Claudia Pearson (1) (1955–2020)

Nice update to the 5th edition, adding some recipes with home preparation or simpler trail prep. The NOLS-style from scratch recipes are still there. Every recipe has nutritional info--fat, protein, carbs, and so on.

Even if you don't plan to cook NOLS style, you should get this book for the chapters on planning and cooking technique. The info on nutrition and ration planning is clear and comprehensive. The cooking techniques include the best discussion of cooking fires that I've seen.

I read show more this before bed and dreamed of making yeast bread on the trail.

Maybe tonight I'll dream of Donna Orr's Gado-Gado Spaghetti. show less

NOLS has a very specific, cook-from-scratch approach that might not work for you. But even if it doesn't, the first few chapters of this book are the best I have found on ration planning, bear protocol, and even fire building. And who knows, maybe you'll be inspired to make fry bread in the backcountry.