Appalachian Trail Mix
Appalachian Trail Mix
Many hikers make walking the entire Appalachian National Scenic Trail, from Maine to Georgia, a personal goal.
Ironically, the 2,160-mile marked footpath, known among avid hikers as the A.T., goes straight through Appalachia without ever entering West Virginia, the only state that lies entirely within the region known as Appalachia.
The A.T. is part of the same national park system that includes Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Smoky Mountains but lacks the kind of boundaries those other parks have. This trail is long and skinny – as skinny as a few hundred feet wide in some places.
I met a woman who walked the entire A.T. by walking as much of it as she could in the summers she had off as a school teacher. She finished the walk when she was in her 60s and after she retired from teaching.
With spring here and warmer weather approaching, those who enjoy hiking start thinking about hitting the trail, even if it's not the grand A.T.
One food item always associated with hiking, especially in Appalachia, is GORP. Literally, GORP is Good Old Raisins and Peanuts. It’s the perfect snack for a hiker because it provides satisfying and filling protein in a compact, easy-traveling form for somebody carrying as little as possible.
Trail mix is about the same thing as GORP, because rarely anymore do you see GORP which is a mixture of just raisins and peanuts.
Commercial trail mix comes in all kinds of combinations, some sweet, some salty, some spicy, some tropical, some hot. You can make your own and suit it to your tastes.
Think about what flavors you like and think about what some of those flavors would combine well with. Then throw those things in a bag and you’re ready to go.
Of course, maybe you like your nuts toasted or a seasoning roasted onto the snack. That’s fine. Do it the way you like it.
Consider making your GORP with any of the following items:
- peanuts
- cashews
- pistachios
- pumpkin or sunflower seeds
- raisins
- dried cherries or cranberries
- sesame twigs
- candy-coated chocolates
- chocolate chips
- peanut butter chips
- butterscotch chips
- chestnuts
- miniature cheese crackers
- peanut brittle
- graham cracker pieces
- marshmallows
- Reese’s pieces
- potato sticks
- dry cereal
- melba toast pieces
- coconut
- bagel chips
- dried pineapple
- pine nuts
- corn nuts
- banana chips
- prunes
- dates
- small wheat crackers
- popped corn
- almonds
- goldfish crackers and other novelty shaped favorites
GORP is especially good for children to make because it’s easy, there are no rules and there’s no need to use the stove. Children can bag it up and take it with them wherever they go.
If you decide to add seasonings and toast some of the ingredients, do so in a relatively low-heat oven (usually about 275 or 300 is plenty hot enough). Stir the ingredients every 10 or 15 minutes and roast for about an hour.
Of course, don’t try to season things like dried fruits or chocolate. It just won’t work.
If you have a favorite seasoning that’s already mixed, like a Southwestern or Cajun spice, that works. If you have a favorite combo of seasonings you mix yourself or a single flavor go for it.
If you take a trail mix with you, whether it’s salty or sweet, and especially if it’s hot, you’ll need a drink. Water is the number one beverage for your health, so a canteen or a bottle of water is important, as you can't be sure what you'll find when you're hiking and drinking from an unfamiliar stream isn't a good idea. Sports drinks and juice boxes are good for hiking, too. Just don’t litter by leaving disposable containers along the way.
But before you hike, be sure you know what you’re doing and where you’re going. Despite the fact that our continent is a developed land, there are still wild animals, poisonous reptiles and plants, contaminated water and innumerable ways to get lost. Be prepared and be sure you’re ready for anything.
Printed with permission from www.suite101.com.
About the Author: Lee Ward - For the last 20 years, I have been working as a professional journalist in newspapers, magazines and radio. Currently, I am the Lifestyle Editor at a daily newspaper, The Independent in Ashland, Ky. I am always interested in freelance writing or editing opportunities and working on my fiction and poetry. I can be emailed at hillygator@msn.com.
