Thru-Hiking Stoves: DIY or Buy?

Apr 17, 2023

The hole punch sank its teeth into the aluminum side of a cat food can, chewing a hole through the wall. My ventilation system was complete. I’d just created a “cat stove”–a do-it-yourself backpacking stove–while sitting in a dank motel room along the Appalachian Trail. With a little bit of denatured alcohol, I had a new way to cook my food, and it only weighed a few ounces. After hiking for several weeks with a wood-fueled stove, I made the discovery that some environments are incompatible with wood-burning stove systems, and that in a well-trafficked corridor like the Appalachian Trail, it isn’t always ethical to collect wood anyway. These findings prompted me to observe other backpacking stoves when hikers gathered at the shelter for dinner. Some hopeful thru-hikers lugged around…

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3 Hearty Breakfast Recipes for Camping and Backpacking 

Apr 3, 2023

One of the greatest joys of camping and backpacking is getting to eat every meal in incredible, scenic locations. Every time I’m out in the wilderness, I’ve found myself marveling at how foods that would undoubtedly taste bland and uninspiring at home are inexplicably rendered delicious by the grittier context of an adventure. That being said, the effect is even more pronounced when the food being eating is actually delicious to begin with. Taking the time to plan nutritious and appetizing meals while camping or backpacking will ensure high energy levels throughout the day and work wonders for keeping spirits high. Let’s take a look at three of my favorite camping breakfast recipes.   1) Berry Oatmeal Breakfast Recipe Prep & Cook Time: 15-20 minutes  Application: camping and backpacking  When I first…

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In Terms of Backcountry Water Treatment, When is Water Considered Safe to Drink?

Mar 20, 2023

Brown, silty streams, tea-colored rivulets, even clear, ice-cold lakes—any backcountry water source can serve up a cocktail of contaminants. But not everything that’s present in an undeveloped water source is necessarily harmful, and only some things pose an immediate threat to your health. In fact, it’s impractical and unnecessary to remove everything, all the time. So in terms of backcountry water treatment, when is water considered safe to drink? First, what’s commonly in backcountry water? The types of contaminants that make water “dirty” depend a lot on that source’s surrounding environment. But most contaminants can be placed into these categories: Microorganisms- Simply put: tiny bugs or germs. Microbes are the primary focus of treatment devices because of their immediate and potentially serious risk to your health. The pathogenic ones include…

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