[pct-l] food on the PCT

[Donna "L-Rod" Saufley]

Janet,

Yes, Scott does eat "superfood", but I wouldn't say his diet is for everyone.  Scott focuses on high quality organic foods.  Like others, he goes cookless. I know he eats refried beans (dehydrated and then reconstituted), spirulina, salt, and raw honey comb.  He's been sponsored by ProBar in the past (not sure of current status), and has eaten them as well, or some other dense high calorie bar -- even homemade ones.   Andy Skurka, another high mileage champion, eats bars exclusively for his trail diet.  

Exclusively adhering to either of these diets really does not appeal to me, and I would be very unhappy following either method for any length of time.  You have to figure out what does appeal to you and works for your tastes (which can change while your on the trail).  For me, it's an ongoing experimentation, as trail foods I liked one year I can't gag down the next. Ned Tibbets has recommended eating your proposed trail diet BEFORE you start your journey to allow your system to adapt to a new way of eating, and to ensure that you like it.  Speaking from personal experience, the trail is no place to discover that you hate your food.  

I have also observed that it takes a while for the hiker appetite to kick in -- from weeks to a month or more.  I tend to carry way too much food in the beginning of my section hikes with a mindset of being prepared, only to dump it in hiker boxes or send it home.  This is all part of the gaining experience, and I'm still (and will always be) learning! 

L-Rod 

-----Original Message-----
>From: jim ake <jake2003at at sbcglobal.net>
>Sent: Jun 18, 2008 7:44 AM
>To: pct-l at backcountry.net
>Subject: [pct-l] food on the PCT
>
>Hello All,
>
>I'm a newbie here who has been lurking around for a couple of weeks.  First 
>I want to say thanks for all the great info I have already picked up. Lots 
>of good stuff here!  I have also had a great time reading some of the posts 
>from the trail pirate and stinky and others and am looking forward to 
>meeting everyone when I start my hike next year. Sounds like a fun bunch!
>
>I recently received Yogi's planning book and noticed a quote by Scott that 
>he mails all his trail food to himself because he is very picky about what 
>he eats while hiking.  Since he seems to be very successful at hiking (!), I 
>thought I would ask if anyone knows what he eats.  Does he have some secret 
>superfood?
>
>Janet in Arkansas (who is now retired and loving it!!!) 
>
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