Where can I buy prepackaged GORP?

	Ask the Expert Dorcas Miller Outdoor cookbook author Dorcas Miller believes ingredients should have zing - or they should stay at home. Ask Dorcas a question Meet Dorcas Previous Answers

The simple answer is: supermarkets, health food stores, and backpacking food companies. But why buy when GORP is so easy to make?

Putting together your own GORP lets you include your favorite ingredients and allows you to vary the recipe. Does variety matter? Emphatically, yes. A couple I know (no names, please) made 10 pounds of gorp for a backpacking trip and managed to eat 1 1/2 pounds between them before they hit the boredom barrier. They carried the rest home.

GORP consisting of just raisins and peanuts won't pass muster on the trail these days. Almost everyone wants chocolate (chocolate chips melt, M&Ms; don't), and interesting flavors (almonds, cashews, dates, dried pineapple, whatever appeals). If you make several kinds of gorp and alternate, your taste buds always have something new on the horizon. Some ideas:

Tropical Mix
Combine equal parts dried pineapple, dried papaya, coconut, and cashews; add a less-than-equal portion of candied ginger.

Desert Mix
Combine equal parts chopped dates, shredded coconut, toasted sliced almonds, and pistachios; add a pinch of ground cardamom.

Garden Mix
Combine equal parts freeze-dried peas, freeze-dried corn, tomato bits or flakes, and dried bell pepper; add half an equal part salad sprinkles or bacon bits. If you like horseradish, add some wasabi-coated freeze-dried peas.

Ask Dorcas a Question

Previous Expert Answers

Return to Top