Snowshoeing in the Raggeds Wilderness

Starting at Erickson Springs, we snowshoed up Anthracite Creek into the Raggeds Wilderness Area.  This trail is called Dark Canyon, probably because the steep sides prevent the winter sun from reaching the bottom.  The photo above was taken after we came out of the canyon, and is looking westward, or downstream.

Erickson Springs is between Kebler Pass and the Paonia Dam, in western Colorado.

Camping Cuisine

Of all the aspects of camping, none has more variety of preferences than food.  I've seen some guys, in an effort to keep their packs light, carry just enough food to sustain them for the duration of the trip.  Others ignore the weight in order to "dine in style" on the trail.  Some opt for convenience, while others are willing to actually cook (and clean up from) a meal.  This shouldn't be surprising, as food tastes in homes and restaurants vary widely. 

What you do, therefore, will depend on your own preferences.  I'll let you know what I've done in the past, and offer considerations and options for your trips.  First of all, weight is important.  The longer your trip (both in days and miles), the more you'll appreciate keeping your pack weight in a reasonable range.  Advances in camping equipment technology and design have made available some really fantastic products, such as lightweight stoves and water filters, so you can focus on the food itself when managing how much space and weight are used for meals.

Since water availability is a prime consideration in choosing camping spots, dry and dried foods are a great way of travelling light.  Fresh fruit and vegetables (e.g. apples and carrots) should be eaten early in the trip, as they have a lot of water, and often suffer from too much jostling in your pack.  High energy foods, like peanut butter, provide a lot of calories and satisfaction in a small package.

For breakfast, some options include instant oatmeal with dried fruit, granola and milk (lowfat milk, in powder form is good for both cereal and your coffee), or even breakfast bars for maximum convenience.

While we've set up the stove and made ramen noodle soup for lunch, we usually opt for a cold meal.  Crackers or a dense bread travel well.  Top them with peanut butter, cheese, salami, or even hummous (some good mixes are available).  Adding fruit, fresh or dried, to the meal makes it complete.

For dinner, we always enjoy the new dehydrated meals.  Unlike their early predessors, these have good flavor and  decent textures.  Most need no cooking, and can be rehydrated right in the bag, making clean up very easy.  Because of the convenience of these meals, products like the JetBoil, an integrated stove and pot combination designed for the sole purpose of bringing two cups of water to a boil, are increasingly popular.  Adding hot water to dried fruit mix creates a tasty dessert much like fruit compote.  Hot drinks, like tea and cider, complete your evening meal.

Another reason your travels benefit from good maps

I recommend you carry a good map when you travel, mostly so you don't get lost.  But there are other benefits too.  I remember a vacation in Maine, when we saw something from a bridge and wondered what it was.  The map identified it as Fort Knox, from where the Penobscott River was guarded from the British.

Back to the present, and my friends and I looking for a good photo hike on New Year's Day.  My newest map showed a small parcel of BLM land a few miles up Cattle Creek.  Down the west side flowed Fisher Creek, and along this a trail led up the valley. 

After about a mile and a half of hiking, I saw a rectangular shape across a large meadow.  It didn't look natural, and I traversed an old barbed wire fence to get back to the trail and work my way towards this object.  Getting closer, I could see it was a long-abondoned ranch at the confluence of three small creeks.  There were several structures and parts of an old corral still fighting in vain against gravity and weather.  The various textures and patterns kept our attention - and shutters - rapt for over an hour.

It was a great hike, and one to which I'm sure we'll return again.