There are many personas when it comes to dining on the trail:
The Hobbit
The Fine Diner
The Calorie-Per-Ouncer
The Food-is-Fuel Speed Eater
There isn't one right way to eat, but it's important to eat enough calories to function. Unfortunately, a lot of waste is produced in the hiking community, and it's really hard to get around.
I think it's safe to say that people visiting nature probably care about nature to some extent. Personally, I adore the outdoors and the wilderness, and I try to do my fair share to have minimal environmental impact. But man, the convenience of trash food is really hard to give up, especially because so many calories can pack into the smallest wrapper.
There is also some glory to it: Having piles of packaged food separated by day is exciting, and it means that you're about to do something epic. It's one of the defining features of Hiker Trash (a term of endearment and something to be proud of, honestly). These are the people who you smell from across the room. The dirty, always hungry, wash clothes in a gas station sink, long distance hikers who unload huge Ziploc bags filled with garbage in every town they stop at, right before ordering pizza, burgers, and fries.
But, there is no doubt that the trash is taking a toll on the environment.
For context, more than 3 million people visit the Appalachian Trail every year with 3,000 people aiming to thru-hike it. It takes about 5 to 7 months (~150-210 days) to complete the AT, and with so many people eating massive amounts of packaged food every day, the amount of trash produced is insane, especially when hiker hunger kicks in. Now consider that this is only thru-hikers on the AT, and this doesn't count the hundreds of millions of people on every other trail in the world. The trash isn't limited to hikers either, of course. As a cyclist, gas station food is my go-to.
Is there anything that can be done?
The Sustainable Hiker
The most calorie-dense meals typically aren't the most environmentally friendly. In short, most foods are in single-use plastic wrappers which get thrown into a larger, plastic trash bag and dumped in town. These plastic wrappers won't biodegrade but rather they will break down into harmful microplastics, polluting the environment and aquatic ecosystem. The chemicals that are in plastics will also get released, not to mention that oil is needed to make plastic, contributing to greenhouse gas production. It's amazing that there aren't more sustainable products out there for backpackers. However, after crowd sourcing ideas on Reddit and looking up online options, I found that there are a couple things we can try to do to offset our environmental footprint.
Think ahead If you are planning a long trip, consider where you will resupply. Which stores are there in town? Are there co-ops that might have bulk food sections? Will you eat in more environmentally-friendly restaurants? Can you mail yourself foods in less packaging? If you are planning a shorter trip, consider taking less packaged foods and more homemade meals.
Make your own foods It will take time, but making your own food can save you from buying plastic alternatives. There are great recipes for energy bars that are high in protein that you can eat instead of the typical Clif bar. One of my favorite blogs is Minimalist Baker which has homemade energy bar recipes that are also vegetarian and vegan. Making your own food can often be cheaper in the long run and even healthier.
Dehydrate meals Backpacking meals can be expensive, and they also come in plastic. Buying a dehydrator can allow you to make your own meals. It will take some time, but you can feel good about knowing what you are eating and that you are saving extra waste from being produced. Some DIY meals are here. You will have to store these, of course, in a more sustainable way (see next).
Store in reusable bags
Some plastic bags can get multiple uses out of them before they get too damaged. Try to increase the number of times you reuse bags. Grocery store bags, bread bags, etc., can be easy to use again. You can also buy reusable silicone Ziploc bags now which are useful since they seal, and these can be used for homemade foods and bulk foods at the grocery store.
Choose non-plastic wraps
Beeswax wrap can be very useful as an alternative for plastic wrap and aluminum foil. However, if it's too cold, the wax might not be malleable enough. Reusable Tupperware is also great, especially if you are out for the weekend and you don't have to worry about pack weight too much.
Choose bulk
If you go to the store, you can choose items that may contain less plastic. If there are bulk food sections, you can load up with dried fruits, nuts, rice, oatmeal, beans, etc., in bags that you already own instead of buying these packaged. Avoid the single-serving items, and, instead, choose the bulkier option. For example, swap individual peanut butter packets for a jar.
Eat less meat
Meat production is known to be a large contributor of greenhouse gases. It takes a lot of water to make animal feed but also a lot of water is given directly to the animals. Processing meat takes energy, and oftentimes, the animals are treated poorly and are living in questionable conditions. Meat is also packaged. If you insist on eating meat, maybe try to buy more sustainably farmed meat or eat meat sparingly instead of regularly. There are many protein alternatives to eating meat on trail, like beans and nuts!
Check out hiker boxes
Hikers often drop food in boxes to minimize weight, so you might luck out and find some yummy food options! I don't feel bad about taking food that has already been purchased and donated.
Recycle if you can
Have some water bottles that are a little too beat up? Do you have any metal cans? Try dropping them in a recycling bin if you can find one in town. Plastic doesn't get recycled well, but it's worth a try. Before a hike, buy the foods that you require, and if any come in cardboard boxes, recycle the boxes! I doubt most hikers will have materials that can get recycled on trail, but if you do, just think about it.
Pick up trash/ Leave no trace
Sometimes you will find pieces of wrappers on the ground, either tossed intentionally or by accident. The weight is basically negligible, so just pick it up and keep nature clean. Also, practice LNT, and if you pack it in, then pack it out.
Length of Trip
The day hiker
If you are planning a hike that will only last the day, then you don't have to worry too much about food weight or whether or not your food will perish. This can make it a lot easier to be sustainable when hiking because you can bring low-calorie dense meals like fresh fruits and veggies, hummus, and homemade sandwiches. You just need to be mindful of what you are packaging your food in. I bring Tupperware because the extra weight doesn't bother me for the day.
The weekend warrior
An epic weekend trip is the best time, in my opinion, to carry fuel, cooking pots, and tasty meals. You are only carrying this weight for a few days, so you can go a little heavy on the foods that might not be as calorie-dense, too.
The long distance backpacker
Thinking about weight is really important, and the heaviness of your pack can determine how far you will travel that day. What you need are high-calorie, lightweight meals. Do your best to buy bulk in towns, meal prep and ship foods to your future destinations, reuse your bags, and choose sustainable options when you are at the grocery store and restaurants. It's likely easier said than done, but any minor change can help when the opportunity presents itself.
Is it reasonable to assume that someone hiking 6 months on the PCT will not produce trash and will only eat sustainably? Of course not. Should we make adjustments where we can? Absolutely.
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