My latest midwinter project was refreshing my stash of trail snack munchies for next spring and summer.

Snickers bars had been around for thirty years before I took them on as my classic, daytime snack food in the Boy Scouts. Back then, we were taught to carry a mix call “GORP,” which we were told stood for Granola, Oats, Raisins and Peanuts. It was also known to stand for Good Old Raisins & Peanuts. Either way, it was the ubiquitous trail food every worthy outdoors adventurer snacked on throughout their trip. Snickers were a step up, but still in the family of popular trail snacks.

Historically, the term “GORP” was first noted in the 1800s—a term that meant “to eat greedily.” Some said it was a play on the term “Gulp.” The Brits, Aussies and New Zealanders (Kiwis) call their similar mixture, “Scoggin.”

Today, we pretty much refer to any mixture of edible chunks of foods (most often varying levels of sweets, nuts, dried fruit, party mix, etc.) as either trail mix or GORP. Add some honey, peanut butter or maple syrup to the dry mix, bake it and form it into a bar or big, bound-together, bite-sized chunks, and you’ve created “granola”—a versatile member of the outdoor snack family.

Trail mixes, GORPs and granolas are a nutrient-dense foods that provide a complex combination of carbohydrates, dietary fiber, proteins, and fats, along with an array of vitamins and minerals. Let’s look at some of the typical components of a standard recipe:

    Carbohydrates—Complex carbohydrates, whole grains such as oats (substantial dietary fiber) that are digested slowly by the body, providing a steady release of energy over an extended period (maintaining stable blood sugar levels and preventing energy crashes).

    Fiber-rich ingredients—Oats, nuts, seeds, and dried fruits (aids in digestion, slows down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream).

    Protein—Essential for muscle repair and growth, helps keep you feeling full and satisfied. (Often protein-rich ingredients such as nuts, seeds, and sometimes even added protein sources like protein powder or Greek yogurt, essential for building and repairing body tissue.)

    Healthy fats—Nuts and seeds are sources of healthy fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) and help sustain energy levels and keep you feeling satisfied.

    Balanced macronutrient profile—A combination of carbohydrates, protein, and fats, providing a well-rounded source of energy.

Nutrient density—Essential nutrients: vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients.

    Customizable options—Versatility and customizability to suit your taste preferences and nutritional needs by adjusting the types and amounts of ingredients used.

Like most snack foods, these mixtures are made to be eaten with the fingers, few style points, and directly from whatever container it’s been stowed in. Gorp/trail mix is typically pinched between fingers and thumb. Granola is a bit more processed and then consumed in clusters, or like a candy bar, or in a bowl with milk and eaten like a breakfast cereal.

Homemade granola

First, add a bit of oil and a sweetener (honey is classic) to your trail mix/GORP, mix it up and bake it at a low temperature until it’s all crunchy. Then either spread it out on a cookie sheet and cut into bars, or let it cool completely and then crunch it up into clusters.

A basic granola recipe:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Line large, rimmed baking sheet pan with parchment paper.
• Mix 4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats, and 1 to 2 cups of nuts (almonds, sunflower, etc.), seeds or flakes (coconut).
• Mix wet ingredients—1/2 cup cooking oil (avocado, olive, or something more neutral in flavor) and 1/2 cup maple syrup, honey or another sweetener.
• Fold the wet ingredients into the dry mixture (some suggest a 6:1 ratio of dry to wet).
• Spread on baking sheet and bake for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring mixture halfway through baking time.
• Let cool completely on sheet, break into clusters/chunks.
• After baking, mix in 1/2 to 1 cup dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, apricots).

I’ll always rely on a Snickers bar as my main “go-to” snack, whether I’m fishing/camping/hiking in summer or snowshoeing in winter. I’ll keep bars stashed throughout my gear—jacket pockets, backpack pouches, or wherever I can discover them at a later date when hunger pangs call to me in the backcountry.

Granola offers a textural and tasteful break from a candy bar. A special campfire treat or early morn’ warm-me-up is to dunk a granola bar into a steaming, flavorful, frothy cup of hot chocolate.

Whether munching from a treestand or within a blind, or rocking on a gentle swell while fishing, a bite of granola, GORP, or whatever you want to call it, is a refreshing, satisfying way to making snacks part of your total outdoor adventure.