The best fall hiking snacks are light, keep without a fridge and give you energy fast. Think freeze-dried fruit, nuts, seeds and whole grain crackers, with a good supply of water.
Fall is the most beautiful season to hit the trails in Quebec. The air is crisp, the colours are spectacular and the bugs have finally clocked out.
But the days get shorter. And the weather turns fast.
What you put in your pack matters even more than in summer.
Your snack has to keep up with the trail.
A good trail snack passes four tests
Before you fill your pack, ask yourself four questions:
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Is it light?
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Does it keep without a fridge?
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Can it handle bumps and cold?
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Can you eat it with one hand?
Freeze-dried fruit, nuts, seeds, homemade bars and whole grain crackers pass the test. Chocolate melting in the sun on a lookout and an apple crushed at the bottom of the bag, not so much.
Aim for a mix: fruit for quick energy, nuts and seeds to keep you going longer. Wellioo freeze-dried strawberries, for example, keep their tangy flavour and their crunch even after hours in a jacket pocket.
Freeze-dried fruit was made for the trail
Freeze-drying is a process that freezes the fruit, then removes its water through sublimation: the ice turns straight into vapour without melting. The result: a very light, crunchy snack that stays stable at room temperature.
At Wellioo, this process preserves 97% of the fruit's nutrients. Our freeze-dried apples and freeze-dried blueberries are made of 100% fruit, with no added sugar and no preservatives.
No unnecessary additives. Just the essentials.
And because they hold almost no water, they stay dry to the touch. You can snack while you walk, without stopping to wipe your hands. Wondering how they differ from classic dried fruit? We explain the difference between freeze-dried and dried fruit.
Bring more than you think you'll eat
Pack snacks for the full length of your outing, plus a reserve for the unexpected. In its list of the 10 hiking essentials, the outdoor co-op MEC recommends bringing extra food for an additional day and 1 to 2 extra litres of water, depending on the weather.
In the fall, a twisted ankle or a muddy trail can stretch an outing fast.
For hydration, Canada's food guide recommends making water your drink of choice. In cool weather you often feel less thirsty, but your body still sweats on the climbs. A sip at every break, even if you're not thirsty.
One last tip: portion your snacks before you leave. One pouch per break is simpler than digging through a big bag at the trailhead. With Build Your Box, you pick your favourite fruits and always have some on hand.
Homemade trail mix takes five minutes
The night before, combine:
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250 ml (1 cup) of nuts
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125 ml (½ cup) of pumpkin or sunflower seeds
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250 ml (1 cup) of Wellioo freeze-dried fruit
Divide it into small reusable bags. That's it.
For a truly autumn version, freeze-dried bananas pair beautifully with pecans and a pinch of cinnamon. Blueberries go well with almonds. And freeze-dried mangoes with cashews bring a little vacation feeling, even in October.
Want to taste everything before you choose? The Discovery Pack brings several flavours together in a single order.
Check three things before you leave
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The weather
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The sunset time
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The hunting seasons
That last one often surprises people. Hunting is prohibited in national parks managed by Parks Canada and by Sépaq, but most wildlife reserves and several zecs close trails to hikers for part of the fall. It's worth checking the hunting calendar for your destination before you choose a trail.
Dress in layers: a base layer, an insulating layer and a waterproof jacket. Start early, leave your route with someone you trust and always keep a snack in reserve.
Pairing your hike with an orchard visit? Apple season in Quebec runs until November.
A great outing starts with a well-packed bag
Good fall hiking snacks fit in a small bag: water, a few nuts and fruit that won't get crushed.
At Wellioo, we've reinvented the snack: healthier and tastier, with no compromises.
Ready for the trail? Find our fruit near you.