Packit Gourmet is sponsoring Loyal Mehnert on his latest travelanthropic journey! Loyal is embarking on a 1000 mile hike and bike expedition in an effort to raise funds and awareness for post-Hurricane Katrina rebuilding efforts - August 29th, 2010 will mark the Five Year Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's landfall. Loyal will first hike the 500 mile Camino de Santiago through France and Spain followed by a 500 mile bike ride through the Midwest United States.


Loyal is departing for France on June 1st, 2010 for his exciting adventure! He will hike the Camino de Santiago or "Way of Saint James" which has existed for over 1000 years. This collection of ancient pilgrimage routes stretch from Southern France to the Western Coastline of Spain. A full hike of the pilgrimage route takes between 4-8 weeks to complete and covers 780 km (nearly 500 miles) and traditionally starts/ends in St. Jean Pied de Port, France and Santiago, Spain.

Loyal will then return to the United States for a 500 mile bicycle ride - the Habitat 500. Now in its 17th year, the Habitat 500 is a bicycle ride (not a race) that covers 500 miles over the course of 7 days (an average of 71 miles per day). The goal is to raise awareness about the need for decent, safe, affordable housing. The group will tour around the midwest visiting Habitat affiliates, Habitat worksites and Habitat homeowners along the way.

Loyal is embarking on this dual trek to increase awareness and funding for Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast (HFHMGC). HFHMGC has completed or begun construction on more than 300 homes since Katrina struck and is committed to continuing to serve families in need.

“It makes sense to me to be kind to the environment and animals as a vegetarian while having a great thirst for adventure. It all fits perfectly together.” - Loyal Mehnert      Donate to Loyal's Habitat for Humanity page: Donors must designate their online donations as "Loyal Mehnert/HFHMGC" to ensure the total is correctly tallied.

Loyal Menhert, "The Everyday Journeyman" has traveled to over twenty countries across five continents spreading his message of travelanthropy. From racing the 4,000 mile England-to-Africa Plymouth-Banjul Road Rally, to a hike of the historic Appalachian Trail in the Eastern United States, Loyal has gone the distance to raise both money and awareness for charitable causes.


We asked Loyal to take a few moments to tell us about his adventure and philosophy. Here's what he had to say:

You're a vegetarian adventurer.  Does being a vegetarian impact your performance in the outdoors in any way?

It does. First, one of the misconceptions about being a vegetarian adventurer is that your food options are limited. I find the opposite to be true. I'm eating a wider variety of food now than ever before. When I'm gearing up for an adventure, I have lots of food choices. It's also important to point out that I'm no small guy. Sometimes vegetarians and vegetarian explorers are thought of as tiny, wiry types. But some of us are built like football players. I need flavorful, hearty meals that are also vegetarian. I'll sometimes burn upwards to 5000-7000 calories per day.

In terms of philosophy, it makes sense to me to be kind to the environment and animals as a vegetarian while having a great thirst for adventure. It all fits perfectly together.


What are some of your favorite veggie meals and snacks for the trail?

I'm a huge fan of Primal Spirits vegetarian jerky. They're made with soy and seitan, with lots of great flavors. I'm also big on trail mix, energy bars, anything high on protein and light in weight.


Do you have a favorite vegetarian meal from Packit Gourmet?

One of my favorite memories from the Appalachian Trail last year was making Packit Gourmet's Pasta Puttanesca and having around 10 people ask me about that "awesome smelling food." And the great thing about Packit Gourmet food (besides the taste) is how simple it is to cook. Many meals come with salt and pepper and hand wipes. It's practically fine dining in the woods.


If you could add one meal item to our menu - what would it be?

Vegetarian Gumbo, TVP Mac and Cheese, oh and Pad Thai. I cheated, that's three. I'm hungry just thinking about it.

You engage in travelanthropy. Can you explain exactly what that is? Basically it's travel + philanthropy. It's stepping outside your comfort zone, finding adventure, and helping important causes along the way. Kayaking, biking, hiking, mountaineering, spelunking, running, road rally racing, it's literally anything one can imagine. Sometimes you'll physically help charities along the way, building homes or playgrounds, volunteering at churches or hospitals. Other times, you'll raise money and awareness throughout your journey via pledges and donations. What advice do you have for others wishing to get started or engage in travelanthropy? To steal a famous ad slogan, "Just Do It." I know it sounds simple but in reality, it kinda is. I recently taught a clinic at REI on Travelanthropy and the most important thing I stressed is that travelanthropy doesn't have to take you to Africa or the Arctic Circle.

You can have life changing incredible adventures that benefit charities in your own backyard. Sure it's great if you can venture halfway around the world but it's not a requirement. Some people have families and jobs and other things that limit long distance travelanthropy. There is a time commitment that needs to be considered. But that shouldn't stop you from taking a weekend to run a 5k or half marathon for charity, or mountaineering or hiking out West. Remember the first step is always the hardest.


You were recently named PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian Next Door for 2010. Has this helped you spread your travelanthropic message?

It definitely has. Anytime you're given a national award, the media comes running which helps spread awareness. And I do feel that there is a definite connection between being compassionate to animals and being compassionate to your fellow man. It's all part of the same process, showing humanity. I've been lucky in that being awarded People Magazine's and Major Leauge Baseball's All-Star Among Us honor last year, in addition to PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian this year has really elevated my ability to get people interested in volunteerism and travelanthropy. And any time someone thinks of you as being sexy is a good thing.


Hiking the Camino de Santiago and Long-Distance Biking sounds like an amazing adventure combination! What made you choose this adventure to represent your efforts for Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast?

I always try to keep things fresh and exciting. In 2008, it was racing the Plymouth-Banjul road rally across Europe and Africa for charity. In 2009, hiking along the Appalachian Trail. This year, I wanted to push my comfort zone and personal limits even further. Though I've traveled throughout France and Spain, I've never hiked the Camino before. I imagine hiking in a foreign country will provide all types of new challenges and rewards. As for biking, I'm not ashamed to say I'm a long-distance biking rookie. But that's what makes travelanthropy so exciting. Sometimes you'll do things you've never done before while raising money and awareness for charity. Everyone wins.


How does the Camino de Santiago compare to some of the adventures you've tackled in the past?

After spending so much time on the Appalachian Trail dealing with bears, bad weather, rugged terrain, and a nonstop supply of mice, some could look at the Camino as a vacation. But it's nothing of the sort. A 500 mile hike across two European countries, alone and unable to call home (overseas calls are expensive, a lesson learned in Africa), in addition to a 500 mile bike ride immediately after is pretty extreme. In many ways, this summer will be my toughest travelanthropic adventure yet. But I'm excited to raise money and awareness for Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast as we approach the five year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. I'm thankful to have the support of friends and family, along with great companies like Packit Gourmet.




More Info About Loyal

Loyal was recently named PeTA's (People for the Etical Treatment of Animals) 2010's Sexiest Vegetarian Next Door! Loyal has been a vegetarian for 10 years and credits his meat-free diet with providing the energy that he needs to maintain his very active lifestyle. He enjoys extreme adventuring, "travelanthropy," volunteering, and attending PETA rallies, and he has even hiked the Appalachian Trail. To fuel the long trek, Loyal snacked on soy jerky and became the unofficial ambassador of vegetarian hiking!

As a 2007 national media spokesperson for Thrivent Builds With Habitat for Humanity, Loyal traveled across the United States, encouraging people at every stop to get involved and make a difference in their communities and in the world beyond. Loyal continues to spread his message through his travelanthropic efforts to raise funds and awareness for Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.