What did You Eat?

[newToThrough]

What did you pack on your CT thru-hike? I've never done a thru-hike, never more than 3 nights, so I'm not sure what you pack to eat. In my normal life, I don't eat carbs and over the past couple of days I've tried having cereal with milk and it makes me a little sick for a few hours afterword and "backed up" the next day. Next I'm going to try it without the milk to see if that's the problem? Fruit and veggies are heavy and go bad. Those prepackaged meals are gross and expensive. So do I just have to build up a tolerance for oatmeal? Your shopping list would be very appreciated.

[HeartFire]

Cook and dehydrate your own meals - the carbs and milk may be giving you trouble now, but you are not 'exercising' the way you will be on a hike. Walking 15 or more miles a day does a lot of good for that 'backed up' feeling. If milk and dairy is a problem for you- switch to a non dairy 'milk' like drink . Personally, I make all my own food - smoothies for breakfast with lots of fresh fruit and greens, lunch can be peanut butter, crackers, I some times make salads. Tuna packets work if you are not a vegetarian. Dinner is all over the place, most any meal you cook can be dehydrated.

[MuddyWaters]

In my normal life, I don't eat carbs

you will have a tough time on an extended hike without eating carbs. you need mucho calories. it is 90% of what you eat by necessity.

[bemental]

you will have a tough time on an extended hike without eating carbs. you need mucho calories. it is 90% of what you eat by necessity.

And by necessity, I believe Muddy means the inability to carry enough fats and proteins to adequately provide enough calories over the long haul.

[San Juan Ron]

No Carbs = No CT! You will be done and off the trail in less than a week. Goggle "Thru Hiking food / nutrition". There is lots of good info on the Internet. You need to look at the nutritional value of your food, calories per ounce, total calories and carbs consumed, etc.

I try to keep carbs fairly low when I am on non thru hike working out schedule. That goes out the window on a thru hike and foods that I would never eat become my staples on a thru hike (macadamian nuts, Granola bars, snickers, oatmeal, etc.).

You are probably going to burn 5k-6k calories per day. I shoot for 3k calories per day in my backpack and then load up with burgers & pizza & pancakes (I never eat this normally) when I drop into a town for resupply. Even with those gorge meals in town, I still manage to lose 1/2 pound per day.

I purchased in bulk Mtn House meals ($4/meal) several years ago and they serve me well. But, everyone is different when it comes to food and many hikers dehydrate their own food.

Ron

[bemental]

No Carbs = No CT! You will be done and off the trail in less than a week. Goggle "Thru Hiking food / nutrition". There is lots of good info on the Internet. You need to look at the nutritional value of your food, calories per ounce, total calories and carbs consumed, etc.

I try to keep carbs fairly low when I am on non thru hike working out schedule. That goes out the window on a thru hike and foods that I would never eat become my staples on a thru hike (macadamian nuts, Granola bars, snickers, oatmeal, etc.).

You are probably going to burn 5k-6k calories per day. I shoot for 3k calories per day in my backpack and then load up with burgers & pizza & pancakes (I never eat this normally) when I drop into a town for resupply. Even with those gorge meals in town, I still manage to lose 1/2 pound per day.

I purchased in bulk Mtn House meals ($4/meal) several years ago and they serve me well. But, everyone is different when it comes to food and many hikers dehydrate their own food.

Ron

Ron,

I'm relatively 'nutritionally savvy' and what I think it comes down to is logistics, not nutrition. Carbs are by far easier to come by, lighter in weight, and overall more accessible while on the trail. The amazing sources of protein and fats that those of us who partake in the paleo/primal lifestyles would like to bring on the trail are either extremely difficult, or monetarily infeasible to bring along.

Nutrition has more to due with nutrients, health, and growth - what we're talking about pure, unadulterated energy (calories), which is what carbohydrates, on the trail, are absolutely phenomenal for (we can debate later whether or not we as humans should be eating them long-term, or at all).

[San Juan Ron]

Ron,

I'm relatively 'nutritionally savvy' and what I think it comes down to is logistics, not nutrition. Carbs are by far easier to come by, lighter in weight, and overall more accessible while on the trail. The amazing sources of protein and fats that those of us who partake in the paleo/primal lifestyles would like to bring on the trail are either extremely difficult, or monetarily infeasible to bring along.

Nutrition has more to due with nutrients, health, and growth - what we're talking about pure, unadulterated energy (calories), which is what carbohydrates, on the trail, are absolutely phenomenal for (we can debate later whether or not we as humans should be eating them long-term, or at all).

Bemental, I agree with you! When you are trying to keep you food per day at 2-2.5 pounds per day with 3,000 total calories per day, it begins to limit some of your food choices. Ron

[garlic08]

I don't think carbs are lighter sources of energy. Fats have about twice the energy density of carbs (9 Cal/g vs 4, I think). For that reason, nuts and nut butters are good to carry. Fatty breads like tortillas and crackers (Wheat Thins for me) work well, too. Cheese packs well for days.

I agree carbs are needed. I live with a type I diabetic athlete and it's a balancing act. If cereals don't work, try instant mashed potatoes (don't have to be cooked), breads, crackers, pasta, dried fruit.

My typical resupply list is: the ingredients for muesli (rolled oats, walnuts, raisins), powdered milk when available, cashews and extra raisins, tortillas, peanut butter, cheese, crackers, instant mashed potatoes, Fig Newtons, hard-boiled eggs when available. I'm ovo-lacto vegetarian and don't carry a stove, so my list is pretty specific for my needs.

[bearcreek]

I carry a stove. These are my staples:

Ramen, pad Thai, or similar dried noodles
Instant potatoes
Tuna packages
Beef, turkey, or buffalo jerky
Mexicali Rose instant refried beans (these are fantastic)
EZ Mac
cheese
crackers
Hatch chili to sprinkle on everything above
nuts, granola bars, snickers, m&m's, Craisins trail mix
oatmeal
powdered eggs (the type that can be prepared with hot water without frying)
Starbucks instant coffee

With the the exception of the powdered eggs, everything can be found at grocery stores

[MuddyWaters]

My food is mostly:

candy bars
trail mix
tuna
tortillas
peanut butter
jerky
bacon , bacon jerky
beef sticks
granola/nido powder
ghee/olive oil

rice-a-roni instant dinners (precooked dehydrated rice )
minute rice and soup mixes
ramen
couscous and soup mixes
EZ mac and cheese

In food drops I can include powdered eggs and freeze dried ground beef crumbles, and cheese powder to make different dinners using couscous and minute rice. These rehydrate quick and well compared to regular uncooked pasta.

[newToThrough]

Cook and dehydrate your own meals - the carbs and milk may be giving you trouble now, but you are not 'exercising' the way you will be on a hike. Walking 15 or more miles a day does a lot of good for that 'backed up' feeling. If milk and dairy is a problem for you- switch to a non dairy 'milk' like drink . Personally, I make all my own food - smoothies for breakfast with lots of fresh fruit and greens, lunch can be peanut butter, crackers, I some times make salads. Tuna packets work if you are not a vegetarian. Dinner is all over the place, most any meal you cook can be dehydrated.

How do you cook and dehydrate meals? And what happens when those foods run out? As I stated in my post I won't have a support crew sending me resupply (but maybe I could mail to myself before I start? Is that a good idea?) But basically, I expect to have to buy as I go.

[hikeandbike5]

search the forum. nothing specific about a ct hike that other threads on this topic can't answer.

[newToThrough]

No Carbs = No CT! You will be done and off the trail in less than a week. ... I still manage to lose 1/2 pound per day.

That's good information. That's about what I'm aiming to lose, meaning that if I lose 15-20lbs I think I'll be just fine and really that's one of my goals. But obviously I want to have the calories to get through the days. I guess I'm trying to (a) carry more protein and fat and (b) get some veggies in there. Maybe I'll post a question about foraging!

[newToThrough]

Except that resupply and foraging options on the CT are unique to the CT. Also, different wildlife is attracted to different food, so that might change what people carry.

[newToThrough]

search the forum. nothing specific about a ct hike that other threads on this topic can't answer.

No Carbs = No CT! You will be done and off the trail in less than a week. ... I still manage to lose 1/2 pound per day.

That's good information. That's about what I'm aiming to lose, meaning that if I lose 15-20lbs I think I'll be just fine and really that's one of my goals. But obviously I want to have the calories to get through the days. I guess I'm trying to (a) carry more protein and fat and (b) get some veggies in there. Maybe I'll post a question about foraging!

[newToThrough]

My food is mostly:

candy bars
trail mix
tuna
peanut butter
jerky
bacon , bacon jerky
beef sticks
ghee/olive oil

How do you carry this? In a bear canister? I'd be a little worried having bacon and peanut butter in my pack, especially if my pack sleeps next to me. Or am I worrying for nothing? I don't know if there are bears on the CT, but ... mountain lions, maybe? Even raccoons would ruin a good night's sleep pretty easily, no?

[MuddyWaters]

dont need bear cannister on the CT. Just carry in a foodbag in your pack. You can hang the foodbag if you like. Bears arent much of an issue on CT.

[bearcreek]

dont need bear cannister on the CT. Just carry in a foodbag in your pack. You can hang the foodbag if you like. Bears arent much of an issue on CT.

Not true. Bears have prematurely ended several hikes on the CT that I am aware of. When bears become a problem they are destroyed. Incidents have occurred throughout the trail.

The number of Black Bears living in Colorado is estimated to be about 18,000 bears. http://www.denverpost.com/outdoors/c...nts-challenges

Here are the statistics on bears that have died in recent years by means other than hunting statewide in Colorado.

YEAR	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
NON-HUNT MORTALITY	113	219	121	162	416	189	338	321	403	628	358

During this time span covered by the chart, 126 identified problem bears were killed in The Durango area alone (wildlife district. 15), and 165 were killed by cars.

It is so simple to not be a contributor to the issue. Secure your food by hanging it, using a cannister, or using a Ursack.

[HeartFire]

How do you cook and dehydrate meals? And what happens when those foods run out? As I stated in my post I won't have a support crew sending me resupply (but maybe I could mail to myself before I start? Is that a good idea?) But basically, I expect to have to buy as I go.

Post office will hold a package for 30 days before sending it back, You could ship the food ahead of time to hostels - if you are going Denver - Durango, you would only need to worry about Silverton most likely (I don't know how fast you will hike). to make your own - buy a dehydrator, cook any meal you want and put it in (well, within reason) The book Backpacker Gourmet by Linda Frederick Yaffee has a lot of very good info on this. Some really good high protein meals consist of tuna and beans - you can blenderize a can of tuna and a can of beans, (white beans etc) season it to taste and dehydrate. I make all my meals vegan when I hike, - you can google info on it.

[newToThrough]

Post office will hold a package for 30 days before sending it back, You could ship the food ahead of time to hostels - if you are going Denver - Durango, you would only need to worry about Silverton most likely (I don't know how fast you will hike). to make your own - buy a dehydrator, cook any meal you want and put it in (well, within reason) The book Backpacker Gourmet by Linda Frederick Yaffee has a lot of very good info on this. Some really good high protein meals consist of tuna and beans - you can blenderize a can of tuna and a can of beans, (white beans etc) season it to taste and dehydrate. I make all my meals vegan when I hike, - you can google info on it.

I'll look into that, thanks!