Slow Down to Go Further
The hikers who cover the most ground and finish the biggest trails aren’t the fastest ones. Here’s why hiking longer at a controlled pace beats going hard — every time.
Surviving the Storm
Storms in the mountains are rarely a single threat. Rain brings flash flooding. Wind turns branches into projectiles. Cold and wet conditions push even summer campers toward hypothermia. And threading through all of it — lightning, the most immediately lethal hazard you’ll face outdoors.
Pack Weight % Body Weight
Most hikers think about pack weight as a number on a scale. The more useful way to think about it is as a percentage of your body weight — because that ratio is what actually determines how hard your body has to work, and what training you need before you get on trail.
Fasting on the Trail
The appeal of intermittent fasting for backpackers is real — but so are the risks. Here’s what the science and trail experience say about skipping meals in the mountains.
Beyond the Backpack
Only around 20% of hikers who start the Appalachian Trail reach the finish. The most common reason for quitting isn’t injury or gear failure — it’s the mental and emotional weight that builds quietly over weeks and months. This is the part of thru-hiking that guidebooks gloss over. It deserves its own conversation.
Benefits of Reducing Pack Weight
The goal is not to carry as little as possible. The goal is to carry exactly what you need — no more, no less. Pack smart, train hard, and go further than you thought possible.
Almond Flour Tortillas
Ingredients 1 cup finely ground almond flour 3 tablespoons psyllium husk powder 3 tablespoons linseed (flax) flour 1/2 tbsp xantham gum 1 teaspoon sea salt 2 large eggs ⅓ cup boiling water Instructions Place the almond flour, psyllium husk powder, xantham gum, salt, linseed flour, and eggs into a bowl and mix thoroughly. Add the water and mix for 30… Read More »Almond Flour Tortillas
Keto Bricks
With fat containing twice as many calories (9 per gram) as carbohydrates and protein, a keto-friendly diet can help to reduce a backpacker’s load to travel faster. Keto bricks are predominantly made from Cacao Butter and MCT Oil, which with their very high fat content provide an exceptionally calorie-dense and nutritious snack. These “bricks” are very stable at warm temperatures… Read More »Keto Bricks
Chicken with Chilli, Cheese and Broccoli
This is my favourite dehydrated trail meal. A tasty mix of cheese and chilli are a warming combination at the end of a long day. Make sure to rehydrate the chicken well otherwise it can be a little chewy. Ingredients – 1 meal 2 large Chicken breasts 1/2 Broccoli head 1/4 head of Cauliflower 1 Bell pepper 6 tsp /… Read More »Chicken with Chilli, Cheese and Broccoli
Beef Coconut Thai Curry with Cauliflower Rice
This recipe rehydrates well, provided that the beef is dehydrated with some mixed coconut flour – This is a keto alternative to using breadcrumbs and in my testing more stable than almond flour. The quantities listed below are for one large meal with approximately 1200 calories when olive oil is added. Ingredients – 1 meal 300g Beef (360cal) or 2… Read More »Beef Coconut Thai Curry with Cauliflower Rice