Long camping trips require significant preparation, and among the things you have to think long and hard about is
food. While the wilderness is often the best sauce, as they say, trying to subsist on Power Bars alone can be a real
drag. But lugging along a backpack full of fresh grub is prohibitive, and so many people resort to buying expensive
freeze dried meals like Beef Stroganoff and Lasagna. But what about drying your own stuff? Is that possible?
This brief article in Canoe and Kayak Magazine gives some tips on how
to do it yourself. First tip: buy yourself a dehydrator. Most food is 50% to 90% water, and water is very heavy. A
decent dehydrator, they suggest, will set you back between $75 and $200, and will pay for itself in the long run. Next,
yourself a heat-sealing vacuum-bagging kit to seal the food and to keep it fresh. The assortment of stuff you can
dehydrate and store this way is impressive. Meats, veggies, eggs, fruits, all dehydrate nicely, they say. I haven’t
tried the drying technique myself, but it makes sense, and could be a great way to enhance the outdoor dining
experience.