[pct-l] Vegan Thru-Hike

[lorna at ptera.net]

I hiked the Colorado Trail last summer.  I’m pretty much vegan.  The only reason I reverted back to simple vegetarianism is because of what Brick said about the availability of vegan foods in towns.  Maybe ten years down the line?? I truly believe it would be EASY to remain vegetarian, though, despite what he says about long-distance hiking, if meat truly grosses you out.  I mean, would you eat worms just because you were extremely hungry when lentil curry was available?? (I’ve been vegetarian for 42 years and vegan for 2, after reading the China Study.)

About dogs—last year a young man had a fairly young dog with him on the CT.  He had to keep it tied to a tree, and it was shaking much of the time. (The next morning this man saw a bear near camp.)  What I thought was so strange was that after about 100 miles, the dog sat down on the trail and refused to budge.  The guy had to take the dog home!  


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.
>

For me, things start changing physically around the 700-1000 mile point
where the "Hiker Hunger" sets in. Food becomes one of the most important
things to my whole being and happiness.

The simple truth is that the easily available high caloric density foods
available in trail towns are mostly animal based. You wander into a small
logging town and the local cafe serves
burgers/pizza/steaks/eggs/milkshakes/icecream and the only vegan
alternative might be french fries or salad. The same for buying food in the
small stores. Cheese, Salami, Jerky are all high caloric density and easily
available.

I'm sure that it is possible to be vegan on the trail, but is would be very
difficult.