A collection of recipes for wilderness backpacking from the host of the popular podcast, The First 40 Miles.

Trail Fuel: 40 Quick & Easy Recipes for Wilderness Backpacking

My first experience with preparing food for a backpacking trip was when my husband was prepping for his first backpacking trip since his time as a boy scout. He explained, “All I know is that I need foods that are calorie dense.”

Because of the length and intensity of the trip, he needed human rocket fuel.

Over the course of a few days, we planned his menu, put together calorie-dense meals, and tried to give enough variety for the five day adventure.

Then something happened that I never expected.

I was invited to go.

With only a week to prepare, I did a crash course in backpacking. I loaded up my pack with all the necessities of life—plus some of those calorie dense foods that I had picked out for Josh only days before. And we were off! It was a week of peanut butter packets, granola bars, M&Ms, dehydrated dinners, and beautiful vistas!

What makes great backpacking food?

• It’s calorie-dense.


• It’s shelf-stable.


• It’s simple to prepare.


• It’s a good mix of naughty and nice.


• It’s adaptable and idiot-proof

Whether you're new to backpacking or you’ve been on more trails than you can shake a trekking pole at, this cookbook will inspire you to rethink the essentials, lighten your load, and make the most of your time on the trail.

Tags: backpacking for beginners, wilderness backpacking, hiking, camping, food, recipes, cookbook, meals.