A Hiker With Food Sensitivities Writes:
Greetings:
I was wondering if I could get an idea what kind of ingredients go into your gear. I cannot ingest gluten so I can't eat any form of wheat, oats, barley or rye. Corn and rice and their derivatives are OK.
If you have ingredients listings, that would be very helpful -- I would really like to try your products.
Thanks,
[Name Withheld]
Eastern Active Technologies Responds:
Dear [Name Withheld]
Our sweet products (SweeTarpTM, SnackSackTM and SnackPackTM) do contain gluten wich serves as a filler and binder.
Our savory products (CaliforniaRollTM and ProteinStixTM) do not.
While we try never to mix our sweet and savory, portions of manfacturing are in fact accomplished on common equipment. We of course wash down the machines between runs (and use a healthy amount of solvent on all exposed surfaces).
However, we cannot guarantee a complete absence of mixing between sweet and savory resulting in minor consequent cross contamination.
As for ingredients: Full product ingredient lists and nutritional information will be available online shortly. Please check back soon.
Happy Trails,
Staff Dietician
Eastern Active Technologies
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A Hiker From Montana Writes:
Just my two cents...but your products are designed for the exact opposite of the hardcore hiker...Anyone whining about carrying a few pounds of food certainly isn't "hardcore" at all.
Talk about wasting money on unnecessary gear...are you supposed to buy new stuff each trip you take? A new pack, poles, shelter...? Anyone who is really hardcore hikes often...too often to keep buying your products for each trip.
Also, it was a little distubing to hear your comments about "animals are smart" and won[']t eat the products. That'd never fly out here in Montana. That's just asking for it. Sleeping with your food! Ha!
Real "whiners", though are the ones crying about their packs being too heavy and just don't have the stamina to carry any weight. Let me get this right, also..the snackpack is for the truly "hardcore" hiker but not one who sweats alot.....oooooookaaaayyyyyyy....
Eastern Active Technologies Responds:
Dear [Name Withheld]
You should be aware that it is no longer considered "macho" or "hardcore" to carry what you call a few extra pounds. Ultralighters are much more interested in covering a few extra miles.
Sure you look butch standing at the trail head six miles from camp with a 45 pound pack. But covering 20 to 30 miles a day over even moderate terrain requires a very different mind set.
Prior to developing our product line, I was able to get my typical pack baseload into the range of 10 to 15 pounds. However I was just as typically adding 8 to 10 pounds in food weight in order to cover my normal 100 miles (or 4-5 days) between resupply points.
Now I can start my hike with a full load under 15 pounds and hit my resupply all but naked.
As to your comments regarding cost:
Yes our products have to be frequently replaced. But freeze dried meals ain't cheap either. In addition, we strongly feel our pricing reflects the "disposable" nature of our products.
Finally, regarding animals:
It is true that here in the East we have little bears that can be chased off with a stick. Some folks will actually try to draw them in just for the chance.
I am opposed to that, so I generally hang my SnackPackTM on a length of rope suspended over a high tree limb.
And yes, I have had bears come in on me while sleeping in my SnackSackTM under a SweeTarpTM. However, when I've stirred they've generally run off -- "showing me nothing but ass & elbows" as we say on the trails around here.
Things are of course a little different in the West. I'd just as leave rub myself in salmon paste and dance naked in Yosemite as sleep a SnackSackTM in grizzly country without some additional form of protection.
Fortunately the folks at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) have developed a storage system that is both highly compatible with our gear as well as generally recommended to anyone carrying food stuffs in high risk areas:
NOLS Alternative Food Storage Project
Regards,
Director of Product Developent
Eastern Active Technologies
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A Highly Composited Hiker from Germany Writes:
Hello:
I will send you a copy of the magazin[e] [Publication Name Withheld]. Please send me your postal address.
In addition, I would be interested in obtaining a Katalog if this is available.
Also, do you have a European distributor for your products?
Best regards
[Name Withheld]
Eastern Active Technologies Responds:
Herr [Name Withheld]
As near as AltaVista's Babelfish® translation service can make out from your title (Anzeigenverkauf), you appear to be involved in something called "Indicator sales".
This is a function we had not previously encountered.
However, having followed the link included in your message it appears that you represent a very fine -- although to English speakers, largely unintelligible -- publication in some capacity.
We appreciate your interest and the offer of the magazine.
Unfortunately, our gear contains soy products which may in turn contain one or more genetically modified proteins. As a result our equipment is considered prohibited GM foodstuffs under European Union regulations. Because of this we are currently unable to market our line in EU member countries.
We apologize for this situation, but are unable to obtain organic soy products in sufficient quantity of of the consistent quality necessary to meet our manufacturing needs.
Regards and Happy Hiking,
Director of Marketing
Eastern Active Technologies
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A Hiker from New Jersey Writes
Hello:
I have completed your off line order form by hand but am unable to find a postal address to which to send it.
Also what's the deal with shipping charges, sales tax etc.??
Thanks
[Name Withheld]
Eastern Active Technologies Responds:
Dear [Name Withheld]
Although we ourselves are long distance hikers, we actively discourage placing your order overland as it were.
However, if you insist, and as is also suggested in the alternative online ordering instructions, orders completed offline should be affixed to the back of a wandering mental patient ("person receiving mental health services", or as we prefer "the epistemologically challenged") on the off chance that he (or she) will amble past our offices.
We note that you can greatly improve your chances of fulfillment using the techniques found in Bjorn Kjellstrom's very fine Orienteering Handbook (Be Expert With Map & Compass). As an example:
If you were to place your designee on the peak of the Mombasha Highpoint (USGS Map Grid 1:3:1002) and orient him (or her) to 161° (magnetic) SE, your order should bisect our position well before the designee hits the Atlantic.
As for shipping charges, sales taxt et al: We will attack those rather substantial issues if and when your order should happen by.
Regards and Happy Hiking,
Director of Marketing
Eastern Active Technologies
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