What constitutes "all this" would make an old-school backpacker choke on his carob. Latimer champions a sumptuous wilderness lifestyle in which hors d'oeuvres are as neccessary as plain ol' fleece, fire, and water. Before leading clients on one of her hiking trips, she crams her pack with an RV's worth of culinary creature comforts.

This approach took some getting used to for Steere, who once happily survived two months in the woods on virtually nothing but KraftMacaroni & Cheese. Yet even he began to appreciate his hostess's message: It's a slippery slope from letting your eating habits go to neglecting other, more critical, concerns, like wet feet. "When it comes to taking care of yourself," says Steere, "sloppiness is something you allow at your own peril."

Of course, Latimer's is but one approach to the joys of camping, which is why we've explored four other schools of wilderness travel—aimless wandering, long-distance trekking, canoe-camping, and fast-packing—in this, our 16th annual camping special ("What's Your Pleasure?" page 53). All of them have their own merits, but if you choose Latimer's route, you'll need to prepare for certain hassles, such as julienning vegetables at trailside. That's why Steere has modified her program with this simple rule: "If you take a four-day trip, pack one idiotically great meal," he says. His favorite? The salmon roll, with nori, naturally.