No Coolers

CAMP WITHOUT COOLERS ~ Kick the Cooler Habit!

Lacey Anderson

Alexs first river trip. A week on the Rio Aros/Yaqui changed everything for Alex from Sonora, Mexico. His words capture the magic of what these journeys are all about. Alex’s reflections: “In the first week of August, I joined an eight-day, seven-night expedition in Sahuaripa, Sonora, Mexico. The journey gave […]

When the River Teaches

September 25, 2025 in River - General by Lacey Anderson

On occasion I offer a no coolers food pack service for river trips. This is a 4-day pack for 8 inflatable kayakers running a self-support Yampa River trip. Each day includes breakfast, lunch, appetizer, main course and dessert. For people who have bought one of my cookbooks this video also […]

No Coolers Food Pack

March 17, 2025 in Food - Ingredients / Recipes / Food - Menus / Food Packs / Food - Tips / Food - Video by Lacey Anderson

From Cookbook: Vegetarian Camp Without Coolers —– LINK to BUY ON AMAZON These are a cross between fudge and a cookie. The critical part is when the mixture starts to get hot. As soon as it starts to boil, remove from heat. If it comes to a full boil the […]

Mud Cookies

March 12, 2025 in Food - Ingredients / Recipes by Lacey Anderson

From Cookbook: Camp Cooking Without Coolers II – LINK to BUY ON AMAZON Vegetarians simply leave out the chicken, still yummy! Makes about 10 cups, serves 8 2 ⅓ cups couscous – – – – – LINK to BUY ON AMAZON 1 ⅔ cups dehydrated cranberries —– LINK to BUY […]

Asian Couscous

March 12, 2025 in Food - Ingredients / Recipes by Lacey Anderson

From Cookbook: Camp Cooking Without Coolers II —– LINK to BUY ON AMAZON Makes about 2 dozen bite sized pieces 1 cup peanut butter ½ cup instant milk powder, NIDO (dry whole milk powder) —– LINK to BUY ON AMAZON ½ cup raisins 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons honey […]

Bliss Balls

March 10, 2025 in Food - Ingredients / Recipes by Lacey Anderson

Powdered Hummus, Dehydrated and Freeze-dried Mango — The majority of the ingredients for the recipes in my cookbook can be purchased at the supermarket. Sometimes the grocers place the items in the health food or international isle. If you live in a city or a larger urban area these items are usually easily found, but if […]

Dried Hummus, Mangoes, Pure Vanilla

January 10, 2025 in Food - Ingredients / Recipes / Food - Tips by Lacey Anderson

Handy Salad Dressing Packets — Small shelf-stable packages of salad dressings are very handy in the No Coolers Camp Kitchen. They can be purchased from various locations and companies: WinCo Foods usually has a good selection (photo above) and then of course Amazon —– LINK to BUY ON AMAZON **I am an Amazon affiliate, and […]

Salad Dressing Packets

January 9, 2025 in Food - Ingredients / Recipes / Food - Tips by Lacey Anderson

Ben Web the director of Paddling with Purpose did an interview and turned it into an article – he did a pretty good job of explaining what a fit and healthy female river runner of over 25 years can do, including first descents, read on: Lacey Anderson recounts a lifetime […]

PWP: River Gypsy Mama

August 10, 2024 in River - First Descents / River - General / River - Published Articles by Lacey Anderson

Vegan Desserts from my cookbook titled: Vegetarian Camp Without Coolers: 18-Day Meal Plan —– LINK to BUY ON AMAZON Raspberry Chocolate Pancakes (slight modification – replace the milk with coconut or nut milk) No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars Homemade Fudge with Strawberries No-Bake Coconut Chocolate Cookies (slight modi – replace […]

Vegan Desserts – 28 Recipe Suggestions

November 15, 2020 in Food - Ingredients / Recipes / Food - Tips by Lacey Anderson

Chana Masala Ingredients Vegan 3-Course Dinners (appetizer, main course & side dish) are from my cookbook titled, Vegetarian Camp Without Coolers: 18-Day Meal Plan Appetizer Hummus Dip for Vegetable & Chips Guacamole with Tortilla Chips Popcorn Veggies with Peanut Dipping Sauce Mexico Jicama Sticks Main Course Red Coconut Curry North […]

Vegan Main Course, Appetizer & Side Dish – 45 Recipe ...

November 12, 2020 in Food - Ingredients / Recipes / Food - Tips by Lacey Anderson

Cowboy Caviar These Vegan Lunches are from my cookbook titled, Vegetarian Camp Without Coolers: 18-Day Meal Plan Avocado Pita Buffet Buckwheat Soba Noodles & Veggies Cabbage Wrap with Peanut Sauce Pasta de Peru Vegan Aztec Tostadas (omit crema) Tahini Spread Tomato Hummus Lime Wraps Ginger Soba Noodles Quick Trail Lunch […]

Vegan Lunches – 26 Recipe Suggestions

October 5, 2020 in Food - Ingredients / Recipes / Food - Tips by Lacey Anderson

These Vegan breakfasts are from my cookbook titled, Vegetarian Camp Without Coolers: 18-Day Meal Plan Fresh Breakfast Buffet Breakfast of the Incas (slight modification – replace the milk with coconut or nut milk) Southwest Tofu Breakfast Burrito Raspberry Chocolate Pancakes (slight modification – replace the milk with coconut or nut […]

Vegan Breakfasts – 32 Recipe Suggestions

September 1, 2020 in Food - Ingredients / Recipes / Food - Tips by Lacey Anderson

Photo credit to Ben Webb for this beautiful picture of our lunch alongside the Rio Maranon in Peru. Below is a basic menu outline for my next cookbook in the “Camp Without Coolers” series. Lots of people have requested I develop a Gluten & Dairy-Free edition. So, I have started […]

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free ~ 10-Day Menu

August 13, 2020 in Food - Menus / Food Packs / Food - Tips by Lacey Anderson

One of the first promotional activities I have done, about 10 years ago. Getting the word out about my “no coolers” techniques for camp kitchens, opening up to the world about my ideas from the Camp Without Coolers cookbook series. What a ride it has been.

10 Years Prior to Pandemic

April 11, 2020 in Food - Tips / Food - Video by Lacey Anderson

I am updating the original post from January 2020 because EVERYTHING has changed now! I am publishing this now on March 21. In January everything was lining up to be one of the most amazing years yet, full of high adventure and travel. 2020 was going to be good! BUT […]

Post-Pandemic River Schedule, Who Knows?!!

March 21, 2020 in River - General by Lacey Anderson

Example of how I pack a no coolers trip. This was for the Middle Fork Salmon. An 8-Day, 10 people trip. Each day includes breakfast, lunch, appetizer, main course, side dish and dessert!

8-Days, 10 People – Food Pack

November 1, 2019 in Food - Ingredients / Recipes / Food - Menus / Food Packs / Food - Tips / Food - Video by Lacey Anderson

Have you ever wanted to travel to exotic places like Ecuador, Costa Rica, Peru, and other boating locations around the globe with your own cataraft? Well, now you can. Go Light Outdoors has put together an “International Travel” cataraft package in both standard and deluxe versions that allow you to […]

You Too Can Do It!

June 12, 2019 in River - General by Lacey Anderson

Detailed Food Pack Example

March 17, 2019 in Food - Ingredients / Recipes / Food - Menus / Food Packs / Food - Tips / Food - Video by Lacey Anderson

Last season (2017)I made the work transition from being a whitewater river guide to being a River Ranger in one of our nation’s spectacular National Parks. Working as a river ranger isn’t “a walk in the park” as the saying goes. Many a hot buggy work day was spent at […]

NRS: River Rangers and Kitty Litter?

August 25, 2018 in River - General / River - Published Articles by Lacey Anderson

Far from the crowds that flock to southern Peru, you can get your “Indiana Jones” on in the northern territories where ancient Incan and Pre-Incan archaeological wonders rival the famed citadel of Machu Picchu. The mountains surrounding Chachapoyas in northern Peru contain the lush vegetation of the Andean cloud forests […]

NRS: Five Reasons to Travel to Peru

May 10, 2018 in River - General / River - Published Articles by Lacey Anderson

This time, last year (or at least this is my side of the story) on the Salt River in the Sonoran desert. Our low-water river trip down the Salt River in Arizona was an expedition with lots of wild life. So much life in the desert. Maybe it was the […]

Duct Tape Butt and other Bear Stories

April 7, 2018 in River - General by Lacey Anderson

2018 – IS THE YEAR of the Rio Marañón! Do not wait another year to sign up, this is the year! So many launch dates and themes to choose from! Each trip has its own unique flare, one is sure to fit your interest. Here are three different themes and […]

Year of the Rio Maranon

March 6, 2018 in River - General tagged international river expedition / Peru / Rio Maranon by Lacey Anderson

2017 kept me so busy that there has been no time to blog. Here is a quick reflection on 2017 (better late than never): started the year with my “International Cataraft” in Ecuador, feel even more in love with the rivers and people of that country. In February came back […]

2017 Hard to Beat!

February 1, 2018 in River - General by Lacey Anderson

For 5 years this has been my work. I am passionate about doing what I can to save this river and to help the locals and Peruvians in their battle to protect the very important free flowing Upper Amazon. Please read my article about the conservation effort and learn what […]

AW: The Fight to Save the Rio Maranon

May 18, 2017 in River - General / River - Published Articles by Lacey Anderson

If I told you it’s possible to go boating in paradise for as little as $46 dollars a day would you believe me? It seems crazy, yes, but in Ecuador, it’s completely attainable. That $46 a day included traveling to Ecuador with my personal cataraft, frame and oars, round-trip taxi […]

NRS: Traveling to Ecuador with Cats

March 19, 2017 in River - General / River - Published Articles by Lacey Anderson

Join us on a self-support trip to Ecuador this winter. You make all the flight arrangements and get your boating equipment down to Tena or Baeza. Not sure that you can travel with your equipment? Rental is available or purchase one of Neil’s “International Travel” cataraft packages. These are the […]

Join Us in Ecuador – winter 2017

January 2, 2017 in River - General by Lacey Anderson

On a trip during Mexico’s monsoon season a flash flood threatens to sweep NRS Ambassador, Lacey Anderson, and her companion down the river. Faced with the option to run a flooded IV+ canyon or hunker down within reach of a Mexican pot farm, Lacey outweighs the potential risk of […]

NRS: Lacey’s Choice: Canyons or Cartels

April 16, 2016 in River - General / River - Published Articles by Lacey Anderson

There’s a Ben Harper song that continued to run through my head as I rowed the Rio Marañón in Peru last summer. The chorus, I am blessed, I am blessed, I am blessed to be a witness, played over and over again, through countless rapids and lulls of flat stretches. […]

NRS: Blessed

March 24, 2016 in River - General / River - Published Articles by Lacey Anderson