• There is a direct correlation between cost and time when preparing food for a Wilderness trip in bear country. If cost is not an issue, freeze dried food may be purchased, which requires no front country preparation. If time is not a huge issue, read on for dehydrating tips and bear canister packing tips!
• When determining portion size for meals in the Wilderness, consider your normal serving size in the front country and then add some for the days of increased exertion and appetite!
• Remember to use all available space when packing your canister and to fit items together like puzzle pieces! Removing items from bulky original packaging, letting air out of plastic bags, compressing foods that can be flattened (like bread products) saves a surprising amount of space, at least enough for a few more chocolate bars! Also, placing items against the sides and not just the bottom of the canister and adding foods layer by layer save even more space!
• For large groups, consider packing canisters by meal not by person!

Dehydrating Backcountry Meals (a few options…)

* Dehydration time varies with food dehydrator models.

• The above food items serve as examples for easily dehydratable backcountry choices. Keep in mind, dehydrators come with helpful instructions and time recommendations for different foods. Remember to pour food items directly onto teflex sheets (sold with dehydrators) or parchment paper, not on dehydrator trays! Also, be sure to remove all excess moisture. For example, drain water from tuna before dehydrating. Then, relax and let your dehydrator do the work!
• Rehydration using hot water is achieved by adding the water lost to the dehydrated food and then cooking, or by adding boiling water and stirring or shaking. Foods with large “chunks” will rehydrate best over heat. Rehydration using cold water is accomplished by adding water lost to dehydrated food and storing in a leak-proof container in your backpack. As you hike, the food will slosh around in the container and rehydrate!
• Skillet meals are widely available in both generic and name brands, and may call for the addition of beef, chicken or tuna. High in calories and easy to prepare, they are an excellent choice for groups. Canned chicken can be dehydrated in the same way as tuna. Ground beef can be browned, drained, and dehydrated too. Canned soups served alone or over rice also make a great backcountry meal. The chunkier the soup, the longer it will take to dehydrate and rehydrate so you may want to put it in a blender for a finer consistency!
• To add vitamins and nutrients to pre-packaged food, you may add dehydrated vegetables. Use steam or hot water to blanch vegetables, and cut into small pieces before dehydrating. For fruit, dehydrate either in pieces, or blended to make a fruit leather. This makes a delicious and healthy snack! Sliced and dehydrated bananas are a local favorite!

Dehydrating Preparation Tips for Large Groups

• If your group consists of families or kids, consider dividing the responsibility for food preparation amongst each family. Some features to look for if you will be purchasing dehydrators are: adjustable heat settings, a fan to distribute heat, and quality plastic trays. A good quality dehydrator will pay for itself!
• Give each family responsibility to purchase, dehydrate, and package one meal.
• If you’re going to share dehydrators, start the process early. As long as food is completely dehydrated, it will not mold, and will last for months to a year!
• Remember, every effort you and your group makes to plan, prepare, and organize your food and toiletries before you arrive in bear country makes a difference in the lives of bears. The only way to keep bears wild and enhance your Wilderness experience is to ensure proper food storage. You make a difference!