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Cost of Hiking gear
Hiking gear can get very expensive, very quickly, and the choices that face you oftentimes comes down to lighter = more expensive. In this article I break down the price of common gear items, and if it always makes sense to invest in the most expensive option. The cost of hiking gear usually comes down to weight and performance versus price. The lightest options are most of the time the most expensive. And the cheaper gear is heavier. As for anything regarding hiking, there are of course exceptions to the rule. Some plastic sheeting that you pick up and cut from a hardware store into a tarp will be one…
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When to replace hiking boots
If you are going to be hiking long distances for longer periods, its important to know when to replace your hiking boots or shoes. Here is what you need to know about how and when to replace your hiking boots. Condition they are in The current condition is the first thing to be considered and looked at when thinking about replacing your hiking boots. Give them a hard look and see what spots are wearing faster than others. Good examples of this are cuts, tears, gashes from sharp rocks or spots on the soles that have worn out. When you lose grip from the soles from hiking boots then it…
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Trail Meal | BiFi Stroganoff
Trail Meals should be easy to throw together, lightweight, and throw in a pot style cooking. With this BiFi Stroganoff I checked all these boxes! I recently ordered a big bag of milk powder to try out for a bunch of different recipes that I have planned, for example my recent Trail Meal for basic Oatmeal. And I really liked the creaminess and flavor it brought. For savory recipes I am more interested in playing around with it however. So that’s why i figured out a BiFi (instead of Beef) Stroganoff recipe that I hope you give a try for your next backpacking trip. Ingredient list Preparation at home All…
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How do I carry and store food on the Camino?
Carrying (some) food on the Camino de Santiago gives you a bit more options, and makes it so that you are not completely depended on restaurants. Lets go over my tips for bringing food with you, and what food to take. All along the Camino Frances you will a tough time trying to starve, there are plenty of local restaurants, food trucks, bars, cafés, bakeries, and vending machines all over the place to get yourself a nice meal for usually fair prices. Locals know that the pilgrims are hungry and looking for a nice cup of tea or coffee with something salty, sweet, or fruity. Carrying cash is handy btw…
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Trail Meal | Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a staple for many people in daily life and has an equal home out on a hike. Here is a foundational recipe that you can use and make your own! Oats are popular for a reason, they will sit in your stomach for a good while and fill you right up. It forms the foundation of many hikers’ breakfast, and if you have the time in the morning to whip out your stove. Or cold-soak them the night before. It can be a great way to start your day. If available you can add dried or fresh fruit, chocolate chips, honey, nuts, or anything you like really. For…
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How can I save money on the Camino?
Many Pilgrims are on a tight budget, the Camino Frances will take you around 30 days to finish and if you live like there’s no tomorrow this can quickly add up. Save money with these tips! How much money do you spend on the Camino? This is of course different for every Pilgrim and their choices, but you are going to spend around 30 to 50 euros a day on the Camino Frances. So, for the Camino Frances, which takes around 30 days, the total will often be anywhere from 900 to 1500 euros. On the Camino Portuguese you can save money since Portugal is a bit cheaper then Spain.…
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Trail Meal | Red Lentil and Sausage Stew
Similar to my last Couscous stew, a variation can be made using red lentils. Read on for my full recipe for Red lentil and Sausage stew! As a lifelong resident of Northern Europe, I’ve always enjoyed the warmth and comfort of soups and stews, especially on hikes. They offer a nice hot meal and stay warmer for longer thanks to the hot water that takes a bit longer to cool down then other meals. When hiking in fall, winter, or early spring these types of meals can also warm you up good before you crawl into your sleeping bag. Red lentils are a hiker’s dream, cooking faster than any other…
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Is it easy to get lost on the Camino?
The Camino Frances and pretty much all the Camino routes are very well waymarked and make it easy to navigate. Getting lost can happen, but here is what you will have to look out for to prevent it. It can happen on many hikes that you lose track of where you have to go or miss a turn, I had to more times than im willing to admit. But only once or twice on the Camino Frances and Camino Portuegese coastal. Which is pretty impressive considering my famous sense of direction. You will need to get familiar with the following symbols to make sure you don’t miss a waymarker for…
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Trail Meal | Paprika BiFi couscous stew
Couscous is a trail meal any hiker is familiar with. To spruce it up a bit, try out the following combination with BiFi sausage(s)! As with all my trail meal recipes this one requires minimal prep and is lightweight to take with you out on hiking trips. The total trail weight for this recipe is: 104 grams Putting the Trail Meal together It can be mixed up in advance at home in a Ziploc bag, or put together on the trail while on resupply in a town. All the ingredients should be easy to find and process. What you will need for this Trail Meal recipe is: You can prep…
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What to expect on the Camino de Santiago?
The Camino de Santiago is a hike that holds a place in many hearts and was further brought into the worldwide eye by movies and books. You can expect certain things to happen and certain things to not happen on the Camino. I share my tips and views in this article. It’s a long-distance hike Above all else, the Camino de Santiago is a long-distance hike and one of the most popular in Europe and even outside of Europe. So expect a lot of walking. The most popular Camino way is the Camino Frances, which is a little short of 800 kilometers. The Portuguese Coastal Way is about 280 kilometers.…