What the Heck is a Peanut Butter Prophet? The Legend of Peebz

Peebz. Or Peebs the Prophet. Profit Peebz. All of these are nicknames for a nickname, shortenings of my trail name, the “Peanut Butter Prophet.”

In short, trail names offer a sort of freedom from the world beyond the trail. They come from funny (and/or embarrassing) stories, inside jokes, even a catchphrase. But no matter their origin, they are uniquely personal. They allow you to step outside of yourself and embrace an alter ego that’s more concerned with digging the perfect cathole than circling back on emails.

As these monikers so often do, mine popped up rather unexpectedly and organically. It’s tied to one of my favorite backpacking memories, one that serves as a beacon whenever I’m struggling to remember my “why.”

There’s two important pieces of context for my trail name’s origin story, so bear with me.

“Is this enough for five days?”

Part 1: One thing I’ve learned about myself is that I get very hangry, very fast. So for backpacking trips, I need quick and easy access to some time-tested favorites– snacks that carry a big bang for their buck. But what mighty delicacy could carry such a burden? What could, when called upon, sustain one very tired hiker for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and maybe even elevenses? And how much of it should I bring?

You know her. You love her. It’s Peanut Butter (capitalized like the proper noun she is). Individual packets seemed wasteful considering how much I typically use. Some people use powdered versions that reconstitute with a bit of water, but I like the ability to dunk my spork in for a quick bite at any given moment. Plus, that requires extra water. So on everything but an overnight trip, I bring a whole damn jar.

Part 2: Every summer, I get the immense privilege of serving as a backpacking guide for a summer camp. But it’s not just any summer camp: we dedicate our space to helping LGBTQ+ teens explore their place in the world through connection to nature. We also spend lots of time reflecting on the ways nature holds us as those who exist outside the “norm.”

We make sure every camper gets a trail name at some point over the course of the trip. After all, these are young individuals who may in the future change their legal names to reflect their most authentic selves. On their summer camp memorabilia, we want to display a name that will continue to stick with them through whatever transformations come their way. Trail names, it turns out, are perfect for this. Plus, they’re legit backpackers! They deserve one anyway.

Spending a few weeks every year watching a generation of young people from my community connect with nature will forever be why I do what I do. It helps when this is the view.

It all began, as most great things do, at mealtime.

While I do love a dehydrated backpacking meal every now and then, I like the ritual of sitting down at camp and preparing my own meal every night. As a home chef, it keeps me connected to part of my domestic life that I do miss when I’m on trail. My favorite of these combinations is ramen noodles + peanut butter + soy sauce and sriracha + whatever mix-ins I’ve got. Not a particularly groundbreaking idea, but hey. It works.

It’s my first trip with my summer camp. As I prepared PB noodles on that fateful evening, I noticed I had an audience growing. In a matter of moments I was leading a cooking class on this backcountry delicacy.

Someone asked THE question: “what else can you put peanut butter on?” Soon enough, my first sermon had begun.

Fats. Proteins. Calories. Often a little bit of sugar. This magical substance has got it all. It’s a little kiss of endurance wherever and whenever you need it. What CAN’T you put peanut butter on?

Somewhere among my ode to this stuff of life, someone remarked, “you’re like a prophet for peanut butter.”

“Yeah, the Peanut Butter Prophet!”

And thus, “Peebz” was born.

My campers putting their Peanut Butter Prophet on a pedestal. In the interest of self preservation, I cannot emphasize enough that this was entirely *their* doing. This camp is no more a cult than the next one. Although, I guess all summer camps are a little culty, aren’t they?

Hikers work hard, but Peanut Butter works harder.

Okay, I’m done waxing poetic about a ground up legume.

What I loved so much about this interaction was seeing that lightbulb moment for all my campers: you don’t have to always follow the instructions on a packet of ramen! You can feel free to zhuzh it up to your heart’s content! This packet of ramen is yours to consume, so do with it what you like.

I’ll even venture to say this life is yours to live! Do with it what you like! To see this group in particular realize that was a gift, and it makes my trail name all the more special knowing it was bestowed upon me by them.

So live your life outside the factory instructions. Just remember, it’s probably going to be better with some Peanut Butter*.

Do you need some? I have plenty.

*Unless you’re allergic. Which, in that case, my condolences.

So true, Marceline.

It was only recently brought to my attention that “Peebs” is also the nickname of Princess Bubblegum in the Cartoon Network series Adventure Time. To that I say… it is a great honor to share a name with such an icon.