The Well-Fed Backpacker

Of all the sources of backpacking recipies that I have found, this is by far the best. Not only are most of the recipies reasonable, easy and tasty, but her many suggestions regarding saving money and easy planning are terrific.

This is a must have book for the backpacker. It is full of great recipes and cooking hints. I would recommend this to anyone packing thier own food.

I like my backcountry meals to come together easily at home from easily purchased ingredients, to be very lightweight, and to cook quickly in camp so they don't waste time and fuel. At the same time, I can't stand most packaged meals and find that simply adding boiling water to a packaged meal yields only UFOs: Unidentifiable (and inedible) Floating Objects. I'm not interested in wasting time, money, and weight on being "gourmet" in the backcountry. *The Well-Fed Backpacker* by June Fleming strikes the perfect balance for me. For her recipes that I like the best, the shopping is easy, the preparation at home and in camp is easy, the weight is light (especially Cheesy Bacospuds), and the taste is good to great. This is the most practical recipe book for backpackers that I know of.

Having been out with June twice on winter camping trips, and having used her book for many of my own outings, I can say without reservation that when it comes to taking food to the outdoors, June knows her stuff. Her house is always filled with wonderful smells of newly dried foods and experimental recipes. Fellow backpackers don't walk out of the dinner tent at night -- they roll out. The beautiful part of June's philosphy is that she's realistic -- not all of us have the space and time to dehydrate our own food (like 75 percent of the recipes in that newer "Lip Crackin' Backpackin'" book from Rodale.) She encourages you to find the semi-prepared dried foods you need at the supermarket as a base, and then build from there as much as you're willing to experiment.My favorite part of the book is a list of "one-liners," quick recipes you can throw together in a single baggie that are no-brainers to cook. They're delicious.One note -- the latest edition was published in '86, I think. A few details in the book are dated, but 95 percent is still completely, utterly relevant.

Getting ready to go on a seven-day backpacking trip, I decided to do some reading. This book was extremely helpful for me to choose foods for the trip that are lightweight and affordable. The author gives you options of buying your foods at the grocery store, health food store, and also a sporting goods store, listing foods that pack well as well as being fairly healthy and lightweight. I am more prepared for my trip than I was before reading this book.