Tag: Food

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On the Menu: Sierra Bowls

We understand the importance of recovery and fueling on the trails and the vital role food plays in a successful multi-day adventure. We want to see you thrive both mental and physically on our trips, so our menu is fine tuned to offer deeply satisfying, well-rounded, and healthy meals for runners.

During our time down south in the Sierra Nevada’s, we were eating a variety of whole-food, plant-centered meals daily and were inspired to add a new item to the Aspire menu. Dubbed the ‘Sierra Bowl’ after it’s place of inspiration, it’s already an instant hit among our community that we’ve incorporated into every trip’s menu. 

Sierra Bowls are a simple, one-bowl meal that is whole-food and plant based that features a bed of whole grains, fresh vegetables, healthy fats, varying sources of proteins and topped with a variety of seeds, nuts, delicious sauces and a whole lot of love.

The best part?! We make room for creativity and personal flair with the ‘build your own bowl’ meals for runners.  Choose from your favorite veggies, toppings and proteins to create a delicious dish that is catered to your own preferences, needs, and taste buds.

That being said, we do have a few favorite components of our Sierra bowls that have worked wonders for recovery and our taste buds.

We like to start our bowl with a warm base of quinoa.  This naturally gluten-free whole-grain has gained popularity in recent years with it’s high protein status, containing all the essential amino acids that you need, making it an excellent protein source for veg and meat-eaters alike.

Next, we like to add roasted sweet potatoes.  Not only are they delicious, they also are a perfect source of complex carbohydrates needed for exercise. In addition, they are also packed with phytochemicals that can help reduce post-workout inflammation. 

From there, we add a variety of healthy proteins such as edamame, whole-food based vegan meats, roasted chicken and a variety of nuts to sprinkle on top. Pairing protein with healthy carbohydrates helps promote muscle recovery after a hard effort out on the trails. 

Next comes a plethora of fresh veggies.  We’re talking shredded purple cabbage, carrots, steamed broccoli, sauerkraut, kale, arugula, tomatoes and more.  We aim to keep it fresh, colorful, and abundant!  This adds essential vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients to your meal.  

Healthy fats are another component of the bowl not to be missed.  While protein and complex carbs take a majority of the attention when fueling as an athlete, healthy fats play a crucial role in a balanced nutrition plan for athletes.  Not only do healthy fats create a truly satiating meal, it also aids in balancing hormone levels as an athlete.  Whether it’s avocado, a drizzle of tahini, a dollop of hummus or a sprinkle of nuts, we got you.

For the grand finale and to cover all bases, we’ve got all the sauces.  We have a wide mix of tahini, sriracha, dijon mustard, liquid aminos, hummus, and our personal favorite, Bitchin’ Sauce.  This vegan, almond-based whole-food dip has become a huge hit with everyone! 

At the end of the day, the creation of this bowl is centered around deep nourishment and nutrition to fuel your big days, but also with the acknowledgement that sharing of wholesome meals for runners in the company and community of others is just as important to feel truly nourished. 

Kara Folkerts is a plant powered trail runner, sustainable travel advocate, yoga teacher, and passionate about all things sustainability, travel, health, and outdoor movement.  Originally from Canada, Kara has spent the last few years exploring and living abroad in various countries across the globe before joining the Aspire crew in 2020. Kara has been guiding various trail running, sustainability, and health retreats internationally since completing her undergrad in Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership.  With all of these experiences, she seeks meaningful connections with others, loves to learn of new cultures, and fosters the mindset of a lifelong learner.  With a big heart for trail running and exploring wild places, she’s always stoked to get out there with others. 

She writes about all her adventures on her blog at www.karafolkerts.com and on her instagram @karafolkerts

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Glamp Out: The Aspire Basecamp

Exactly WHAT is glamping?

The Aspire basecamp is inspired by the culture of trekking in the Alps. European huts allow for a different kind of wilderness experience. Knowing there is a basecamp with full amenities at the end of your day means not only comfort, warmth, and a good night’s rest, but sometimes the important difference between safely pushing the limit and a dangerous epic. Aspire reproduces the European model with a playful combination of amenities and aprés- culture that allows runners to connect over shared adventure in incredible wilderness spaces.  

Grilling up summer veggies on the Lost Coast Trail.

One of the main reasons so many runners come back to do trips with Aspire year after year is our next-level base camps. Our approach is a time-tested collection of details and creature comforts that sets the stage for recovery, relaxation and new friendships.

The Aspire Menu

You know that moment… you’re nearing the end of a long run (or maybe you just started) when all the delicious food you could be eating takes over your thoughts, with dreams of immaculate feasts overwhelming the mountain views. Yet often, post-run trailhead noms don’t progress beyond the bag of potato chips or trail mix stashed in the car.

Entry into Aspire basecamp is a different scene. Colorful appetizer spreads await runners stumbling in from the days journey. Don’t be surprised by the jar of homemade pickles or the figs from the garden. Fresh capresé? Check. We like good food and we like to share.

Meals continue the trend: Steak with summer veggies, salmon with rice pilaf and asparagus, Sierra bowls, and the famous Aspire tacos… this is not your standard trailhead menu.

Have a special requests for specific drinks, foods, or dietary needs? Say the word. Don’t eat meat? No problem. Allergic to peanuts? No problem. Craving strawberries? They’ll be at camp that evening. 

Food at basecamp strikes a perfect balance between recovery focused backcountry food and the truly gourmet.

Recovery

Glamping with Aspire means everything needed to recover from time on trail and prepare for the next day. When you have to wake up the next morning and tackle another big distance, you’ll be glad for the comfort and care you were able to give your body the night before.
Runners often finish the first day of a big trip like the Wonderland Trail and think they’re spent. They couldn’t possibly wake up and do it all over again the next day.

Time to unzip our camp care kit. Theraguns and foam rollers work the tension out of tired muscles.

Blisters? Our team of Wilderness First Responder certified guides is ready with our foot care kit and expert advice on blister management. Tomorrow isn’t only possible, but it’s going to be awesome!

Comfort

One word: SHOWERS! Yes, the backcountry shower is real, alive, and unbelievable refreshing. Warm water and soap go a surprisingly long ways towards revitalizing and rejuvenating.

Add to that our heaters and walled tents, and even the coldest alpine summer evenings are comfortable.

It’s not just about comfort. Being able to put the walls on our tents helps keep us warm and dry if the weather turns. The heaters don’t just warm up cold runners, they also dry out wet gear for the next day’s miles.

Connection

It’s been said that friendship is a history of shared meals… we extend that concept to miles, campfires, and sunsets. Aspire trips feature a healthy dose of all of the above, converging at basecamp. Not much beats recounting the days adventures and swapping mountain stories over beers, ciders or yes, margaritas.

Topped off with dessert, and you’ll find yourself feeling restored on mind, body, and soul levels.

We may not have European style huts in the US, but running a trip with Aspire is probably the next best thing. We bring your bags to camp for you, cook for you, and light up the campfire, all while leaving no trace. Everything in the Aspire model is designed to help runners achieve their goals out in deep wilderness with maximum enjoyment. It’s more fun this way. The food’s tastier, the beers are colder, the wilderness is wilder, and your big backcountry objectives are now within reach.

by Aspire guides Ian Carroll & Trent Banks

Check out our “What to Pack Blog” for details on what to to show up to Aspire trips with.

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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. 

Kara Folkerts is a plant powered trail runner, sustainable travel advocate, yoga teacher, and passionate about all things travel, sustainability, health, and outdoor movement.  Originally from Canada, Kara has spent the last few years living and travelling in various places across the globe, guiding trips and going on personal expeditions before joining the Aspire crew in 2020.  She writes about her experiences and adventures on her blog at www.karafolkerts.com.