[pct-l] My plans,in a nutshell

[Paul Robison]

it's a simple matter of calories,


with a 20 lb pack on,  walking a mil on level ground burns 125 calories.  lets 
just assume you're not climbing hills yet.

so you burn 2,000 a day;  and walk 20 miles with a 20 lb pack,  that's 4500 
calories right there, assuming no hills and only 20 miles a day ...

but you're starting in may 14'th, so lets say 25 miles a day,  and lets add in 
some hills, say 5 miles of 6% grade, and before you know it,  even with very few 
hills you're up to burning 6,000 calories in a day.

... i dont know about your specific food,  what do you use?  how much protein a 
day do you have?  my food pack is typically 4500 calories, and 85 grams of 
protein a day,  wit ha balanced diet, carbs, fats, sugars etc; i have  a hard 
time getting over 120 calories an ounce.  add in packaging and i'm down to 112 
cal / ounce.   so for 6,000 calories a day; you're talking about 53.5 ounces of 
food a day.  and this is a meager allotment,  eating just what you burn;  and 
not eating extra for sleep  (when you body heals and muscles build).
that's essentially 3lb 5 ounces of food a day minimum;  so looking at a ten day 
stretch, i can see 30 lbs being a light load.

problem in the later stages is, you've already gone through your fat reserves.   
it's easy to go from mexico to warner springs on 2,000 calories a day; i did it 
and barely felt hungry.  but by then your metabolism and speeding up, and you 
fat reserves are dwindling.  By big bear, CA,  you're going to be NEEDING to eat 
to provide your body with energy.   and your muscles will be wanting to build 
... so you actually need to eat more than you  burn.

eating just enough to keep from body starvation is a bad idea in the long run.


anyway my rambling thoughts...
... what charity are you raising money for?  how did that idea come to light?   
i've always had this idea of doing a hike to raise money for diabetics who loose 
their feet,   for foot prostethics,  so we can get people back walking and back 
onto the trails ... but i'd want 4 or 5 thru hikes under my belt before i had 
the audacity to ask an organization to sponsor me and raise money on my behalf.  
raising money on your first thru hike is a tough idea,  odds are low of your 
making it, statistically. 


legal to eat rattlesnake?  is that a joke?  you plan on cleaning an animal, 
building a fire, cooking it, eating it, etc.   for what purpose?  you talk about 
yoru calorie protein rich superfoods ...  snake meat isn't a great choice,  not 
for the  time you put into the whole process.  may as well just keep putting 
down miles.  bugs and leather?  if that includes mosquitos, camp next to me and 
eat the campsight clear of mozzies please.






________________________________
From: Mike Chapman <altathunder76 at gmail.com>
To: pct-L backcountry.net <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tue, January 4, 2011 1:00:49 PM
Subject: [pct-l] My plans,in a nutshell

Well ill be headed north on may 14th,I will be doing this trip
solo(maybe). I will only spend what is needed(raising money for
charity),I will hike at night if needed,I have no plans on staying at
angels houses(rain,snow and stars),but will be using trail magic and
rides(maybe). I will try to resupply myself besides a few from home.
Ive heard the storys of 30lbs. of food not being enough in spots,I
would like to know why? I have certain food and protein that is super
light and lasts way longer than I plan on needing. Im not the average
thru,I can eat the same thing for weeks and still love it longtime. I
can eat bugs and leather if needed! Water filtering is my ace in the
whole,no chem for me. Is it legal to kill and eat rattlesnake on the
trail? My mouth is watering already,snakestew baby! Would love to hear
thoughts on my plans,C-ya on the trail class of  2011,Thrubyeyou.
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