Reader Comments

"I am very excited to read about the upcoming release of Another Fork in the Trail. Your first book was hugely useful to me last year as I was preparing the food for a month-long canoe trip in the Northwest Territories. I was one of a team of six people both from the Canadian Museum of Nature and Parks Canada. We were conducting a botanical survey of Tuktuk Nogait National Park. It was a dream of a trip and your recipes kept us happy and energetic. Thank you!"

                     - Roger D. Bull (Canadian Museum of Nature - June 2010)

"When I received the book, my mouth began watering from the moment I spied the cover. I immediately opened it and pored over page after page of creative and unique recipes, trying in vain to narrow it down to 'several' to make.

The recipes are healthy, balanced and useful for hiking and backpacking, but convert easily for home cooking as well. The instructions are explicit so you can modify based on your needs. There is a section on dehydrating foods, wilderness cooking and menu planning in the wilds. There are markers for vegetarian dishes and very lightweight dishes to suit backpackers perfectly. Dehydration time, serving size, 'At Home' and 'At Camp' instructions make it easy to prep, pack and plan each meal."

                     - Erika Klimecky (Washington Trails Magazine - June 2008)

"Tim and I spent over a week canoeing with Laurie and her husband in the Algonquin wilderness and let me just say that Laurie's backcountry cooking was incredible! We loved it so much in fact that we encouraged her to write her own outdoor cookbook. Tim and I have written three outdoor cookbooks ourselves, so we don't take that recommendation lightly.

Like the Algonquin wilderness, Laurie's book is beautiful. The colors and the graphics have a calming affect on the spirit. She presents special icons to help readers quickly identify recipes that are lightweight and/or vegetarian. The layout is clean and easy to read. She even has a special section for children and dogs! This book is a must-have for backpackers and canoeists alike."

                     - Christine Conners (author of Lipsmackin' Backpackin', Lipsmackin'
                        Vegetarian Backpackin' and The Scout Outdoor Cookbook)

"Ditch the canned beans, trail mix and burnt marshmallows. With a dash of foresight, a dehydrator and a pinch of Laurie Ann March's creative insight, your new hiking diet might include orange cranberry pancakes for breakfast, chicken and apple slaw for lunch and chipotle pork with toasted tortillas for dinner. Sound complicated? Fret not."

                     - Candice Vallantin (Writer, UP! WestJet's InFlight Magazine)

"Laurie Ann March’s A Fork in the Trail is the best book on backcountry cooking that I’ve ever seen. Her recipes are so good I want to eat them at home, and range from the simple to the complicated. There is a huge range of recipes, including many just for kids. This is a resource that every backpacker should have on their bookshelf."

                     - Allison Woods (Gear Editor, Washington Trails Magazine)

"I must admit a weakness for Huevos Rancheros, and the author has found a way to my heart through my stomach by including a recipe for it in this wonderful backcountry cookbook! Variety and flavors are well represented, and if you own a food dehydrator (one of my prized possessions!) and are willing to put in a little extra time and effort at home, you can create some mouth-watering, lightweight meals. And the meals will make you the camp star!"

                     - Denise Traver (Lead Instructor for the Grand Canyon Field Institute)

"Of all the backpacking/dehydrating books I've used, this one is my favorite! The author's experience in camp cooking is evident. (Anyone who celebrates Thanksgiving every year by going camping and cooking a turkey in a cardboard box oven has my respect.) The book is very well organized with a helpful section in the beginning covering everything from dehydration tips to sample meal plans for a week-long trip.

This book has changed the way I think about lightweight backpacking cooking! And the recipes are tasty enough that I may start using them for regular meals at home, too."

                    - Mary Ann Miller Bates (author of CH is for Chocolate: Individually                        Wrapped Tastes of Switzerland)

"This one shot right to the top of my trail kitchen library. There's a ton of interesting recipes unlike any I've seen elsewhere. There are some baking recipes, but there's also many one-pot or freezer bag style offerings. One of things that stands out about this book is an above average section on how to properly dehydrate, and many of the recipes offer great dehydration options."

                     - Brian Vogt (an avid kayaker and blog author of Riverlog)

"I think it needs to be stated how hefty it is! This isn't a little 60-page manual; its 298 pages of recipe and technique goodness; it competes with my Martha Stewart cookbooks in weight and quality. It's probably the technique discussed in virtually every recipe that I like the most, as I have many favorite meals at home that I can use Laurie's techniques to adapt to the trail... and fresh sprouts on the trail sound like heaven. Great job Laurie!"

                     - Tasha Wassink (Moderator, Practical Backpacking Forums)

"A Fork in the Trail may just become the definitive guide to roughing it with style."

                     - John Threlfall (Monday Magazine - May 2008)

"Laurie Ann March has created a cookbook with unique zest and universal appeal. She has a distinct talent for combining flavors to make backcountry gourmet meals. Of the backpacking cookbooks that have been recently published, Laurie's is our favorite due to her unique style and the quality of information given. In addition she has the support of a bona fide publisher and the cookbook is top rate."

                     - Joe Figura (Green Mountain Club, Long Trail Hiking)

"I became a dehydrating convert after reading Laurie March's A Fork in the Trail. I started with the Hungarian Goulash on pg.125, and was totally wowed. Great recipe and also very easy to dehyrdate. It's a good confidence builder because it's an extremely filling and flavorful dish, and it gives good results after rehydrating, which are consistent. The black bean dip on pg.86 is darn easy and ridiculously tasty as well."

                     - Cam Mcanally (member of the forums at BackpackingLight.com)

"Easy! Fulfilling! Tasty! These three words describe the food found in A Fork in the Trail. Not only are the recipes delicious but your backpack will be lighter with the techniques described in this book. I enjoyed the author's way of cooking whole meals and dehydrating them only to have to add water and reheat on the trail. With this book, I have learned how to convert my own recipes for camping, a task that was simpler than I could have imagined."

                     - Lana Rickabaugh (an avid camper)

"I've had the opportunity to try several of Laurie's recipes, and so far I have found each delicious and simple to prepare. Some of the recipes look intimidating at first due to the varied ingredients and sometimes lengthy instructions, but the directions are so clear and easy to follow that I now wonder why I was ever nervous about trying some of Fork's creations! Laurie even includes detailed instructions on dehydration basics, menu planning, and recipe creation."

                     - Louisiana Hiking Club (2008 Third Quarter Newsletter)

"Laurie, you've inspired me with A Fork In The Trail (which I was able to get locally at The Mountaineers Bookstore, Seattle). The theory and dehydrating tutorial alone was well worth the price of the book, the recipes I've tried have been fantastic (the energy bars have been a huge hit), and your frontcountry tinfoil/cardboard box oven earned me the nickname 'Martha Stewart' on our last carcamping/climbing trip in Joshua Tree Nat. Park. Thank you, thank you."

                     - Linsey Budden (member of the forums at BackpackingLight.com)

"If you're ever looking for tasty one-pan recipes for the trail, this new book has completely upgraded my backcountry cuisine. Camp dining can be more than GORP."

                     - Richard Gaskin (an avid backpacker and owner of Fourth World)



"One of the most thoughtful of many thoughtful touches in this fine book: March provides printable 'at camp' instructions so that you can print what you need easily and include it with the food in your pack.

One of the nicest aspects of preparing food for the trail in this way is that it gives two new levels of pleasure. I find myself anticipating my hike while preparing the food, and reliving the fun of the first step of preparation while preparing and eating on the trail."

                     - Robert C. Ross (an avid backpacker)



"Laurie is creative and informative, and her recipes seem more like things you'd find on a gourmet menu than what you would find in the back country. If you enjoy cooking or just want to have great food on the trail, GET THIS BOOK!"

                     - Patricia Crawley (an avid backpacker and world traveller)

"Delicious, easy to prepare recipes presented in a clear, logical format prefaced by very informative, helpful backcountry cooking instruction. I love that the recipes start with a personalized introduction and are divided into 'At Home' and 'At Camp' instructions. Far more than just a compilation of recipes, it is a good read from cover to cover."

                    - toesnorth (member of the forums at Backpacker.com and Paddling.net)

"I love this book! I was immediately impressed with the attention to detail, not only with the layout and design, but with the way the book is written. The personal anecdotes add a warmth that makes you feel as if you are sitting with the author discussing trail food over a cup of coffee. So far I have tried about a dozen recipes and they are all delicious. I cannot wait to take this food out on my next backpacking trip. March is the guru of backpacking cuisine!"

                    - K. Ann Kostas (an avid backpacker and canoeist)

"WOW! is what best describes the food ideas offered in this book. This is a must have for the outdoor eats enthusiast. Easy to follow and prepare recipes make this my go to guide for Good eats off the beaten trail."

                     - Buddy E. Caldwell (an avid backpacker)

"A Fork In The Trail is a cookbook for anyone who would like to cook up a tasty and nutritious meal in the outdoors. "

                     - Marjorie Morgan (owner of Girls Outdoors)

"A Fork in the Trail provides lots of ideas for inspired outdoor eating from someone who has "been there, done that" and has organized the knowledge gained from experience into a useful resource for backcountry chefs."

                    - Wavelength Magazine (Spring 2008)

"Laurie, thanks for the inspiration to branch out with more variety! The meals are scrumptious and doing the work at home makes dinner on the trail as easy as boiling water. I can't wait for your next book."

                    - Michele Bernardi (an avid backpacker)

"The book has an easy to follow format and comprehensive how-to tips. I've made gains dehydrating meals as a result of this book. The book is quite a bargain for what you get."

                     - George Matthews (member of the forums at BackpackingLight.com)

"I just had to tell you your Citrus Lentil Salad is fabulous. We had it for lunch one day of our last canoe trip. It is easy to prepare, rehydrates well and is simply delicious. Nice change from boring lunches."

                     - Esther Bronson (member of the forums at OutdoorAdventureCanada.com)

"Awesome book. Fantastic, easy backpacking meals that don't take up a lot of space. We never knew we could eat so well!"

                     - Kara M. Prier (an avid backpacker)

"I've really been looking forward to my upcoming trip to the South Island, and all of the great trails we'll be walking. But one of the things I was not looking forward to was eating the same bloody dinners over and over again along the way.

So I started digging through the new cookbook by fellow Canadian Laurie Ann March, called "A Fork in the Trail". Laurie has put together a back country cookbook that covers everything from breakfast to dessert, with lots of fodder for the dehydrator. The recipes are easy to follow, and there are lots of great tips too.

Anyway, so far I've been focusing on vegetarian stuff and the results are delicious. Lentil soup, black bean dip, and dal, have all been tasty and dehydrated well.

Goodbye cans of tuna, hello tasty curries!"

                     - Michelle Waitzman (backpacker and author of Sex in a Tent)

"One book that recently came on the market is A Fork in the Trail by Laurie Ann March. This is a clever compilation of backcountry and car camping recipes (great for home, too!) and includes color pictures of many of the recipes in the book. The eggplant spread is out of this world, and the idea for fresh yogurt on the trail is inspiring!"

                    - Karla Coreil (an avid backpacker)




"I just received 'Fork'. Really has to be the best of the genre. I have several books on trail cooking and dehydrating as well as dozens of other cook books. You nailed it with 'Fork'. Thanks."

                    - Dave (an AT section hiker and member of the forums at Backpacker.com)

"At first glance you can see that this book is different. It has an eye-catching, color cover and color insert featuring the foods in the book — this alone is enough to make your mouth water. Add to that over 200 recipes and instructions on how to make your own recipes trail friendly and you have a real gem!

The recipes I tried were excellent, good enough to serve to guests at home, yet they easily became great dried meals for the trail. Basically this is a full wilderness cooking course in a book and is a must-have in any backpacker or canoeist's collection."

                     - Carol Matteis (an avid backpacker and thru-hiker)

"Fantastic book! Exactly what we were looking for. Yummy meals that are easy to prepare for our canoe trips and our cabin."

                     - Kelly Demmons (an avid paddler)

"I have really enjoyed A Fork in the Trail even though I am not a hiker and am rarely in the backcountry. I do, however, have a boat, and the recipes in this book fit my needs as a boater to a T. There is not much space on our boat to store consumables, and in the moist environment at the marina or on the river does not lend itself to longevity for prepared dishes, so the use of dehydrated items and those that are easy to carry and take up little space in storage is perfect for me. I am very grateful to Laurie Ann March for doing the thinking part of meal planning for those long boat trips. "

                    - Rita Marbury (a boating enthusiast)

"March, an extraordinary outdoor chef, has compiled recipes that not only survived rigorous taste tests (by the author and some lucky friends), but are also a snap to prepare and easy to carry."

                    - Ed Wall (JD News - June 2008)