travel

october 98

Over the years we’ve camped in sleeping bags and elaborate room-size tents in the California Sierra Nevada Mountains, under a parachute cloth canopy by a meandering river full of trout in a Colorado canyon, luxuriating in a 45-foot mobile home in the Rain Forest of Washington, snuggled in a waterproof sleeping bag on a camping beach in Southern Florida, stretched out in a hammock suspended between two trees in a backyard, and in a humble pop-up tent for two in the wilds of coastal Maine. Prior to having been diagnosed as having diabetes, each trip invariably meant sitting around a crackling fire after dark, roasting marshmallows, and eating S’Mores. These days, we roast some pieces of fruit (whole peaches, whole plums, whole pears, spears of pineapple, whole apples, etc.) instead of the marshmallows and slowly sip sugar-free hot cocoa to feed our need for something "chocolate." Having diabetes doesn’t mean giving up--it means keeping those things (activities and people) close, and adapting less important things (food) so that we can enjoy life at its fullest while taking care of our disease. This month we’re going to explore some of these adaptations that you’ll need to make before embarking on a weekend camping trip. It doesn’t matter where you live, your hometown area is likely to be brimming with possibilities for getting outdoors for a few days for peeping at the glorious autumn colors, gathering nuts for the squirrels and chipmunks who reside in your yard back home, dropping a fishing line in a lake or stream, rafting down a lazy river, setting up an easel to catch a pastoral scene on canvas, or just taking time to commune with nature and recharge your internal batteries for the long, cold winter ahead. Before you go: Define your weekend camping trip. Are you seeking excitement? Relaxation? You can inoculate yourself against the Monday blues by knowing what you want to do before you go. When you’re watching the Today Show broadcasting live from Yosemite, you might be thinking about whether you’d would like to pitch a tent in Furnace Creek campground or reserve a room in Apple Tree Inn. Other questions to consider is whether you’re comfortable sleeping on the ground (even with an inflatable air mattress beneath your sleeping bag, the ground’s still mighty hard). When "nature calls," does it bother you to answer it in the middle of the woods? Can you make it through more than one day without your blow-dryer, laptop, beeper, or electric toothbrush? Know your limits. If you suffer from mild to severe diabetic neuropathy, hiking a long distance and pitching a tent beside a stream may end up to be nothing but an uncomfortable trip from start to finish. If you’re in reasonably good health with your diabetes in good control and you exercise regularly, you should not be adversely affected by a brisk walk to the camp site which will add color to your cheeks and a feeling of euphoria as you observe the wonders of nature. If in doubt, check with your health care team before embarking on any camping trip. If you’re hiking to your campsite, carry the weight evenly. Holding a child or a box of camping supplies on a hip for prolonged periods creates great stress on your back and shoulders. Consider a baby-backpack or a chest carrier for smaller children. Likewise, heavy contents of a purse or shoulder bag should be moved to a backpack that distributes the weight evenly. Arms should be left free to swing naturally when hiking. What to take: Medications and Testing Equipment: Of course you’ll pack twice as much diabetic supplies, insulin/diabetes pills, etc. as you’d normally use during the length of your trip. Don’t forget to include a well-filled first aid kit, a bug repellant, some over the counter anti-pain medication as approved by your physician, and a supply of carbohydrate snacks and glucose tablets to treat any bouts of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) caused by increased exercise. Other Equipment: Water. Don’t assume the water you’ll find on a camping trip is potable. Generally a fast running stream with water rushing over rocks will be fine to drink (we still purify it first by boiling), but a smaller stream or even a large pond or lake may be stagnant and infested with algae and who knows what other microorganisms. Best to carry sufficient water for the trip, about 2 quarts per person per day. Compass and Map--even if you’re familiar with the territory, deep in the woods or on a dark, cloudy day, it’s easy to become disoriented. For me, directions in the redwoods shift 90 degrees. Daypack or Backpack--make sure it’s lightweight when empty; plenty of weight will be added with water, food, and basic necessities. Food--something lightweight, but nutritious and high in carbos. We helped develop several lines of freeze-dried food that are available, thanks to the space program, for campers (see your local camp supply store). They’re good for longer trips, but for overnights, 2 to 3 days trips, and even for the first few days of longer trips, we opt to start with fresh food. It’s cheaper, better tasting, and better for you. The key to keeping the weight down is planning and packaging. Do most of the preparation at home, cooking the dishes and placing them in light-weight containers. Spaghetti with your fresh homemade sauce makes terrific camp food. Make the sauce at home and carry it in a wide-mouthed nalgene bottle (available at sporting good stores). The nalgene bottles are noted for not absorbing the aroma of foods carried in them. At the camp site, boil a pot of water and heat the bottle in the water. When the sauce is hot, pull out the bottle and dump your spaghetti in the boiling water until cooked al dente. You can do the same things with a stew, reheating the stew first, then cooking dried noodles in the boiling water. We always carry a self-sealing plastic bag of ready-to-eat fresh vegetables on a camping trip. They make great snacks, and when cooked with some bouillon cubes, you have a quick, delicious soup. We also take along dried fruit (count your carbos with these as they are high in sugar) and a trail mixture that helps fuel the body between meals. When we’re in bear country, we plan only vegetarian meals. One time seeing your new ice chest bashed in by a hungry bear who then swallows a roasted turkey whole is sufficient for a life time. Like your medications, take along extra food as you could get caught out a day or so longer than you thought. Cooking gear--If you own a wok, or are considering buying one, it may be the only major cooking utensil you’ll need for cooking over fire. Invented in China centuries ago for fast cooking over small fires, the wok adapts well cradled over an open fire between a few large rocks. You can use it like a frying pan to scramble egg substitute (carry the carton frozen and use as soon as it thaws) or cooking fish that you’ve caught. It works like a saucepan or doubles for a Dutch oven when the lid’s on. By fitting a rack inside, you can convert the wok to a steamer to cook foods or heat up breads and leftovers. Stir-fries are also great for camping with all the chopping and dicing done at home, ingredients carried in self-sealing plastic bags. Since we’re fanatics about our coffee, we roast and grind the beans at home (again, stored in self-sealing plastic bags) and we splurge and carry a 2-cup French press-style coffee maker in our backpack. The coffee maker is nearly indestructible and it’s easy to use, making coffee far superior to the perked variety. We’ve found a nifty wok that is lightweight (only weighs 3 pounds), easy to assemble, and with its nonstick surface, easy to clean. Manufactured by Moon Campware, the wok even has a pour spout and handle for boiling water for coffee or tea...so there’s not need to tote along other pots or pans. The unit is designed for camp cooking for 4 people and comes with an optional lid and steamer tray. It is fueled by a small propane bottle, sold extra. For more information, call 1-209-265-8056 or e-mail to Brianjs@tsmicro.com. You can also look them up on the web. Extra Clothing--a lifesaver if you get caught by rain. As a person with diabetes, make sure you always wear dry socks, changing them no less than once a day, more if needed. Matches--even though you may have learned how to start a fire in Scouts only using two rocks and an abandoned bird’s next, matches are essential if you want to cook or stay warm on overnight sojourns. Flashlight and Extra Batteries--critical even if you don’t plan on staying overnight. Be prepared and expect the unexpected. Sunscreen--necessary even on cloudy days. Mirror--not for primping or shaving, but for use as a signal device should you become lost. Poncho/Raingear--Gore-Tex (available at sporting goods stores) is best, but even cheap vinyl can suffice. Cell phone--could be worth your life should you have an accident or become ill. If you don’t own one, borrow or rent one, making sure the server covers the area where you’ll be camping. Camera and extra film, making sure all batteries are fresh and in place. Tripod is nice, but not necessary. Sleeping bag (rated well below minimum air temperature expected) and an inflatable air mattress. Always tell someone who’s not on the trip exactly where you are going and when to expect your return. Should you become lost, it’d be difficult for a search party to find you if no one knows you’re missing. Also, before you go check, out the campgrounds and trail guides that are available on the Internet. You’ll find them listed by country and in the United States, sub-divided into national and state. Once you’ve decided, don’t forget to check that particular area’s rules & regulations. Here’s the recipe for that Instant Cocoa Mix that we carry for sipping by the campfire, instead of eating S’Mores. The recipe is courtesy of NutraSweet®. Instant Cocoa Mix (makes 2 2/3 cups, enough for eight 3/4-cup (180 ml) servings) 2 cups (672 g) nonfat dry milk powder 1/2 cup (48 g) lower-fat powdered nondairy creamer 1/2 cup (119 g) unsweetened cocoa powder 10 packets Equal® or 1 tablespoon (15 ml) Equal®Measure 1 teaspoon (5 g) ground cinnamon (optional) Mix together all ingredients. Transfer to a self-sealing plastic bag. When ready to use, place 1/3 cup (105 g) of the mix in a heat-proof mug. Add 3/4 cup (180 ml) boiling water and stir. Per serving: 104 calories, 8 g protein, 7 g carbohydrate, 2 g fat Diabetic exchanges: 1 carbohydrate (nonfat milk)