My dream for several years now is to attempt to do a thru-hike or perhaps hike the AT in sections. However, partly do to carrying excess weight for quite some time but mostly from the job I just retired from, I need a hip and 2 knee replacements. However, my orthopedic surgeon does not want to operate until I lose around 65-70 lbs. But with the pain and discomfort I experience from my bad joints, the needed exercise to lose cannot be done. Even water exercise is somewhat uncomfortable. Definitely the proverbial catch-22. So I am beginning to explore the possibility of having bariatric surgery. (And the desire to hike is not the only reason- wanting to have a looonnnggg retirement, playing with the grandkids and just feeling great are just a few of the other perks I want.) The bariatric surgery I am favoring, if it comes to pass, will be the non-reversible type. I've said all that to get to my question- has anyone here had WLS and been able to do a lot of backpacking afterwards, including a thru- or section hike? My concern is being able to take in enough nutrition on a daily basis to sustain myself while hiking. Any comments pro or con will be greatly appreciated.