[pct-l] Vegan Thru Hike?

[Jackie McDonnell]

Devon -

Well, I'm a meat-eating thru-hiker, and while I have done 2600 miles at a
time several times, 4000 miles one time, I've also done 500 miles on one
occasion.  I can tell you from experience that a 500-mile chunk is
completely different from a 5-month, 2600 mile thru-hike.  And a 2600-mile
hike is completely different from a 4000-mile hike.  One is not better than
the other; they are simply different.

500 miles does not require as much physical endurance as 2600 miles does.
 You have not hiked 2600 miles, so do not assume that ANYTHING which worked
for your 500 mile hikes would also work day after day after day for a 2600
mile hike.  This applies not only to food, but to gear, clothing, etc.

Most hikers I've met who were vegetarians prior to a PCT, CDT, or AT thru
hike ended up eating meat eventually.  Whether they wanted to eat meat or
not, I do not know.  So Daniel:  I did not assume they wanted to eat meat.
 All I know is what I've observed.

So Devon, I would like to suggest that when someone asks a question which
is obviously about a thru-hike, that we kindly respect the responses from
actual thru-hikers.  Obviously vegetarians and vegans are passionate about
their beliefs.  I have about as much chance of convincing the 500-mile
vegetarian hikers that they probably will eventually eat meat as Nancy
Pelosi does of convincing Rush Limbaugh to advocate for same-sex marriage.
 So rather than using (or abusing) this forum as a place to discount the
observations of experienced thru-hikers, lets use it to share real and
useful information about the PCT.

Live long and prosper.

Yogi
www.pcthandbook.com

On Wed, Jan 9, 2013 at 2:23 PM, Devon Taig <devon.taig at gmail.com> wrote:

> Well, I'm a vegetarian hiker, and while I haven't done 2600 miles at a time
> (yet), I have done 500 on two separate occasions.  Sadly I didn't lose a
> pound either time, and I'm confident that my diet would carry me 2600 miles
> if only I had the time for it.  Now being a vegetarian is quite
> different nutritionally from being a vegan, but truly protein and fat
> requirements are easily met with soy, dehydrated beans, and plenty of nuts.
> I do occasionally throw in some cheese (off limit to vegans of course). I
> pretty much pick a variety of REI vegetarian dehydrated veggie meals
> (there's at least 10 options that I know of off the shelf) + Ramen and some
> potato flakes and call it good for dinner.  Plenty of calories there for
> me. For lunch, vegetarian jerquee (http://www.soybean.com/faq/snack.html)
> is a favorite, plus peanut butter, nutella, dried fruit, bagels and candy
> bars (probably why I don't lose weight, huh?).  If you have been a vegan
> for some time, don't fear the PCT...you won't find many near-trail vegan
> friendly restaurants, but General Delivery at the post office will be your
> friend. Hey, if the greatest endurance athlete ever (in my opinion) can do
> well vegan, so can you:
> http://www.vegetariantimes.com/article/one-on-one-with-scott-jurek/
> <http://www.vegetariantimes.com/article/one-on-one-with-scott-jurek/>
>
> River
>
>
>
> On Wed, Jan 9, 2013 at 12:16 PM, Becky Cohen <rrcohen1 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Hi All,
> >
> > I am hiking the PCT this spring and am hoping to stay vegan during my
> hike.
> > I've found the discussion about dehydrating your own foods to be helpful,
> > but I'm wondering if there are other vegan thru hikers out there who have
> > some helpful tips? Also- any tips about resupply points that are vegan
> > friendly or not would be really helpful in my planning of where I send my
> > resupply boxes.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Becky
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