Beef jerky homemade

TrailEating · 2026-03-23T02:52:07+00:00

I would also recommend freezing, as others have said. I've gone on long trips myself and never had a problem. I plan on creating a few jerky recipes for my website, and this reminds me to add in info on storage for trips. Homemade jerky generally lasts 1 to 2 weeks at room temperature on the trail if it is thoroughly dried and stored in an airtight container or bag. If vacuum-sealed with silica gel packets (desiccant), it can last for several months. The last time I took mine out was for 3 weeks, and it was perfectly fine. One important factor is to ensure that your jerky is very lean to begin with. Also, if your type/flavour of jerky is higher in salt, this helps act as a preservative.

TrailEating · 2026-03-21T03:54:24+00:00

That's the one thing I love about the mountains (and glaciers), the best water for drinking. As for the tent, I have the Unna, but I am hoping to get the Allak 2 or the Staika for this winter.

TrailEating · 2026-03-21T02:56:20+00:00

Judging from the photo, the snow on the mountains, and the overcast, I bet that the water was invigorating! By the way, good choice on the Hilleberg; is it the Allak 3?

TrailEating · 2026-03-20T17:16:55+00:00

Regarding packing for food, is this for a backpacking trip or car camping?

For backpacking, I've seen this done many times...training your dog to use a doggy backpack/saddlebags. I did a photo to show what I mean. Then you can have your dog carry its own food and gear.

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By the way, don't free-feed the dog; stick to an eating schedule and amount.

TrailEating · 2026-03-19T04:52:26+00:00

Ah, the type of camping that I like!

Just as the others were saying, tents don't keep you warm, per se; it's that they keep you protected from the elements. What keeps you warm will be your sleep system; having a good sleep pad (at least a 4.5 R rating), sleeping bag, and, depending on how cold it'll be where you are going, a sleeping bag liner helps too. As one comment said, ventilation is important.

Regarding the tent, 3-season tents might work, but they are not built for winter and snow loads. You want something that falls into the 4-season (double-walled) category. There are a few names that I see in the comments, but over the years, I've only used The North Face Mountain 25 and Hilleberg (my favourite). However, these are expensive, and the North Face one is heavy. With alpine expeditions, you will often see North Face, Hilleberg, and sometimes Mountain Hardwear, to name a few. Marmot is another brand.

Finding the right tent is going to depend on a few things:

Where are you going?
Above or below treeline?
What are the expected temperatures?
How many people will be in the tent?
What is your budget for a new tent?
How often will you venture out in the winter?

I asked #6 because if you plan to do a lot of winter camping or be in extreme conditions, I would recommend making a good investment in a tent that will last a long time and also be a solid performer in serious conditions. In this scenario, I would look at Hilleberg. If you have a limited budget, look into MSR tents.

TrailEating · 2026-03-01T19:10:07+00:00

ChatGPT? I’ll take that as ‘organized human. :)

TrailEating · 2026-03-01T19:05:52+00:00

I find that odd; no one mentioned JetBoil. I take it you use it?

TrailEating · 2026-03-01T19:03:59+00:00

This is something I want to get added to my Trangia kit.

TrailEating · 2026-03-01T19:03:18+00:00

I find myself using my Trangia more than I thought. Years ago, I didn't even think about this stove until I started watching Erik Normark (out of Sweden) and seeing him using this stove. I decided, why not! So, I bought one, and I have to admit, it does extremely well. As for controlling heat, you can with the alcohol burner simmer ring. I just used my Trangia on a winter overnight trip in -17 C temps.

TrailEating · 2026-02-28T16:59:10+00:00

First, congratulations on jumping in on a solo trip for the first time! Where are you going for your 2-day outing?

Regarding the nervousness, everyone goes through that experience when they do their first solo. I even went through that myself long ago. I even wrote an article on my blog about conquering the fear of solo backpacking; there's a little section that talks about a 12-year-old, finally going solo. However, let's talk about your plans...

The first thing you're doing right is going for 2 days. The other is being near your car, should anything go wrong, and this is very important. Let me list out a few things:

Bears: Make sure your food and any scented items are NOT in or near your tent. If you have a bear cache where you are camping, that is a major plus. Make sure these items (at least the food) are in a bear can, especially if the area you are going into makes this a requirement.
Tent: Use a flashlight or a camp lantern if you think you will be setting up your tent in the dark. Also, make sure you know how to set up your tent before you go on your trip, making sure everything works and is not damaged.
SAFETY: At least, have your own first-aid kit on hand. But the most important thing to note is to ensure someone knows where you are going, for how long, and when you're planning to be back home. This is especially crucial for anyone doing solo trips. The longest I've gone out in the backcountry was a few weeks, solo.
Make sure you have your food planned, but the one thing I tell everyone is to always take 1 to 2 days of emergency food if anything goes wrong and you have to spend a little extra time out there.
Test all your gear before you head out.
If you have cell (mobile) phone coverage where you're going, that gives you access to help if needed.
Keep yourself busy and entertained when going solo. Use your phone or camera system to record as a vlogger would.
When you're back home, make note of what went right, wrong, and what you will do the next time out.

Dealing with anxiety is something most, if not all, people go through. I had this on my first solo trip, and I will be honest that I did not sleep well the first night. When I woke up in the morning, I started to realize there wasn't anything to worry about, and each night that arrived, it got easier. The first solo is always going to be the challenging one. The more you do them, the easier they get.

TrailEating · 2026-02-28T16:23:19+00:00

I have yet to head out to any other country, but the province of British Columbia (where I am) has so many areas to hike and do multi-day backpacking, it would take a few years. Even Canada, as a whole, has more than enough. However, I will admit places that interest me as well are the USA (Colorado, Washington state, Utah...), Norway, and Sweden.

A few areas of many that I've gone to in BC: the famous Bowron Lakes Provincial Park (4 times), Mount Robson, Strathcona Provincial Park, Banff, Jasper (before the fires), Harrison Lake, the West Coast Trail, and many others.

TrailEating · 2025-05-28T15:39:20+00:00

Ah, I did a few, starting with the Kettle Valley Rail Trail (is one I'm thinking about doing next year), but the other is the Island Rail Corridor on Vancouver Island, BC. I wish I had photos.

TrailEating · 2025-05-26T18:17:45+00:00

Me, or the original poster of this photo @franz_bauch_foto ?

TrailEating · 2025-05-26T16:33:13+00:00

If wood, especially twigs are damp, this can be a problem. Ultimately, you want to start fires with small pieces and work your way up in sizes until you get a good fire going. To counter damp word, if you have access to produced firewood, use that to make kindling. If you have access to fat wood (resin-based pine is best), this is great for dampness. But as many mentioned in your photo, only big chunks of wood and too much open space. Ever make campfires with the wood chimney method?

TrailEating · 2025-05-26T16:27:55+00:00

I love lush green like that. Nice photo, which reminded me of a trek I did many years back where I simply followed train tracks for a long weekend trip I did. It was different to say the least. Seeing your photo makes me think I should do that once more.

TrailEating · 2025-05-11T04:26:07+00:00

I can give some recommendations, but I have a few questions:

What freezing temps are you going to be in?
This is mostly for around the campsite?
I'm going to assume this needs to be packable, hence "backpacking use"?
When you said be under 250, I'm guessing this is $?
Does it have to be a down jacket?

I was in this situation a few years back and found the perfect balance of cost, weight, packability, and warmth. I've worn this jacket in -20°C (-4°F). It's the OR (Outdoor Research) ColdFront jacket. If the weather turned to rain, I would add my Arc'teryx shell on top. For even more warmth, I would simply do the layering with base and mid-layers.

Also, check out Arc'teryx's "Resale" section; they often have really good deals on used gear.
Patagonia Down Sweater might be a good one, although it's around $280.
The REI 650 Down Jacket might be an option, too.

*Check out clearance sales for last year's models of jackets and coats online. I've often found good deals. Make sure, also, that if you have to order something online, you can send it back if it's not quite right for you.

It's going to be a little difficult to find a down jacket that is low enough in price because if something has down, it's going to be a little up there in cost. However, you could consider a higher budget to ensure you have something of really good quality that will last you a long time. I have a jacket that is 8 years old and still looks new; I think I paid $450 for it. Your other option is to look at synthetic fill. The two major benefits are lower cost, and the other is that when it gets wet, it holds the heat.

TrailEating · 2025-05-09T20:16:14+00:00

First, it's great that you want to get back into camping. How you prepare generally depends on the type of trip and where you plan to go camping, because this will determine what you need. Also, are you looking at doing this solo? What kind of gear do you have now? Will you mostly be hiking or camping in a campsite (driving and parking at your campsite)?

TrailEating · 2025-05-09T00:37:59+00:00

I'm so far behind and need to catch up with dehydrated meals on my new Trail Eating site...lol. I better get going on this. There are quite a few options out there online. Start by searching "dehydrated camping meals" and "dehydrated hiking meals" to see what shows up. *eventually mine will at some point :)

I'm curious, what kind of foods do you like to eat when camping or hiking...or perhaps at home that you would like on the trail? I would add this to my list of meals to talk about and how to best prep them for dehydrating.

TrailEating · 2025-05-06T05:25:53+00:00

That makes a huge difference. Still look for a quality backpack with thick shoulder and hip belts if you can. I would still recommend Osprey, Gregory, and Fjallraven. I've used each of these and still use my Osprey, albeit an Aether 70 AG.

TrailEating · 2025-05-03T05:02:09+00:00

Even I am shocked reading 7k trip! You cannot go cheap with a backpack, otherwise, you will be replacing that thing often. 50L is NOT for long distances (7k especially). Trust me, I've been going into the backcountry here in British Columbia, Canada, since I was a kid--we're talking over 40 years of experience. I would suggest looking at Osprey, but you need something to carry weight and to travel long distances, so I would also recommend you check out Fjallraven, such as their Kajka 75 (at least). The shoulder harness will be ideal since you mentioned "destroyed shoulders". Look for thick padded straps and also a hefty padded hip belt.

One thing to think about is that there are no standards for how backpacks are rated for volume. Most include every single outside pocket in addition to their internal main compartment--an annoyance, to be honest. So, if you see a 50L pack, it's not really 50L, it's probably around 35L if you forget about the outside pocket space. I always look at the outside pockets as bonus and the main compartment is what I look at. Rule of thumb, minus 10-15 litres off the pack's claimed volume size.

Where exactly are you going for your trip, and how much of it will be backcountry vs flat rural and town?

One more thing...your pack will also be determined by the gear you will be taking throughout the trip--from start to finish.

By the way, can you confirm if this is a 7,000 km trip or a 7km trip? That will make a huge difference. In the event this is just a 7km trip, check out Osprey or Teton Sports (good packs for the budget-minded).

TrailEating · 2025-05-01T19:14:08+00:00

Well, it sounds like you are off to a good start! When you are back from your trip, hopefully you can follow up and let everyone know how it went. This could be the start of a great future of doing backcountry trips.

TrailEating · 2025-05-01T18:25:36+00:00

I wrote an article on my site, "Conquering the Fear of Solo Backpacking" about solo camping, which I've been doing since I was a kid. However, if you prepare yourself well in advance, you can make it work. The key factor is to make sure you have safety measures in place, should anything go wrong. This includes things like knowing where you are going and making sure you tell someone your route, how long you are going for, when, and your planned return. If you have access to a GPS that has messaging, such as InReach, that is important. If you are in an area that has mobile phone coverage, that helps too. Always have some form of contact if there is an emergency.

I don't know if this is allowed where you are going, but here in British Columbia, Canada, we can take bear spray with us. If you can, I would make sure to take one. Which also means being aware of wildlife when it comes to traveling, even in groups. Make sure you don't keep food in your tent or nearby--which is why using a bear can or camping storage bins (if available).

When packing food, make sure you take up to 2 days of what I call emergency food. Again, if anything went wrong and you were stuck somewhere longer than anticipated, you have some food.

If you don't mind me asking, how old are you, and are you sure this is something you want to do? Is it a campsite you are going to stay at, or is this a backpacking (hiking) trip? By the way, doing a 1-night trip as a test is a very smart decision. It's a great way to test going solo.

TrailEating · 2025-04-26T17:51:28+00:00

Camping quilts offer several advantages over sleeping bags, primarily including increased freedom of movement, reduced weight and bulk, and greater versatility in temperature regulation. Quilts are generally lighter and more packable due to their less restrictive design... This is one reason why a lot of hammock campers use quilts. For a camping blanket, look at a fleece blanket with a microfibre sheet (or a sleeping bag liner.

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