Cap off Your Climb with Kelley Moore’s al Fresco Essentials
Lay out a spread of cheese, crackers and grapes on a colorful oilcloth, instead of a cotton blanket,
By Seattle Mag March 30, 2011
This article originally appeared in the May 2011 issue of Seattle magazine.
If you’re lacking a few Boy Scout badges, pave the path for your next hike with chic tools fit for a hilltop lunch break. Celebrate the breathless elation of a good climb (you’re still alive!) with an easy-to-tote lunch stashed in a sturdy canvas bag. Easy to fit in any standard backpack, bento-box-style lunch pails also eliminate all that excess plastic garbage, so you’ll have a lighter conscience on your trip back down the mountain.
Wrap it up: Wrangle biodegradable utensils into a homemade burlap roll-up utensil carrier
Light your fire> A handy compass and Jen Pearson Designs’ all-in-one fire starter kit, with matches, dried sap and pine needle kindling, offers a hassle-free alternative to rubbing sticks together (Smokey says: Use only in a sanctioned fire pit).
Hiking essentials> Scribble a few field notes or play cards atop your victorious perch; pack a whistle in case you need help finding your hiking mates
DIY lunch tin> Personalize your pail using white vinyl letter stickers (found at office supply stores)—simply peel, stick and label your steel tiffin tin with a sweet culinary sentiment. Fill the bento-box-style compartments with provisions like granola (we love Alki Girl’s new cherry and macadamia nut mix) and then stack together.
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