Top 10 must pack backpacking items for gourmet outdoors chefs

Here is a basic checklist of items you will want to pack if you are planning on cooking tasty meals on the trail.

10. Plastic Bags - Lightweight they will keep your stuff dry and organized.

9. Rope - You must tie your food and waste up out of reach of animals (about 10-20 feet) and at least 100 yards from your campsite. Waking up to find Yogi Bear has snatched your picnic basket is no fun.

8. Lightweight Pot - You will need to boil water. They work great for re-hydrating foods, as well as purifying water.

7. Salt & Pepper - Don't forget the classics!

6. Portable Camp - Backpacking camp stoves are light and necessary for cooking during fire restrictions. Boil water, cook bacon or fry-up that fresh fish without worry of starting a forest fire.

5. Water-proof Matches - They just might save your life.

4. Multi-Tasking pocket knife - A good knife will be your best friend, if it includes a fork and a spoon perhaps your new BFF.

3. Beef Jerky - Non-perishable, high in protein and it has endless cooking potential.

2. Water-purifier - A small lightweight water purifier is great to have. They save you backache from not having to hike all of your water in with you.

1. Aluminum Foil - This is God’s gift to camp chefs, its lightweight & versatile. It doesn't take MacGyver to figure out how to wrap any combination of food into a tasty pouch of goodness. Simply drop the pouch on hot coals to slow roast your gourmet meal.