Living on $36,000 a year in Jackson, Wyoming, is no walk in the park, especially for a 28-year-old trail worker.
With six-day backpacking trips, prepping camping-friendly meals is a regular routine.
Backpacking Basics
The life of a trail worker is demanding, involving six-day stints in the backcountry. With just basic tools like crosscut saws and pulaskis, every meal needs to be easy to pack and prepare.
She starts her days with coffee—a mix of instant espresso and latte powder. Breakfast is often a simple bagel fried with butter until it’s perfectly charred. The morning trek is usually fueled by blueberry Belvita bars traded with coworkers.
Midday Fuel
Lunchtime brings a mix of Wasa crackers, cheese, salami, and cucumbers—simple yet hearty. The goal is a balanced meal that provides enough energy for the physically demanding work ahead.
Afternoon snacks include a handful of garlic herb cashews and an apple with almond butter. These quick bites help maintain energy for the trail projects that continue deep into the afternoon.
Evening Comfort
Dinner is a moment of solace. After a long day, she preps Idahoan mashed potatoes mixed with turkey stuffing and bacon bits. Though sometimes dense, it’s a warm meal to end the day.
As night falls, dessert might be dark chocolate biscuits enjoyed while filtering water for the next day.
Varied Diet
Her diet isn’t strict. Once vegan, she now follows a plant-based omnivorous diet, focusing on minimal ultra-processed foods. Fresh fruits, veggies, smoked salmon, and Greek yogurt are staples she looks forward to after backpacking.
Bulk food shopping at stores like Costco helps prepare for the season, ensuring a supply of essentials that will last until November.
Home Comforts
Post-backpacking meals offer more variety. Large batches cooked at home mean quick access to meals on her days off, vital for someone sharing kitchen space with 11 other people.
A typical home-cooked meal might include chicken and rice with warm spices or quick cucumber salads for something fresh and light.
Trail Lore
Among trail workers, bagels hold a special place. Passed down from seasoned workers, a fried bagel breakfast has become a comforting tradition.
Despite the physical toil, these small rituals build camaraderie and a sense of shared experience among the crew.
Weekend Feasts
Weekends allow for culinary indulgence. Trips to the farmer’s market yield fresh bread, sunflowers, tomatoes, turnips, and herbed chèvre for creative, fresh meals.
Dinner gatherings with friends feature elaborate meals like grilled corn salad, lemon herb chicken, and steak—shared feasts that offer a break from the simplicity of trail food.
Balancing a job in the wilderness and managing a food budget on $36K isn’t easy, but it’s doable with planning and a bit of creativity.
From coffee-fueled mornings to comforting evening meals, every bite reflects the challenging yet rewarding life of a trail worker in Jackson.
Source: Bonappetit