Nutrition Matters: A look into the Aspire Kitchen

We get it! Food on the trail is important. While we know the ravenous hunger that comes after a long day on the trail can make almost any kind of food appealing, we put care into all our meals to make your entire experience on our trips all the better.  We’re committed to using high quality ingredients to make delicious, satisfying meals. So save that old bag of mixed dehydrated mashed potatoes for your solo trips and let us work some magic.
 
Finishing a long trail day at Aspire camp means enjoying a big spread of fresh hors d’oeuvres – from juicy local figs, a full charcuterie board, or tomato, basil and fresh mozzarella caprese bites – prior to diving into a delicious and nourishing campsite dinner.

It’s been said that friendship is a history of shared meals. At Aspire, we love good food almost as much as we love mountain miles with friends. Meals are a focal point of our trips, where runners come together and connect over the day’s adventure. We take time to plan out a full menu to ensure everyone on the trip feels fully satiated and enjoys every bite, ready to get out for more running and more camaraderie when morning calls.

All of our guides have some background in the food industry or deeper connection to food – whether they’ve worked as a cook in various restaurants, make fresh sauces and preserves at home,  grow their own food in the veggie garden or continue to master their own cooking techniques in the kitchen. On top of this, all of our guides have completed the Washington State Food Worker course and have valid permits and education on proper health and safety regulations required to serve and prepare food on our trips. We believe that all of this experience and our love of quality food has carried forward to create a culture of delicious meals for everyone who joins Aspire trips.

Some of our personal favourite meals include freshly caught salmon with lemon wedges aside grilled seasonal vegetables, fully loaded breakfast burritos, burger night with all of the fixings, and a fire roasted seasonal fruit cobbler to end the night. 

We also can’t forget taco night, which has become a legendary bookend for those finishing the Wonderland Trail. After three big days of mountain running, you’ll come back into Longmire greeted with a full spread of fresh pico de gallo, roasted veggies, grilled chorizo, a dollop of sour cream and a handful of fresh cilantro. Top it all off with a mountain of guacamole, we like to think we know a thing or two about tacos.  

In addition to our delicious breakfasts and dinners to start and end each day, we also have food available to prepare a lunch for your big adventure on the trails.  With a large variety of bars, gels, chews, and snacks to take on route, we also provide various ingredients for loaded wraps and hearty sandwiches.  From hummus, veggies, meat and cheese wraps or a good old fashioned peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  And let’s be honest, trail snacks are great, but the added moral boost of a fresh lunch wrap can be a great pick me up to help fuel you better throughout a long day.  

For some, a cause of concern may be varying food preferences or dietary needs, but we have experience of catering to all diets.  Whether you’re gluten free, vegan, keto, a heavy meat eater or really just want your favorite salty snack at the end of the night – we got you covered.  We are diligent in our camp kitchen when it comes to issues of cross contamination for celiacs, various allergies that may be present, and happily cater for vegetarians and vegans alike.  

So not only will a trip with Aspire include epic trails, unreal mountain views, and connecting with amazing people, but we also ensure you are eating some of the highest quality, mouth watering, and thoughtfully prepared trail food you can get your hands on.