When I made the decision to take on the PCT, I knew I had to let my creativity run wild when it came to my trail food. Being a vegan with celiac disease, I had to ensure that my meals were not only good for me but also a delight for my taste buds. This led me to the wonderful world of dehydrated meals. I spent endless hours in the kitchen, toying with dehydrators, rice cookers, and crockpots, trying to concoct the ultimate recipes that would keep me fueled and revitalized during my hike.

I delved into a world of various combinations of ingredients, devising recipes for burrito fillings, Moroccan chickpeas, Cajun beans and rice, and Indian lentils. Each recipe was meticulously crafted to ensure that they were weightless, full of nourishment, and bursting with flavour. It wasn’t always smooth sailing, however – I encountered my fair share of failures when dehydrating different foods. But in those mishaps, I gained valuable lessons, such as learning the importance of cutting food into uniform sizes and spreading them evenly on trays.

I also uncovered the art of making the most out of discounts and dehydrating foods that were on the brink of spoiling. This journey taught me how to maximize my ingredients and transform simple, discounted groceries into a variety of mouth-watering meals.

One piece of advice I would offer to anyone looking to delve into the world of dehydrated meals is to always double-seal the bags and label them accurately. Variety is the spice of life when it comes to dehydrated meals, especially during a long hike, so having a diverse range of meals in each box is crucial.

Before setting off on my hike, I wanted to gather feedback on my dehydrated meals, so I recruited friends and family to taste test them. To my surprise, the burrito filling and Cajun beans and rice were the firm favourites, scoring top marks for overall taste and appearance.

I have to confess, crafting my dehydrated meals has been quite the adventure. I may not be an expert, but I’m certain that I won’t go hungry during my journey. I’m eager to share more about my dehydrated meal escapade as I conquer the PCT.