save on cooking time by cold soaking it before cooking it
@@ulhi7564, I buy those packets of chicken (like the tuna packs).
@@karencaskey6210 thank you, I've never seen them, I'm not in the USA though, so it could just be that they don't have these where i am. We do have canned tunable not canned chicken afaik
As a plus size backpacker, I was really hesitant to start out because I feared that I wasn't "fit enough". Finding gear was a challenge as well; there are a lot of great outdoor brands that cater to plus sizes but you unfortunately have to dig to find them and/or buy online and HOPE that things fit bc stores won't carry the sizes/gear in store.That is a whole other issue though!I have officially been backpacking for a year at the end of this month and I can honestly say that the only thing that has made me feel in good enough "shape" IS backpacking. It's amazing how much your body will start to adapt the more you do it. I did a trip last August that put me in so much pain, I wasn't able to move for DAYS fallowing. I went and redid the trail earlier this month and the next day, I was moving around without issue. It was a night and day difference in the way I felt fallowing the trips. I know my personal limitations so I plan around that as well. I don't like up hill and I don't like multi-day trips so these are things I avoid (for right now). As long as you are enjoying your self, there is no right or wrong way to backpack!! The outdoors are for everyone regardless of size, shape, ability, etc. - You just need to find what works for you!
Check out Jenny Brusso and her unlikely fat people hiking page
I'm also a plus size woman and would appreciate the names of some online places to buy clothes etc. I say online because I'm in Australia so cant visit US stores. Thank you.
I’ve been all sizes over the years and love to hike and backpack! Walking at your own speed and carrying what you’re comfortable with is the only ‘requirement’ IMO - oh, and a good pair of shoes… 😂 The clothes issue is real if you’re not a straight-hipped single-digit size. 🙄 But it is getting better in the last few years, I think. Personally, I found that Columbia offered more realistic sizing and often more comfy elastic waists, esp for those of us with curves where the waistband is always too big once we fit out hips and thighs. I usually design and sew my own bottoms so they fit and have enough freaking pockets, so my best advice for anyone having trouble finding clothes is that it is absolutely worth finding someone to sew for you!! You’ll spend more on that first item since it may mean drafting a custom pattern and getting the fit right, but the cost will go way down afterwards for add’l items. There are amazing tech fabrics, high quality zips and snaps, choose split hems or roll up tabs or whatever, and those pockets to fit your particular stuff! And if you know how to do basic alterations, you can buy a bit of yardage or thrift something to cut up, and modify what clothes you do find that’s close to what you want. Cotopaxj makes really fun stuff in mixed colors using factory scraps - great inspiration for us!
@@leapintothewildwhere in the world do you source outdoor fabrics from? The only place I know local is Hobby Lobby which is limited to a stretch mesh and some kind of jacket liner, they don’t even carry a rip-stop nylon. 😂 I’ve bought ripstop off Amazon before. All of the fabric stores I used to go to are gone.
Can you bring your friend back again. I can't remember her name but you took her backpacking for her first time and then she planned a backpacing trip all by herself the second time we saw her. I'd love to see how she's doing now.
i think Pam(?) had a baby recently? maybe?
Yea, Pam
Thank you for saying it's not an endurance test! I'm doing my first backpacking trip this weekend and was worrying it's not "real" backpacking bc it's only one night and a one mile hike to the camp site. I figured this way I could carry in enough water, sandwiches/cold breakfast, and the bulky tent and sleep system I already have so I can figure out if I actually enjoy it before buying more gear.
That's exactly what my husband and I have done: one mile, one night at a state park. It was a great way to dip our toes in the water and see if we like it.
How did you do?
I feel like that's actually a perfect way to begin. Don't drop a couple grand on all the "must-have" gear just to learn you really aren't that into it. Use what you have, compensate for the comparative bulk by keeping the hike easy, and see if the experience is something you want to invest in repeatedly over time.
“Type 2 Fun” I love this! My crew refers to this as ‘retrospective falsification’ We hate it when we are doing it but then 2 weeks after we get home we are planning our next adventure. Then while we are hiking uphill the next time someone always says “Who’s F’ing idea was this?!”
I started off with ultralight backpacking at 19 and learned a lot about minimalism
I then climbed and did mountaineering and taught me how to be humble
Then bush crafting which taught me confidence.
Now, I just camp at state parks with my lady and remember every lesson of each sport.
Funny because I lucked out one time and happened to be in the same area as a horseback camping group. Sure enough, they had a campfire going, with a cast iron skillet, cooking steak, and they had plenty to share.
Miranda is right, everyone is different. My myth was that you need two fully functioning legs to be a backpacker. I’m here to say, BUSTED!!
I'm struggling with marginally functioning lower extremity joints. I hear ya.
That’s awesome! Have to remember that!
:)
Backpackers Pantry has an amazing Pad Thai! I always bring my own marinated tofu and grill it on my little stove to add in the Pad Thai. Totally recommend trying! And it’s plant based 😊
Oh my gosh yes!! I love their Pad Thai! What a great idea to add grilled marinated tofu 😍
Backpackers pantry is great. I love their cheesecake too
I had this while camping this weekend 😂
@@alexandraogilvie2168 Us too. It was good!
Their chicken lasagna is pretty dopetastic... Except now it's discontinued
it's always a good day when there's a miranda video. 🙂
Gosh darn it!
While I agree that backpacking doesn't require hardcore survival skills, there is a level of "resourcefulness" that folks should have before heading out into the backcountry. For example, know/have at least two ways to treat water to make it drinkable. Know basic first aid. Know how to navigate using something other than the app on your smartphone (even if it's just "the sun is setting over there, so that's West, and I need to be going South, so it's this direction"). Can you go backpacking without knowing these things? Sure...if all of your gear works as you expect it to. If/when something doesn't work, though, you'll likely get all stressed out and panic, which is never a good thing.
The survival skills section reminded me of something. I took my friend car camping a couple years ago and on day two we were sitting around sweating and she looks at me, dead serious with this look of disappointment in herself and says "I don't think I'm cut out for Alone" out of nowhere. And I just started laughing and pointing at her and then I looked at her again to double-check she was serious and started laughing again. Turned out she was one of those arm-chair quarterback Alone viewers who doesn't really go outside much. Such a fond memory, I'm never going to let her live it down 😂
I want to say thank you, I've been watching for a little while, I've always loved being outside, but watching makes me want to go out and do more. I am going to work at a summer camp this summer again and I am going to now be biking 98 Miles to get there, bringing all my things I can fit on my bike. I've planned a lot and I'm looking forward to it!
Regarding the first thing: Something I love about the AT is Pennsylvania is that there are parts suitable for elderly people who just want a nice walk and sections that challenge seasoned mountaineers. My position is that anyone with a pack *should* have basic emergency gear in it, but the word 'backpacking' covers a massive range of experiences and challenge levels. I'm glad you touched on this! There's a spectrum of outdoor activity between 'Brooklyn' and "Bear Grylls.'
Backpacking vs bush craft. I agree that you don't NEED to have a lot of bush crating skills as a backpacker, but it certainly doesn't hurt to have some of the basic bush craft skills under your belt. I'm 60 years old (Canuck) and have been venturing out into the wilds from about the age of 12 (obviously not solo in those early years). I've run the full gamut from bush craft/survival style woods living, military outdoor living, car camping, canoe camping, backpacking, to now, more RV "glamping" than the others. You are quite correct that the gear varies quite a bit for each style as do the skills but I do feel that basic bush craft skills (firewood processing, knife and axe work, basic navigation and basic boo-boo treatment, basic open fire cooking (even if its just boiling water) even just down to the basics like site selection food security, basic wild life comprehension and security etc are cross over skills that serve all who venture outdoors for more than a few hours. Keep up the great work. It warms the heart of this old greybeard to see younger folk ranging out into the outdoors and not just surviving, but thriving.
Miranda! I'm so so happy I found your channel. I'm going on an epic road trip from Texas to Alaska this summer. Just me and m'dog. I'm car camping the whole way up. As I watched youtubes and did my research I really just felt like backpacking is super hard and best left to the dude bros. But then I found you! I'm 55 and not in great shape, but your vids have convinced me to try a few easy backpacking outings on my trip. Some of the options in Alaska just look too beautiful to miss and your vids are giving me the confidence to give it a go. I'll start with something easy and see how it goes. Thx for the myth busting and helping me understand backpacking is for everybody! Cheers
Just camp across your channel ive subscribed, what an awesome video many great Myths busted love it , I am 65 I love been in nature I backpack quite a bit here in Ontario, I just take my time and enjoy nature. sit have a lunch with my stick stove over looking a waterway. here in Ontario were often told watch your back as a bear or bear's could be watching you and ready to attack you. Guess you must carry bear spray to be safe , or the other one is if your a girl alone a human may attack you. . loved the video well done . Ontario.
When I go backpacking I always have a ‘perishable’ hobo pack for the first meal. I make it with sausage, potatoes, and green beans with plenty of butter, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Wrap that in a double layer of heavy duty aluminum foil. Keep in in a cooler on the drive to the trail head and cook over coals of a campfire when you get to the campsite. It’ll still be cold when you get there if you had it well chilled in the car. Only works for the first night though unless winter camping
The biggest one is the belief that thru-hiking is backpacking. I've seen people make fun of destination backpackers for carrying things a thru-hiker wouldn't dream of carrying. They don't realize that some people backpack to a specific remote spot to set up camp for the duration of their 2 week vacation. Often those people will be bushwhacking off trail to get away from everyone, so they'll be wearing things like heavy pants, and carrying things like a frying pan for cooking fish they catch, or eggs and bacon . Those idiots judging even go as far as to call those different types of backpackers noobs, when they themselves are the noobs for believing that. I just want to slap them.
People just like to talk shit
I got my stickers! Two people have already recognized your merch!
I thought the background was a green screen and then the lighting changed at the end MY BRAIN 🤯
I kept on expecting Rainer to jump in and talk about his favorite backpacking meals when Miranda mentioned sharing our favorites 😂
It was with a great deal of restraint that I did not. 😂
@@RainerGoldencould you maybe share them here?
Haha the office clip, love it!
Regarding survival/bushcraft skills: I do agree that certain skills like knowing how to set up a figure 4 deadfall trap or how to tell the difference between a chanterelle mushroom and a jack o lantern mushroom aren't entirely necessary for backpacking but i will say that all backpackers should know how to properly start a camp fire. Not just out of the need for that skill, but for safety. Imagine if a backpacker started a fire on ground with a lot of roots, unknowingly starting a smoldering fire that could flare up and cause a forest fire 2 weeks later. Or even more likely, a backpacker who doesn't completely put out a fire because the area around them is "damp enough"
Miranda, I absolutely LOVED your old video where you taste tested several vegetarian backpacking meals. That was super helpful and I have since tried a few of them. Yes - peeing on your shoes is no fun, especially if you're wearing sandals. Type 2 fun? That's part of the adventure for me - I love the challenge of finding the inner strength to get through. And while I'm embracing the suck I work on my story that I'll tell my friends back home. Lastly, is it a myth that you have to know map and compass skills? Please tell me yes. I stick to the trails and so far it's all been good, but I am afraid that I'll get lost.
I have to take issue with Myth #1. I distinctly remember backpacking in the 80s with my Boy Scout troop, packing along a coleman 2-burner for the group, A-frame tents, and rectangle bags. It wasn't comfortable or easy but we carried everything in on our backs.
And cast iron pots to use on the fire!
I appreciated myth number 4 being busted. I use my jet boil and dehydrated meals. I’m not the best at making a fire so for camp lights, I use fairy lights, headlamp, or a small lantern depending on if I’m backpack camping or car camping. I feel better knowing I’m not the only one that doesn’t make a fire at camp.
Oh I am SO with you! I love the Big Agnes tent lights at camp - and I’ll wrap my headlamp around my water bottle to create a little lantern too! I love that you are making your own vibes at camp 💚
A campfire is a lot of work at the end of the day! And then you have to potentially waste precious water to make sure it’s safely out. But my big issue is that once it’s burning just right and I’m settled in, the wind shifts and smoke in the face! Every.damn.time 😂
Campfires are not necessary for cooking BUT, When you’re soaked and days from a laundromat, a fire can make the difference between being comfortable or borderline hypothermic.
Nothing brings hikers together like a warm fire and jokes about icicles in your underwear.
There was some nice return gear at REI that was tag as customer did not in fact enjoy camping. Just found that kind of entertaining. It's not for everyone ad that's ok.
A smart salesperson would've asked some strategic questions and informed the customer that REI also rents gear
I remember one day walking down the trail crying and I stopped to take a pee and peed on my backpack suddenly I was laughing and was stunned by the beauty that surrounded me.😊
why stop? just pee while you hike. it's awesome! lol
You can’t just drop a teaser like that and then ghost us! How did you manage to hit your backpack? Was it off to the side but the pee came out at an angle like happens to guys sometime? And did it at least hit a part that didn’t touch your clothes or skin? 😂
@@philsmith2444 I peed all over my hip belt straps while hiking through the Glacier Peak Wilderness in Washington on the PCT. Good times
@@heartattackhiker3527 😂Maybe it’ll keep mice and raccoons away. Being able to pee with your pack on is a nice thing about being a guy LOL
@@philsmith2444also doable as a girl, I'm far too lazy to take it off. My shoes do suffer a bit of backsplash, but I've saved having to take my pack off and put it on again
Found 1 video today at 7:30am and have watched another 8 since.
Love her energy and fun approach to everything!
One easy way to reduce risk while backpacking is to go backpacking in Summer, if you are new to backpacking. When the weather is warm, the gear is lighter (and cheaper!), and the consequences of a gear failure tend to be easier to bear. Also, don't plan to go far until you are sure you can go close. The two biggest risks while backpacking are accidental injury, hypothermia, and dehydration, all of which are easily manageable risks with a small amount of care. Remember that most human beings can actually survive for quite a long time without food, 2-3 weeks, so don't worry so much about food. You can't live for more than 2-3 days without water, and probably only a few hours without heat, so those are the most important things. You will be uncomfortable without food, but you won't usually die from being hungry for a few days, if the worst happens.
All other fears about backpacking pale in comparison to these three. The most common injuries while backpacking result from missteps and falls, so just be careful and mindful of where you are putting your feet when you are a long way from rescue or help. Stay dry on the outside and wet on the inside.
Dehydrated meals can get expensive so I am working on my own versions. Favorite go-to is peanut butter. I also like ramen w/o the flavor packet, add powdered bone broth and sometimes dehydrated veggies and meats to it.
So, I've been watching your videos now for a few months as I gather information to restart my backpacking hobby after 27 years and I have to say, I think you may be my new favorite RUclipsr.
Thanks for putting out totally enjoyable content Miranda.
Happy trails!
Thank you so much!! I'm thrilled you're here - and happy to be a small part of your backpacking journey. ❤️
Regarding backpacking and camping gear being the same.
A coworker did the West Coast trail on Vancouver Island about 20 years ago. He saw one guy carrying a 2 burner Coleman stove and another guy with an acoustic guitar.
they were probably high on shrooms lol
I wonder what they carried on their NEXT trip?!
You're one of my favorite outdoor channels! Keep up the good work 🤘
Just got back from a glacier climb and smiled and mouthed "type 2 fun" just before Miranda said it, lol
Can confirm! Lots of parts can suck in the moment but damn it looking back it's super cool when you've completed something
My favorite backpacking meals:
Bushka’s Kitchen Hunter’s Pie
Bushka’s Kitchen Hearty Harvest
Bushka’s Kitchen Unstuffed Pepper
(I just adore Bushka’s Kitchen!!)
Delicioats Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal (hands down the BEST oatmeal for backpacking/camping)
Or for a quick lunch that doesn’t need to be rehydrated - hard salami, cheese, and a tortilla!
Rainer is in absolutely zero way sponsored by or endorsed by Bushka's Kitchen, but I can confirm that I've seen him eat their Hunter's Pie at home. By choice. It's a true love affair.
@@MirandaGoesOutside Truth.
I think Bushka's Kitchen is out of business unfortunately. Better stock up while there might be some supply left
Video idea! How to be cozy and feel safe solo backpacking
ALT ROUTE MEALS !!
Plant based woman owned
She holds events for community clean ups nd holds her partners accountable for also doing so if they want to sell her products
Delicious nd variety to choose from
I thought I was the only one that could not not pee on their shoes. That resonated with me so much.
I like to think of "camping" as a spectrum of outdoors living. At on end is people with air conditioned RV's and the other end is people who are happy with a flint knife and loin cloth.
Most of us fall in between. Backpacking is one form, canoe tripping is another, but there are all kinds of ways to do it.
Thank you for #7. I needed to hear that. This was a fun video. Funny and inclusive!
I always walk to the Supermarket and carry my groceries home in my backpack. It's funny to even compare this to backpacking but similarly with actual hikers, I will carefully select items that are not too heavy, or at least balance out the heaviest items I need to buy over the course of a week. Walking down the aisle I'm like, "Nope, too heavy. Yep can get that, nice and light". I get completely preoccupied by my total weight. So yeah, I guess I really AM a backpacker!!
Ok. I expected a burp or two but to see it has a time mark sent into a head shaking, ground staring laugh. You are taking your channel to the next meme level . Thank you.
My life goal is to be a meme. Thank you.
Not going to lie, I always bring a stove, but when I'm car camping, I LOVE to cook in/on a campfire. Easy meal is hot dogs and baked potatoes. But I've also been fancy and done ratatouille! The smoke made it SO much better.
I love this video! For my last backpacking trip I did instant rice with flavored snack tofu and furikake from the chinese grocery store. there's so many different ways to eat on the trail.
Never heard it described as “Type-2” fun. It’s a perfect description for all kinds of things!
I liked this. I’m here much more for information and encouragement to be outdoors then for, say, the potato house video. I enjoy your being silly, but I always watch because I want to learn. Please keep the good info coming!
thank you Jim!! I think you are going to like our next round of videos then :)
6:50 - fav hiking meals:
Breakfast/Lunch - overnight soaked chia seeds, molasses, sultanas, figs, raw cacao powder, cinnamon powder, walnuts, brazils, tahini, ginger
Dinner - buckwheat, red split lentils, seaweed, spices & herbs, miso paste, kimchi, sprouting lentils, etc
YUM. I love love love adding miso paste and seaweed to noodles at camp!
I really did find a lot of value in this video. I used to do a great deal of day hiking around 30 years ago. Now, I am in less-than-ideal shape.
I was thinking about doing some training and was wondering what type of training to do. When you say that backpacking it the best training for backpacking, that really hit home with me! Thanks for that!
I am starting to gather some new equipment. It is amazing how much the gear has changed in the past few decades! Everything is so much lighter! I think I'm going to have fun!😀
2:56 Not only is backpacking not bushcraft or survivalist, the backpacking ideal of “leave no trace” is antithetical to many bushcraft and survivalist practices.
Pre cooked chicken and veggies in a ziploc bag. You can heat them up in the water you are boiling. Works great. The beef stew from Mountain House is a go to.
Thank you Miranda!!! All kinds of YES in this video for me. It's like you were speaking to my little backpacker soul. There's no one right way to backpack. You don't have to be a certain body type or have a certain fitness ability in order to be a backpacker. My favorite backpacking meal? Anything I can add boiling water to that also doesn't require me needing me to clean out my pot.
Amen Miss HH! I love your channel! Great food options/alternatives.
Great video. Thanks Miranda! Chicken fried rice backpacking recipe: foil plain chicken packets. Instant rice. Fresh green onion. Dehydrated mushrooms. Soy sauce packets.
Omg I just love this so much! So much truth here! I would maybe add the myth of the “backpacking aesthetic.” Backpacking and backpackers don’t look any one particular way- and it doesn’t look like how you see on Instagram or in a lot of ads.
i'm a camper and a backpacker... best of both worlds and a vast array of gear! GREAT video, you always have a fun handle on the most intriguing issues, you always get me thinking:) (type 2 fun: lol)
favorite breakfast meal, AlpenFuel, Lemon Berry Granola Breakfast. Mixed Berry granola Peak Refuel and Chicken Alfredo, Peak Refuel,
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaa! Miranda and Rainer & Co. are THE BEST!!! Thank you for the joy you bring to my life!!!
Great Vlog as always. Try cooking over a fire you’ll like it. It’s all about heat management. Best stew ever was in a 2 quart light weight pot, a can of potato’s, can of mixed veggies, Knor onion soup mix, beer and a fresh deer heart simmering over low heat. Note, you can Substitute any fresh red meat for deer heart.
Happy Camping😊.
You should really connect with Backcountry Foodie. Aaron really knows what she’s doing, and has a wide variety of backpacking meals. Thanks for your videos!
I once backpacked to Havasu Falls in Arizona, and the group next to us had Alaska king crab, among other things, which they had packed in dry ice for the hike in. They had the most wonderful meals, and the dry ice evaporated over a couple of days.
This was a fun one video. As a bushcrafter and backpacker I can say these are definitely true. There is a lot of crossover between bushcraft and backpacking, but the intentions behind each are completely different.
Thank you I didn't know that I had some of those barriers... now I don't!! You Rock!
Fernweh plant based backpacking meals are amazing!!! I also make my homemade “thanksgiving dinner” with instant potatoes, stuffing cubes, mushroom gravy, cranberries, dehydrated green beans, corn and then dried crunchy onions on top! 😻
The Mountain House Lasagna with Meat Sauce is the best processed dehydrated food I've had. I usually add to it with a vial of spices and another vial of hot sauce, measured out for the hike. A lot of dehydrated food is pretty aweful, although you can make some pretty gourmet stuff if you do your own and know what you're doing. Mornings of choking down oatmeal don't make me nostalgic for oatmeal when I'm not hiking. On longer multi-day hikes I like to bring a small package of smoked salmon as a treat mid-way through (and burn the packaging right after eating so I don't attract bears). I've also packed an onion and a couple frozen sausages to cook on the first evening (provided it didn't take a day or more just to get to the trailhead.
Love a campfire when camping, but not when backpacking unless water is very close. Not gonna carry enough water to safely put out a campfire.
Good to see some reality about backpacking. The ultralight folks have taken over a lot of discussions and the culture of backpacking but depending on where you are backpacking some of their advice can be reckless and unrealistic.
It's also often ageist and/or ableist and definitely classist often ignoring rest and recovery aspects related to equipment costs, injury, age etc. that might require extra gear they find superfluous and costly weight wise, but is really essential for recovery in the field or is more affordable on a tighter budget.
I carry a thermorest 3/4 length sleeping pad and a thermorest chair adapter, and that thing allows me to lean back and kick back after a long day of climbing and walking. I consider it essential gear to recovery and in doing so avoiding injury the next day. It's worth every ounce.
I also always carry a Sven Saw and bear spray. And have used the Sven to save my life a few times in PNW weather which on shoulder seasons can be upredictable and deadly -- especially above 3500 feet. Hell with even clear skies in August one can still get soaked to the bone with fog drip that can dump what seems like gallons of water off of off every single surface of every leaf one walks through. It's extraordinary and unbelievable and Sven saved my ass in those situations. I was in full on hypothermia in 75 degree weather.
I also don't do ultralite tents on shoulder seasons relying on a solid well made bivy set up that allows tucking into more sheltered areas very quickly in seconds with minimal fuss or need to rely on stakes etc. It's more weight but still sub 2 pounds and one could use a fire hose on it and I will not get wet.
So keeping weight in mind is very very important and trying to find that balance can be tough but it is not necessary to be so minimal you're rolling the dice on expecting the best conditions in areas and regions where that's just not a great idea and ignoring rest and recovery and some comfort.
Oh god, Michael Scott at 1:55 made me snort out my tea.
I love that you have Michael Scott trying to survive😂 in your video
Fun fact: Rainer once told me that I’m like the love child of Michael Scott and Lizzy McGuire
@@MirandaGoesOutside I love it and believe it 😂
LOVE this video, completely agree with all of it! As far as bushcraft skills, it is more of a hobby thing, definitely not essential if you invest in proper gear.
That being said, it is seriously satisfying to build a large tarp shelter for friends to chill out under and have a campfire when it's super rainy day!!
I've been a day hiker and camper all my life. So it's definitely interesting to finally start getting ready for backpacking...and really think about all the gear I have that's not suitable for the change. I'm starting over.
To go with the "backpacker as wilderness survivalist" myth, there is the opposite: that backpackers are sketchy bums that can't hack real life. Okay maybe that shoe sometimes fits, but it's more likely that backpackers learn to be resourceful, independent, flexible, innovative and generally confident. A broke backpacker may rummage for plastic, tin cans, twine and duct tape for gear, but is not likely to resort to thievery or other desperate acts, because backpackers tend toward self reliance and the freedom it brings.
I'd disagree with point one. Backpacking combines camping and hiking to remote places. Camping requires just getting to a campsite by any means. So backpacking is camping, but camping isn't backpacking.
Man, you made me remember how we used to go camping. Walk for a day or two along the coast, set up camp and just chill there until the end of the week.
This was soooo helpful. Makes me feel better about starting out to backpack!
everyone should have 72 hour skills if theyre going outside regularly, good planning should include filing a flight plan so someone can come find you if you get lost or hurt, and you need to be alive and able to assist being found when they start looking. people get turned around on trails, lost off trail, hurt, caught in unexpected weather etc. this doesnt mean rambo training and adding 20 lbs of bushcraft gear but being able to set up a tarp shelter, start a fire safely to stay warm, and make some safe to drink water is never a bad thing to know.
Is the difference between hiking and backpacking is that with backpacking you sleep at some point along the way?
my go to meal when I'm camping in one spot, using a small methylated spirits burner with a 1 litre cooking pot is:
rice, beans, new potatoes & sweet potatoes, with fresh tomatoes, red onions, spices & herbs, balsamic/apple cider vinegar
Oh man this sounds GOOD!!
You forgot pooping-obsessed backpackers. 😄
Overlanding is just car camping: confirmed.
I am 62, OW, but LOVE to hike(slow, but get there), and love camping not sure how much I can backpack, but wanna start somewhere while I still have the strength to do it. I so enjoy your channel, videos, and ironic sense of humor. Love the myth buster, explained some things that I thought were actually true but aren’t. So here goes nothing, have to wait for cooler weather cuz here in Bama, we feel like God is cookin us right now- on HIGH heat!!!!
If I'm camping with a larger group, we tend to make a fire, but very seldom do even our large groups cook over a fire. I think the last time I did, it was specifically to cook up celebratory steak and potatoes. Every other meal on that trip was on a Coleman range or my Jetboil.
Always love it when one of your videos hits my feed!
wellllll, i’d probably say everyone should know how to build a fire. Good points though. Lots of folks head out thinking they need to “live off the land” (youtube is full of that type of content, ugh). This mindset frames the activity as consuming the wilderness, rather than leaving it like you were never there.
Oooh love your clothes with the table and woodland. 🌲 💚 🌲
I used to teach beginner backpacking to flatlanders, especially women, and my advise is to study what you are afraid of. Learn all you can about bears in the area you plan to go. Have several backup flashlights if you fear the dark. Take too much food the first time if you are afraid of being hungry then modify that the next time. Fear of lost; know the basics of a paper map, orient it to the landscape and look at it every half hour. Fitness is not the criteria, common sense and some level of preparation and knowledge goes a long way to being confident and safe. I did lots of solo backpacking and loved the freedom, but at first go with one other positive person. My first 20 years I carried 40 to 50 lbs of gear and had a glorious time. As I got older it was down to 30 total pounds for a week of 6 to 9 mile days in the mountains. 20 miles makes no sense to me at all. Don't compare yourself to RUclips people.
The point is not perfect gear or perfect skill, it is being present in the wonderous world of wilderness to feel nature in our DNA and just stop and look, smell, touch and hear silence.
Gastro Gnome out of Montana has great backpacking meals!!
For those venturing deep into the wilderness, it's very important to develop survival skills. It may not seem important until you become lost, having to endure multiple days and nights alone in the woods.
In RUclips world there's so much overlap between the backpacking and survivalist worlds, thanks for pointing out that they're two different things.
You forgot us backpacking photographers! Also I love stroganoff
I don't think it was meant to be an exhaustive list
I am very experienced in type two fun… I run for my track and XC team and I LOVE it so much (when I finish) 😂
Haha - I always like to say that endurance athletes are all masochists (myself included). Why else would we do it? You should try triathlons! 🏊🚴🏃
@@kmetz878Do you do triathlons? I’ve always wanted to try one
@@ilovemydog0179 Yeah, I started last year! So, not a ton of experience, but I'm hooked. Look around for a local sprint race - they're typically 800m swim/20km bike/5km run. If you already come from a running background, then you can prepare for one of these just by spending a bit of time in the pool and going for a few rides (including at least a couple bike/run brick workouts). There's training plans you can find online, and your local tri club would probably be thrilled to have new blood and can give you a lot of advice. A lot of new people jump straight to doing an ironman or 70.3 for their first race and come away from it saying "never again", so I would say work your way up to that if you catch the bug, which I'm sure you will. :)
@@kmetz878 Thank you so much! I’ll try some swimming workouts since I’ve never done that before and maybe sign up for one next summer, since I can’t do it in the spring or fall because I’m in season. Good luck on your upcoming races :)
One of my favorite backpacking breakfasts is warmed tortillas, with either a jam or fruit leather spread inside.
I've cooked in a camp fire lots of times! Usually I make chicken foil meals if we're just going for one night in a camp fire safe area. It's a wonderful to get the fire started and get camp set up then cook in the hot coals. But my last backpacking trip we brought Backpackers Pantry Pad Thai and ended up cooking and eating it while crouched under my hammocks rain fly.
I haven't labeled myself as one, but I do enjoy me some backpacking!
I think I've been on about 3-4 trips in my two years of hiking (I dayhike a ton, though!), but I'm game to do more backpacking soon!
#4 cooking over campfire… you didn’t know my Girl Scout troop leader… she could really cook over a campfire, but it was better to to be with her in a drive-in campsite at a state park because she loved using her caste iron Dutch oven. She said the purpose of us having a campfire at night was to get the coals perfect for cooking…