Take it from a seasoned wilderness camping/hiking guide who has seen the faces of hikers who have prepared and consumed typical backcountry meals. The look is not one of wonder or delight. It generally ranges from trying-to-appear-satisfied to “That was pretty yucky.” Of course, the super polite and those with no taste buds may even present honest smiles. There’s a better option, however, one that lets the dining experience in the forest match the soul-enriching hiking adventure.
Just because a food can be dehydrated doesn’t mean it should be dehydrated. At La Guita, we brainstormed and experimented and went through infinite trial-and-error food preparations, all with one goal in mind: to raise the bar exponentially on hiking meals. As a result, we chose the best, most nutritious and palate-friendly gourmet ready-to-eat meals to produce, with fresh, organic ingredients.
Especially when hiking, whether it’s on the Appalachian Trail or in Yosemite or Yellowstone National Park, you need calories to maintain your energy level. But instead of pouring boiling water into a freeze-dried bag, pour your La Guita meal—perhaps our savory Turkey Goulash or the popular Bacon Grits, adapted from Grandpa’s recipe book—into a pot and cook it slowly while you enjoy your surroundings. The whole point of being out in nature, whether it’s camping, fishing or hiking, is to leave the rat race behind and recharge your batteries, not to bang out a meal in record time.
So slow it down, and raise your expectations when it comes to hiking meals. You have the right clothes and the right equipment and the right guide (or not) to make your wilderness experience the best it can possibly be, don’t you? Then why settle for just-okay meals when you can enjoy fresh, tasty La Guita products that delight the palate? It’s the least you deserve.
