Inspired by Backpacker Magainze’s column Dirbag/Gourmet, Dirtbagger Guide is introducing a new category of posts – The Dirtbag Diner.  We can’ guarantee that out recipes and tips will be as gourmet as Backpacker but we will say that ours will be CHEAP and PACKED with all the fuel you need for your dirtbaggin’ pursuits.

We recognize that (like everything) there is a range of dirtbags.  There are many who can’t afford much more than institution-sized bags of rice and beans and a ton of weekend warriors touting their Coleman 2-Burners and a sample of fresh veggies from this week’s CSA.  We hope to provide recipes and creative tips for both ends of the spectrum while keeping in mind foods that are good for the body as well as being good for the community and Earth.

While we are gathering our recipes together check out the links below to get started on planning your meals for that Spring roadtrip:

One Pan Wonders - Plenty of hiking and backpacking meals that can be made in one pot or less.

Trail Chef: 8 Dirtbag Dinners – Easy meals using 3 ingredients or less.

Broke Ass Gourmet – The ultimate recipe blog for foodies on a severely limited budget.

I have been trying to cut back on expenses lately in anticipation of three huge trips I have in the works for this year (Spanish school in Central America, dirtbagging through Hawaii, trekking through Patagonia, and not to mention a ton of climbing and backpacking trips throughout the west) and decided to take the challenge.  I have seriously minimized my expenses in the last year but am still wondering how I can reduce my spending further.  I thought I was super frugal but four days into the fast I realize I had been spending more than I had thought. So give it a try and abide by the following rules:

Rules of the 21-Day Financial Fast

• Only Purchase the Bare Necessities
  • Essential items like food and medicine
  • Essential personal items like toothpaste, shampoo, etc.
  • Essential items for work such as a work uniform.
  • The means no going out to eat, no going to the bar, and not stopping for coffee.
  • No gifts.
• Only use cash for purchases (no plastic, even debit cards)
• Don’t window shop or go to the mall (does that mean REI?)
• No online shopping or browsing through retail catalogs

There is something about paying with cash that makes you realize that you are actually spending money.  Paying for gas with cash the other day made me cringe.  When I pay with plastic, even though it is usually my debit card, it really doesn’t feel like cash.  Seeing all that cash leave my hands to pay for gas was painful and totally made me think about how much I have been driving lately.  Oh and that urge to stop for coffee is pretty rough – I wonder if it will dull after three weeks of this.

I am just glad I have a stockpile of beer in the fridge and several bottles on the wine rack because I don’t think Singletary would buy the idea of booze as an essential.  It fuels my creativity and is thus an essential for me but I am going to see if I can go the three weeks without purchasing any beer or wine, but I may need a bottle of champagne for that brunch I am hosting this Sunday – or do I?

If you give it a try – leave a comment to let me know how you do.  I am curious what types of free things you find to do to keep yourself entertained for all 21 of those days.

Also check out these resources about other ways to reduce your expenses and build up that travel fund.

Ways to Save Money for Travel

28 Ways to Save Money For Traveling

Drastic Ways To Save Money For Long-Term Travel

Create a Sustainable Lifestyle: 5 Ways to Trim Living Expenses

How to Save Money For Travel

Early season snows have seen first tracks all over the West.  Check out these amazing shots of the first runs of the year at Snowbird Ski Resort here.

Still enjoying the lovely fall weather, I drove up to Independence pass outside of Aspen yesterday to try to get my stoke on for winter.  Here are some views atop the Continental Divide.  Bring it on!

There are many definitions of dirtbag out there, but for the terms of this website we are using the word dirtbag to describe the dreamer, adventurer, conventional dissenter, uber cheap, and sometimes well-worn traveler. The new dirtbag has evolved into an ambitious, eco-conscience, cooperative individual from its dirty, unkempt, and contemptable roots.

1. You get up at 5 am and sneak out of the campsite before the camp host gets up instead of waking at a more reasonable hour and risk having to pay for the site.
2. You buy a box of wine or a 6-pack of tall boys rather than spending money at the bar.
3. You are on an all expense paid trip for work and you cook dinner outside your hotel room so you can pocket the per diem.
4. You know the camping limits and rules of every major BLM recreation area.
5. You consider a natural hot spring a shower.
6. You can wrap anything in a tortilla and have perfect wrapping skills.
7. You have a particular adoration for Wet Wipes.
8. You can sleep peacefully basically anywhere (bivy sack in a rainstorm, a picnic table or the backseat at a rest area).
9. You catch free wireless at the library rather than the coffee shop because you don’t have to buy a cup of coffee.
10. You are constantly scheming up ways to quit your day job and never have to work again.

This post was cross-posted at dirtbagwriter.com.

Check out her blog for details of her journey, along with helpful information about launching a freelance writing career, and inspiration for adopting dirtbagging full-time.

Do what you love. Know your own bone; gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it, and gnaw it still. ~Henry David Thoreau

On a recent trip to the Teva Mountain Games in Vail Colorado, we had quite the challenge finding some cheap eats in Vail. After scouring the local papers for dining deals and cruising the internet for the cheap dining beta – we came to the conclusion that cheap eats simply do not exist in Vail, Colorado.

Luckily our lodging was covered by a kids climbing team – the Roost Lodge at $79/night wasn’t too shabby. A continental breakfast complete with oatmeal packets, nutrient lacking white toast, and interesting looking pastries left us yearning for some tasty eats.

Since google did not return any results to the following: Cheap, Vegetarian, Organic, Sustainable Cuisine in Vail – we took matters into our own hands to save a buck or more realistically hundreds of them. In addition to frequenting the Stonyfield yogurt and Bear Naked Granola samples tent (I highly recommend the spectacular Mango Agave Almond granola) and staying hydrated with the SoBe lifewater samples – we settled with preparing some gourmet camp stove meals in the hotel parking lot.

Gourmet Tofurky sausages packed with 29 grams of protein a “sausage” are excellent when paired with Annie’s Homegrown organic and all-natural Mac n’Cheese.

If anyone has any suggestions on cheap places to grab some food in Vail or wants to share their fave dirtbagging recipe – please leave a comment.

The Teva Mountain games in Vail, Colorado June 4-7, 2009. A three-day extreme sport festival; from mountain biking, to kayaking, fly fishing to trail running. The Teva Mountain Games has what you are looking for. Oh and how could I forget The IFSC Bouldering World Cup championships? So, grab a beer or cup of wine from Fetzer Vineyard and let’s wander through Vail Village.

First stop Fetzers Vineyard Green Light District the eco friendly expo and learn about how we can lessen our impact on the environment. We can also talk to green venders like Nalgene, Native Energy, and Bear Naked. While on your jaunt through The Green Light District let’s stop at Gear Town the extreme sports farmers market where instead of organic produce you find the newest line of gear from Teva, Native Eyewear, prAna, Petzl, and many more. In between checking out all the latest and greatest, and picking up on free schwag in Gear Town we can watch The SoBe Freeriding Dual. Where you can catch some high flyers on two wheels run the trials course.

Let’s head over to The International Bridge White Water Park and check out The Bud Light Lime Kayak freestyle and watch some of the best in the sport flip, roll, and cartwheel their way for a chance to stand on the podium as well as win cash money.

Up in the mountain plaza you will find the fitness challenge in The Teva tent where competitors will see who is the fittest. You can also watch Costa Del Mar 2 Fly X stream on the Bahn Lawn where you can test your balance and focus on the slack line put on by The Yoga Slackers who demonstrate and teach you how to walk the line.

While we’re here refill your beverage and a grab a spot to stand so you can watch some of the strongest climbers in the world pull down at The IFSC Bouldering World Cup. You can watch young guns and Team USA members Daniel Woods, Paul Robinson, Alex Johnson, and Alex Puccio go up against some of the worlds strongest rock climber; Jonas Baumann from Germany, Kilian Fischuber, Austria, and Akiyo Noguchi representing Japan. Watch as they yell, scream and dyno their way to a gold medal.

After the days events let’s kick off the Pub Crawl at Check Point Charlie’s and listen to some music on the main stage by Aceyalone and The Lonely One’s. Or we can grab some food from one of the local restaurants in the village and head over to the lodge to watch a film put on by Outdoor Reels. Whatever you get yourself into I’m sure it will be a good time at The Teva Mountain Games.

For more information go to the Teva Mountain Games.

It is summertime! Time to get out, kick back with some cold brews, and enjoy some live outdoor music. Check out the following venues for some great summer shows.

Twilight Concert Series at the Gallivan Center

Heading downtown Salt Lake on Thursday nights to the Twilight Concert Series at the Gallivan Center is a Salt Lake summer tradition.  Concerts are completely FREE and start at 7pm and promptly end at 10pm due to city noise ordinances.  Stuff a picnic dinner and a handful of $5 bills (for pints of microbrews) into the backpack and bike on down to the Gallivan (car parking is a pain in the…) and check out the lineup for this year’s series:

• July 09, 2009 –  Bon Iver & Jenny Lewis
• July 16, 2009 –  The Black Keys & Human Highway
• July 23, 2009 – M. Ward & Land of Talk
• July 30, 2009 – Sonic Youth & Awesome Color
• August 6, 2009 – Q-Tip & B.o.B.
• August 13, 2009 – Toots and the Maytals & N.A.S.A.
• August 20 – Iron and Wine & Okkervil River
• August 27, 2009 – Robert Randolph and the Family Band & Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears

Red Butte Outdoor Concert Series

Not exactly free (to get in the venue that is), but Red Butte has an amazing lineup this year.  Recent renovations at Red Butte have put in a solid wall in place of the old beloved chain linked fence that allowed those in the cheap seats a glimpse at the performers.  Grab a blanket and a well-stocked cooler and head down to Red Butte behind the wall where you can hear some tunes and join the party outside the venue.

• May 31, 2009 – Neko Case with Joey and John of Calexico
• June 4, 2009 – Etta James & The Roots Band
• June 14, 2009 – Femi Kuti with Bela Fleck & Toumni Diabate
• June 19, 2009 – Smokey Robinson
• June 21, 2009 – David Byrne
• July 7, 2009 – Indigo Girls
• July 13, 2009 – Death Cab For Cutie
• July 19, 2009 – The Wallflowers
• July 31, 2009 – Diana Krall
• August 4, 2009 – Chicago
• August 14, 2009 – Chris Isaak
• August 19, 2009 – Los Lobos & Los Lonely Boys
• August 25, 2009 – The Avett Brothers
• September 1, 2009 – Bonnie Rait & Taj Mahal
• September 3, 2009 – Booker T. & The Drive by Truckers

The Canyons Summer Concert Series

The Canyons Resort in Park City has once again has FREE live music at 6 pm on Saturdays beginning July 18th.

• July 18, 2009 – Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
• July 25, 2009 – The Band of Heathens
• August 1, 2009 – TBD
• August 15, 2009 – Panjea
• August 22, 2009 – The Wilders
• August 29, 2009 – The Mother Hips

Snowbird’s Cool Air Concert Series

New this summer – Snowbird offers free weekend concerts on the Snowbird Center Plaza Deck.  Concerts begin at 5pm.

• July 3, 2009 – Papa Mali
• July 4, 2009 – Kort McChumber
• July 5, 2009 – Danny Barnes
• July 17, 2009 – Andrew Goldring
• July 18, 2009 – Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
• July 19, 2009 – Blue Sunshine Soul
• August 8, 2009 – Erin McKeown
• August 9, 2009 – Band of Annuals

Park City Mountain Stages

Mountain Stages is a non-profit org in Park City that offers a bunch of free shows all over Park City.  Check out their website for show listings and more information.

Trazzler ‘trips’ feature a specific snippet of a travel location such as a hiking trail or restaurant or festival. See some of our favorite trips here:

• Rock Climbing in Potrero Chico
• Backcountry Skiing Crystal Mountain in Washington
• Soaking in Hot Springs in Colorado
• Taking a Pit Stop in Moab, Utah

After browsing some trips and getting an idea of the Trazzler writing style – individuals can contribute their own trips and even get considered for freelance work. Although some people are saying the site is a scam by getting writers to contribute content for free with no intentions of every reading them or considering them for hire – we at dirtbagger can vouch for its authenticity and one of our writers just got selected to freelance for them – so check out her writing here.