I was looking to make a large batch of GORP for my camping trip in May (with 5 people), this was what I was thinking about adding so far:

Granola
Dried Apples
raisins
Prestel's
M&M's?

I am thinking about adding the M&M's I am not sure do you think they would melt if they were kept in a pack? I just don't want to go through all of the work and end up with a sticky mess what do you guys think? and how early should I make it does it keep well in the fridge?

I would ask the people that are going to eat it what they like. But if you are going to put pretzels and granola in it, don’t make it too much ahead of the trip. Those types of things tend to pick up some moisture from humidity so they seem stale if the container isn’t sealed well. Other ingredient ideas are dried cranberries (Craisins), almonds, pecans, shredded coconut...

quote inspector13: "
I would ask the people that are going to eat it what they like. But if you are going to put pretzels and granola in it, don’t make it too much ahead of the trip. Those types of things tend to pick up some moisture from humidity so they seem stale if the container isn’t sealed well. Other ingredient ideas are dried cranberries (Craisins), almonds, pecans, shredded coconut..."

ok thanks! do you think the m&m's are ok? i just don't want it to melt

You’re probably OK for May. I don’t remember any problems when I‘ve had M&Ms in GORP.

Peanut M&M's are natures perfect food. I have never had them melt. But, I have had them disappear before, with one grown adult eating an entire 2lb bag in 2 days.

My favorite gorp recipe for groups is to stop at the last Holiday gas station closest to my entry point, and say "oh crap, I forgot the gorp". Then have everyone pick out their own snacks to eat on the trip.

My favorite is mixed nuts with some kind of dried fruit in it. Yeah, I know, I'm a KISS kind of guy ;).

Sunflour seeds (no shells). I read somewhere that they pack a ton of energy.

M&Ms are fine. Just don't crush the bag. Then on a hot day or sitting in the sun you could have a mess.

Sounds good guys! maybe I will add some peanuts to it as well. There are some pretty big eaters in the group so I will probably make like 2lbs a person for 5 days

quote openwide: "Sounds good guys! maybe I will add some peanuts to it as well. There are some pretty big eaters in the group so I will probably make like 2lbs a person for 5 days "

With group GORP you'll leave with 5 people named Dan, Mary, Todd, Bill, and Sue. But you might return with 5 people named the M&M inhaler, the beef jerky disposal, the finger-licker (eewww!), the whiner, and little-mister-I-didn't-get-any. You might consider having a make-your-own gorp party before your trip, everyone gets their own bag.

"
You might have a make your own gorp party before your trip.


"

We did that last summer for our multiple family trip. Bought a variety of ingredients incl nuts, dried fruit, gold fish, pretzels, plain and peanut M & Ms, etc. Then a couple of nights before the trip everyone packed their own gorp... labeled the ziplock bags with their names... different bag for each day so they could make different combos. It worked out great. And yes the gold fish and pretzels were soggy a week later.I was glad I didn't add it to my bags.

This is one of my "go to sites" when I have to make gorp
Healthier Trail Mix Ideas

In Twin City stores like Cub Foods and Menards you can find some savory additions like wasabi peas, roasted pumpkin seeds, and soy nuts under the Good Sense brand. Those are good for a change too.

Target has a great selection of pre-mixed gorp, dried fruit & trail mixes. You can add to them or use them to get some ideas for your own homemade gorp. I pack each of those items separately, as they may have different moisture levels. I portion out & vacuum seal enough for 2 people for 2 days-(5 bags for a 10 day trip), this way I don't have one big bag that may get compromised. I like variety & take a few different styles, goldfish/granola are packed separately. Make sure to ask if anyone has allergies. I love nuts...cashews, pecans, dark chocolate dusted almonds(Emerald brand), smoked almonds. The smoked almonds are loaded with salt, the other nuts I buy are without salt to balance it out. Craisins come in many flavors, raisinettes are my perfect food along with peanut m&m's. Banana chips, Reese's pieces...okay...now I am headed to the pantry...

My favorite gorp is made with the following:
A bag of tropical mix from Fleet Farm
A bag of Peanut M&M’s
A bag of Skittles
A jar of Dry Roasted Peanuts
A bag of Sunflower Seeds

Also...I noticed dried apples in your mix...some dried apples are the soft, squishy type and others are dried to a crisp. The softer, moister apples may make your gorp wet & sticky, the crisp type may break up into dust if mixed into a bag. Just saying...

Seeds are a good addition - sunflower, pumpkin, flax.

I usually bag daily rations in small bags.

Saganagons Gorp

"This is the best mixture to please everyone. Our group has moved away from gorp and now we eat cashews, M&M’s, sunflower seeds and Twizzlers separately."

Servings: 6 canoists for a week of snacking.

INGREDIENTS:
One bag each from Fleet Farm

· Chocolate covered raisons
· Cashews
· Virginia peanuts
· Peanut M&M’s
· Soy nuts
· Sunflower seeds
· Banana chips (1/2 bag)
· Sesame stix

DIRECTIONS:
1. Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl.

2. Pack in sandwich size baggies or larger. Make sure each canoe has a bag for quick nourishment.

3. Ingredients can be adjusted and changed to meet your group’s preference. Avoid hard candies in the mix to make it easy to chew.

Almonds are pound for pound one of the highest calorie foods you can get, definitely an option.

We always do the GORP make-your-own party before the trip. And we label the bags really well. Because if you touch my wife's GORP..... well, let's just be glad that's never happened.

My gorp is never the same twice. Typically I will visit the bulk food section at Cub and make one big batch of sweet and one big batch of savory mixes. Big on the coconut, craisens, chopped dates, variety of nuts. Chinese crackers are great to blend as well as the afore mentioned wasabi peas. Sometimes I'll throw in a bag of granola too. Always a variety and rarely any complaints.

quote openwide: "I was looking to make a large batch of GORP for my camping trip in May (with 5 people), this was what I was thinking about adding so far:

Granola
Dried Apples
raisins
Prestel's
M&M's?

I am thinking about adding the M&M's I am not sure do you think they would melt if they were kept in a pack? I just don't want to go through all of the work and end up with a sticky mess what do you guys think? and how early should I make it does it keep well in the fridge?
"

Yes, your M&M's may melt. My wife and I trip all summer and most
often M&M's will only get soft if we are careful.
Also, I never have granola in my Trail Mix anymore as we often have
some type of granola bars with us as another type of snack. I am heavy
on nuts in mine and always make two different batches as my wife and I have different tastes. She likes candy corn, so I always add it to her batch. Candy corn goes great with nuts and will not melt either.

My mixes most always include the following:

1. Blanched Peanuts (Sometimes Dry Roasted)
2. Raw Pecans
3. Raw Almonds
4. Walnuts
5. Sunflower Seeds
6. Black Raisins (Sunview Black Seedless, Great Flavor)
7. M&M's

It is different every trip depending on what we are hungry for. At any given time it may also include:

. Chocolate Covered Raisins (These Will Melt)
. Yogurt Covered Raisins (These Will Melt)
. Butterscotch Chips (These Will Melt)
. Pumpkin Seeds
. Dried Apricots
. Dried Apples
. Cashews
. Hazelnuts
. Brazil Nuts
. Pistachioes

Your mix will be fine stored in the fridge. That is where we keep most
of the nuts in our house. :+]]

Almonds, cashews, raisins, sunflower seeds, M&M's and sometimes dried pineapple.

My favorite is

1 lb. Jelly Belly's
1 lb. Gummy Bears
1 lb. Skittles
1 lb. Sourpatch Kids
1 lb. Bite Size Twizzlers
And just a dash of Pop Rocks!
I call this the "OMG why don't I have any teeth mix"
It packs a lot of energy!

quote Isitspringyet?: "Target has a great selection of pre-mixed gorp, dried fruit & trail mixes. You can add to them or use them to get some ideas for your own homemade gorp..."

I like these Target mixes as well.

Dried cherries
M&M's
Almonds
Seasame sticks

I'm too late for your May trip, but I have recently decided to not mix gorp, but rather include a variety of gorp ingredients in separate bags and let people snack on what they want. But I have picky kids, and I started getting grossed out watching them pick through the communal bag of gorp for the single thing they wanted to eat.

A little over a week ago I vacuum packed smaller serving sizes of my own trail mixes. A couple of days ago I noticed the Craisins® starting to bleed into the surrounding ingredients. I think they contain too much moisture for being in a mix that has been vacuum packed.

quote RRHD: "I'm too late for your May trip, but I have recently decided to not mix gorp, but rather include a variety of gorp ingredients in separate bags and let people snack on what they want. But I have picky kids, and I started getting grossed out watching them pick through the communal bag of gorp for the single thing they wanted to eat."

Haha. This is why I have each of my kids make individual snack bags for each day of the trip. I know I wash my hands and use hand sanitizer but can't always be sure that the kids do!!! I don't want those hands touching my GORP.

Plus that way we all have the items we like and there is less waste.

Theres always GORP surprise.

Simply stick your hand down into the sofa cushions, grab a handful of whatever. Usually a mix of popcorn, m%m's, skittles, dried grapes (not raisins), peanuts, pennies ect.

You might even luck out and get a LEGO. SURPRISE :)

I usually buy the pre-mixed Mountain-Trail mix stuff from Sam's Club/Wal-Mart and add Craisins and sunflower kernels. Sometimes I get more creative. But make sure everyone follows the "GORP Rule". No GORP eating with two fingers. You must take a handful and eat or trade the whole thing before you can take another handful. Learned that one from Kevin Callan.