Oregon Archives - Home on the Trail

Cheesy Bulgur — Breakfast of Champions

Shortly after my first cup of coffee, the lingering effects of a hearty dinner faded away to the inevitable morning hunger. My brother and I were looking at a long stretch over arid, dusty trails on the Three Sisters Loop with a To Be Decided campsite for the night. It was definitely the morning to whip up a filling favorite: cheesy bulgur. It might not get you on the front of a cereal box, but as my Dad was famous for saying, “it’ll stick to your ribs.” As you’ve likely guessed bulgur (cracked wheat) and cheese are the base, but…

Go Ahead, Back That Plan Up

Repeat after me: I will prepare a backup plan for my next backpacking trip… and once more for the people in the back, I will prepare a backup plan for my next backpacking trip. But, seriously have an alternate expedition planned and ready to go. I’ve changed destinations the day before, day of, and even enroute. There are many complications that may waylay your best laid plans; weather, road closures, trail closures, snowpack, uncrossable waterways, fires, or in 2020 massive smoke clouds covering the entire western US. The far-reaching, wildfire induced haze set in motion my bail out of the…

Mountain Masala – A Tasty Tikka Fit for a Pika

Strolling a half mile past our unmarked junction on a long day one of six backpacking through the Wallowas was not ideal. The final mile and three-quarters to camp was a burly climb. With the temperature dropping precipitously it made for a mentally and physically taxing last stretch. While the gorgeous setting of Hidden Lake backdropped by jagged peaks dulled the weariness, a hot meal was the kicker to put our fatigue induced crankiness to rest. And when that meal is homemade Tikka Masala it’s next level soothing. Tikka Masala is a popular backpacking dish and you’ll find numerous recipes…

To the Hills! — The Wild Rogue Loop

We resisted the urge to hit the trail longer than I expected to or thought I could, but my wife Amanda and I had to head to the woods. But, how the heck do you plan a backpacking trip during a pandemic? Our criteria for this trip was a 3-4 day trek, moderate difficulty, and minimal other hikers. Most outlets for info on trail conditions were lacking. Being an early season trip, with higher elevations snowed in, we chose the obvious path and headed to Southern Oregon. Memorial Day weekend is always a high probability of crowded trails, so we…

How the Heck Do You Plan a Backpacking Trip During a Pandemic?

“Damn!” I shouted. My wife stood tall, startled. She thought something terrible had happened, as I rarely raise my voice. She asked, “what’s wrong?” “The maps! we’ve got to get to Fedex before 6.” It was 5:40. With ranger stations closed due to the pandemic and none of the local outdoor stores with curbside pickup carrying the map, I had to meticulously craft my own online. I certainly wasn’t going to head out of town without them. We grabbed the last of our gear, double checked our lists and made it to Fedex just in time. That’s a solid snapshot…