About Heather

Welcome to This Noshtalgic Life. I’m Heather, and I’m thrilled you’ve joined me! This blog mixes delectable recipes and adventurous living. It’s about embracing the joys of cooking and eating, whether hiking on trails, camping, backpacking, or simply enjoying the outdoors.

I’m a native New Englander who escapes to my off-grid cabin Alaska as often as I can!

I spent considerable time as a visual artist, wandering, dreaming, camping, and backpacking in Arizona, before immersing myself in the wilds of Alaska to live for just shy of a decade.

Finally, with an MFA in Printmaking, a wealth of inspiration, and a loving family, I found my anchor in the Green Mountain State.

I now live in Central Vermont with my husband, our two kids, an Alaskan Husky, two cats, and a bunch of chickens.

I love food!

I am completely and happily obsessed with everything related to food, gleefully creating in the kitchen for pretty much my whole life. It is extremely rare to have a conversation with me where I am not sharing my excitement about something I cooked, ate, wish to eat, or heard I should try.

Bringing that excitement to backcountry meals is super fun! I have loads of ideas, hacks, and tricks to share when it comes to planning camp food. It’s important to fuel well for your outdoor adventures!

I love to cook just about any type of cuisine but most often you’ll find me making curries, fermenting everything I can, or throwing together something simple from the food we grow and raise ourselves.

I love adventure!

My husband, Matt, and I met in 2005, and shortly after that, I moved across the country to the interior of Alaska to live in a “dry” cabin in the woods with him.

This endeavor meant bidding farewell to modern conveniences like running water and adjusting to the humble confines of a single-room abode. Some may consider it a romantic escapade, while others might deem it a touch eccentric.

Well, we’ve been adventuring together ever since! We have enjoyed tons of wonderful backcountry camping in places such as Wrangell St. Elias National Park, Alaskan, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Exuma Cays, Bahamas, Vermont, Arizona, and New Mexico.

We relish staying in remote and unusual accommodations in places such as Mexico, the coast of Maine, and ski-in cabins or paddle-in campgrounds in our own home state of Vermont.

Our kids have joined us in our passion for adventure and travel. They have grown up spending time at our remote cabin in McCarthy, Alaska, experiencing the true wilderness.

I love the outdoors!

A profound appreciation for the natural world continues to guide my choices of where to live and explore, both in the present and throughout my life so far.

The number one way that our family connects is to spend time together outdoors; we walk, hike, paddle, ski, and camp together.

We camp often, year-round in Vermont, and being the total food nerd that I am, I really enjoy planning meals and packing food for our rustic adventures. Our chosen travel locations are fueled by a love for the wilderness and magical outdoor exploration.

You can find posts on This Noshtalgic Life that help guide you to adventure outdoors as well such as camping food lists, gear suggestions, hiking food lists and recipes to make when camping and backpacking. I also share recipes to make when you return to home base!

Press Mentions

A Day-Hiker’s Guide to Trail Food – Portland Press Herald

Where I’ve Been Featured

I take pride in my collaborations and features. Here are a few places you can find me:

• Yahoo – 6 School Lunch Meals That Are Cheap and Packed With Veggies
• Huff Post – The Best Canned Tomatoes For Marinara Sauce, According to Chefs and Italian Cooks
• Best Life – The 10 Best Mountain Towns in the U.S.
• Nina Out and About – Why This World Traveler Chose to Live in Vermont Over All Other Places (Including Alaska!)
• Find Love and Travel – 24 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in the USA
• It’s Not About the Miles – 15 Best National Parks to Visit in January
• Next Stop Adventures – 19 Outdoor Places in the U.S. that You Should Visit at Least Once
• Julie Around the Globe – Best Kid-Friendly Beaches on the East Coast for Family Vacation
• Weight Watchers – Meal Planning on a Budget
• Digital Travel Couple – 30 Best Things to Do at Night in New York City
• Martha’s Vineyard Tourist – 7 Cool Things to Do in Vermont in the Summer
• Julie Around the Globe – 16 Romantic Getaways on the East Coast for Couples

Spotlight: My Guest Blogging Articles

I have written many guest posts for well-known bloggers. Here are some favorites:

• Alex on the Map – Puna Coast Trail to Apua Point: What You Need to Know
• Be My Travel Muse – The Ultimate Guide to Camping in New Mexico
• Mike and Laura Travel – 27 Best Camping Spots In Ontario
• Nina Out and About – 11 Epic Sites for Backcountry Camping in Canada
• Two Drifters – 10 Best Places to See Northern Lights in the USA
• 52 Perfect Days – 31 Best Places to Visit in Alaska
• New England with Love – Is the Mount Washington Cog Railway Worth It?
• Marcie in Mommyland – 11 Most Scenic Ferry Rides in the USA
• The Wildlife Diaries – Top National Parks in New Mexico to Fall in Love With
• Mommy Travels – Romantic Getaway to Burlington, Vermont

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