Chia Power for the Backcountry

by Jessica Portmess
written by Jessica Portmess

Chia has been dubbed, for better or worse, one of the latest superfoods. Ever since Chris McDougall’s Born to Run, endurance athletes have wondered over the mysterious properties of chia seeds, and some research indicates that they provide a good long-term energy source and aid in recovery. According to some experts, chia seeds are a pretty stellar source of protein, dietary fiber, Omega 3, and iron.

Chia has been dubbed one of the latest, backcountry superfoods. Ever since Chris McDougall’s book 'Born to Run,' (and long before, according to Lou) endurance athletes have wondered over the mysterious properties of chia seeds, and some research indicates that they provide a good long-term energy source and aid in recovery. According to some experts, chia seeds are a stellar source of protein, dietary fiber, Omega 3, and iron.

The whole-foods, plant-based experience took on a new twist for me : camping. True, vegetables and fruit travel and store well, but they’re not the best fuel sources for sustained backcountry exertion such as the trail runs I had planned during this particular trip. Instead, I had my heart set on a twist on morning oatmeal that I discovered on Angela Liddon’s blog Ohsheglows.com. Ideally, you’d mix all the ingredients together the night before and put the bowl in the fridge, allowing the oats and chia seed to soak up the moisture. Pressed for time (we were, after all, there for a festival and not for me to make oats and hunt down containers that wouldn’t capsize among the PBRs in our cooler), I mixed a batch on the morning of our run and let it sit for about a half-hour before eating.

Overnight Oats

1 cup almond milk
1/3 cup regular oats
1 tbsp carob powder (non-roasted)
2 tbsp chia seeds
Pinch of salt
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1-2 tbsp chopped almonds
1/2 cup fresh cherries, chopped
Maple syrup to taste

Mix all ingredients together and let sit for as long as you’re able.


When putting together your shopping list for backcountry adventures, it’s good to shoot for calorie-dense foods. Jurek recommends nuts, nut butters, seeds, avocados, oils (olive, coconut, flaxseed), lentils, beans, etc.

When putting together your shopping list for backcountry adventures, it’s good to shoot for calorie-dense foods. American ultramarathoner, Scott Jurek, recommends nuts, nut butters, seeds, avocados, oils (olive, coconut, flaxseed), lentils, beans, etc.

Liddon recommends using a chopped banana instead of cherries, and notes that a banana is better for sweetening the mixture if you have time to let it sit. I couldn’t help but use the fresh cherries we picked on our way through Paonia.

Liddon recommends using a chopped banana instead of cherries, and notes that a banana is better for sweetening the mixture if you have time to let it sit. I couldn’t help but use the fresh cherries we picked on our way through Paonia, Colorado.

Shop for cookware for your next camp-out here.

(WildSnow.com guest blogger Jess Portmess currently lives in Boulder, Colorado. Having grown up in New York and Vermont, she’s now chasing snow covered peaks, endless trails, and a legal career in the West. She is recently fueled by chia seeds, basic survival ration of ancient Aztec warriors — and modern superfood.)

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