Signups for this class is limited to paid participants of the Backpacking Building Blocks course only until two weeks before the course; after that, course signups will open to all members, with a charge for those not enrolled in B3. Want tips for planning your backpacking menu to ensure you have the energy you need to feel great on your trip, while still keeping your pack weight light? Want to learn a system for backpack food prep that involves minimal extra gear, prep time, fuel, cleanup and trash to pack out? Want to be able to adapt your favorite tasty and healthy 'comfort foods' you eat at home to bring on the trail? This class will include some tried-and-true ideas for planning and prep before your trip, food for the trail and food prep at camp. You will also get some resources for ordering inexpensive dehydrated staples and preparing your own, from your favorite recipes. This class is for new backpackers and experienced ones who would like to update their skills and amp up the taste and energy content of their trail diet. We'll also speak to vegetarian and vegan considerations and other special diets. This will be a hands on class - we'll evaluate the calorie density of your favorite trail menu items, demonstrate some lightweight food prep methods, and have some samples for participants to taste. We encourage participants to bring their own recipes, experiences and questions.

Three duplicate sessions of this seminar are being offered to keep class sizes small for hands-on engagement. PLEASE SIGN UP FOR ONLY ONE OF THE SESSIONS!

This seminar is a value added benefit of the Backpacking Building Blocks course and is free for paid B3 participants. Signups from April 20 through May 14 are for B3 course participants only. At 8PM on May 14, remaining spaces will be opened to all Mountaineers members, at a $25 per person price for anyone not enrolled in the Backpack... More

Three duplicate sessions of this seminar are being offered to keep class sizes small for hands-on engagement. PLEASE SIGN UP FOR ONLY ONE OF THE SESSIONS!

This seminar is a value added benefit of the Backpacking Building Blocks course and is free for paid B3 participants. Signups from April 20 through May 14 are for B3 course participants only. At 8PM on May 14, remaining spaces will be opened to all Mountaineers members, at a $25 per person price for anyone not enrolled in the Backpacking Building Blocks course.

Seminar Leader is Cheryl Talbert, a long-time backpacker who has been experimenting, teaching and writing about food planning and prep for lightweight backpacking for several years.

The course will be held in the large conference room at the Mercer Island Public Library, 4400 88th Ave SE, Mercer Island, WA, (directions can be found at http://www.kcls.org/mercerisland/directions.cfm.) and will start PROMPTLY at 6:15PM. Advance preparation for the class will be very helpful - instructions will be emailed to participants in advance of the class.

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