News & Updates
Leave No Trace Skills Series: Repackaging Food
Guest
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July 15, 2017
Eagle, CO: Planning what food you're going to bring on a multi-day trip outdoors can be a fraught endeavor, as you attempt to balance dietary restrictions, caloric needs for your exertions, and space considerations for your adventure. Take some of the stress out of your planning by repackaging your food according to these simple tips:
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Get rid of unnecessary boxes and containers to reduce both the bulk you're carrying and the amount of trash you'll have to carry out.
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Crackers and chips sometiems come in non-resealable bags – use rubber bands or small clips to keep the crumbs out of your food bag.
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Lay out your food by day before you go to make sure you have enough for your trip.
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Pace your eating while you're out by putting the next day's food into a large ziploc, so you're less likely to run out of food.
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Pre-packaged dinners can be bulky, but they also double as trash containers, and help store messy packages, like chocolate.
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Plan to bring a bear-proof canister if you're traveling in bear country, and before you head out, make sure there's enough room for your food and your smelly items like toothpaste, sunscreen, and lip balm, as well as any trash you've got. Overflow can cause serious problems, so it's best to know your capacity before you go.
- Burning or burying trash or leftover food can cause problems for wildlife and other visitors, so make sure to pack out everything you've packed in.
Repackaging your food is a quick and easy way to make thinking about food on your multi-day trip as painless as eating it. However you get outdoors, we hope you enjoy your trip, and Enjoy Your World!
–Amanda and Junaid, Team East Central
Leave No Trace's Amanda Jameson and Junaid Dawud are part of the 2017 Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Program that provides free, mobile education to communities across the country. Proud partners of this program include Subaru of America, REI, Eagles Nest Outfitters, Deuter, Thule, Klean Kanteen, and Smartwool.
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