How Do I Cache My Backpacking Food?

By Anna Duncan

Backpacking food is a great way to fuel your outdoor adventures. It’s lightweight, nutritious, and easy to prepare. But if you’re planning a long backpacking trip, you’ll need to be sure to pack enough food for the duration of the trip.

One way to make sure you have enough food is to cache it along your route. Caching is simply the practice of storing food in a safe and secure location so that it can be retrieved later on during your trip.

When caching backpacking food, it’s important to choose a secure location where animals won’t be able to access it. A good spot would be an animal-proof container or bag that is elevated off the ground or hung from a tree branch. You should also make sure that the area around the cache site is dry and well-ventilated, so that the food stays fresh and doesn’t spoil in wet or humid conditions.

When packing your cache, it’s important to consider what type of food you will need during your trip. If you are planning on having cooked meals at camp, then pack lightweight items such as dehydrated meals, grains, nuts and seeds that can be easily cooked over a campfire. If you want snacks while out on the trail, opt for shelf-stable items like jerky, energy bars and trail mix.

Before caching your food, make sure to label each bag with its contents and expiration date if applicable. Additionally, store all items in airtight bags or containers so they don’t attract any unwanted critters while being stored away. Finally, if possible mark an X on a map with the coordinates of where you cached your supplies.

Conclusion:

Caching your backpacking food is a great way to ensure you have enough nutrition for your journey without having to carry too much weight with you. When caching supplies always choose secure locations such as animal-proof containers or bags that are elevated off the ground and mark an X on a map with its coordinates so that you can easily find them when needed. Additionally pack lightweight items such as dehydrated meals or shelf-stable snacks like jerky or energy bars in airtight bags or containers for best results.