The beautiful Heart Mountain Trail. My mission this summer is to hike as many mountains as possible with as few injuries as possible. This weekend I had the opportunity to hike Heart Mountain just as my previous injury from my last hike healed. Back in the saddle. I loved this hike but, I have to say, the rock climbing at the peak of this trail had my adrenaline pumping.
Packing food for long hikes is a good idea, especially if you are unsure of the difficulty and length of the trail. I suggest keeping your backpack light if there is a lot of climbing and tight spaces, like this climb above. Energy levels can get diminished fairly quickly if the trail is tough or the weather conditions are not perfect so packing snacks to sustain your energy level is a good idea. It’s always nice to pack a small lunch or a few bites to eat once you reach the summit and you can sit, enjoy the view and take it all in.
I really don’t recommend commercial protein bars unless you cannot pack food for some reason. I came up with this protein bar to take out on my next excursion and I am in love with it. I find most protein bars hard to digest but I have no trouble with this one. I love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter but almond butter or any other nut/seed butter would work equally well.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bar
- 1/4 cup protein powder (chocolate or vanilla)
- 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/4 cup ground sprouted chia and flaxseed
- 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
- 1/3 cup natural peanut butter
- 1/3 cup date paste (not sure what this equates to in whole dates but I’m guessing 6)
- 1/2 cup gluten free oats
- 2 tablespoons water
- Place all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until it forms a dough. I add water (or brewed coffee) as needed until it forms together. Press into a 8 X 8 pan and place in the fridge for a few hours until cold and set. Cut into bars and wrap individually in parchment or plastic wrap.
