[pct-l] Wise dehydrated food and other bulk disaster foods

[Timothy Nye]

Let me add my two cents.

Based on my experience dehydrated food only makes sense if you're moving slow and/or where water is plentiful. If water is plentiful, as in the Sierra, and you have a confined space ( bear canister) then by all means you can minimize your burden by minimizing the water weight and use the available surface water.  

But if it's hot when you're hiking through the desert you're  going to be carrying a lot of water; in that case it doesn't matter if the water is in the food you eat or not when you're carrying it and in fact that kind of 'real' food is more palatable. Since you'll need the same amount of water regardless and the ultimate water weight you'll be carrying will be the same.

I tend to carry an extra liter beyond what I figure I'll need in the desert. Some of my projected water will be in fresh foods. Of course, if you are going to be on trail more than three days or so before resupply then more dehydrated food can be factored in and spoilage would necessitate this in any event.

Do yourself a favor. Fresh oranges, avocados, packaged lunch meat...it's all fair game.

Also, Toga is dead on with the observation about coloring up in town and exertion on the trail dulling the appetite.

Sent from my iPad

On Mar 3, 2013, at 5:09 PM, Edward Anderson <mendoridered at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Hi TexasPoo,
> 
> Welcome to this list and to the community.
> 
> 5000 to 6000 calories per day ! ! !   That's a lot. How many miles per day do you plan on hiking?  Scot Williamson averaged over 40 - and set a record.  I wonder if he consumed that many. I seriously doubt that you will need nearly that many on the trail. You can always "Pig Out" when you are in the towns - but that will usually be more costly.
> 
> 
> I purchased all of my food for the PCT from either Costco, from super markets, from Walmart, and from dollar stores. I bought all of it prior to starting, and had no spoilage. I resupplied myself, usually by driving ahead and caching my food and also the processed horse feed for my horse. Of course, as a hiker, you would send yours.
> 
> 
> For good calories concentrate on nuts and energy bars. You will need slow burning fat calories.  My favorite bar is the is the Nature Valley Sweet & Salty Nut. At 170 calories in 1.2 ounces, it has 141/ounce. 
> 
> That's better than most bars. Since you can buy them in bulk (48/) at Costco they are cheap. Costco offers several other bars. For nuts, they have walnuts in a 3 pound bag.  Also, they offer pre-packaged  peanuts, cashews, and almonds in 2 ounce bags in bulk. And cheeses - you can get Baby Bell's there, but in just one high-calorie flavor. Other flavors are found at the supermarkets. I did not especially like the jerkey sold at Costco - found much better jerky, dried, smoked and peppered beef steak at a 99 cent store - and in 1 ounce servings.
> 
> 
> At Walmart you can buy Nido powdered whole milk and many other foods.From supermarkets, for dinners, I bought Knorr pasta sides and fiesta rice sides (I always added cheese and Nido) - all available in several flavors. And Idahoan flavored mashed potatoes - several flavors. I usually also made gravy.   A high calorie drink is Swiss Miss Hot chocolate Sensation - 150 calories per cup I mixed two, two cup drinks per day, one with breakfast and one with dinner added lots of the Nido to add up to over 350 calories twice each day. For breakfasts I would have two or three instant oatmeals with lots of walnuts, NIdo, and dried fruit added.
> 
>> From the kinds of foods that I have described above you should be able to pack 3000 to 4000 calories per day, weighing around two and one-half pounds per day. And the cost will be reasonable.
> 
> 
> Have a great hike - and be SURE to plan on attending the annual Kickoff Party held at Lake Morino about 20 hiking miles north of the border.
> 
> MendoRider-Hiker
> 
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: Patrick Seibt <texaspoo666 at gmail.com>
> To: "pct-l at backcountry.net" <pct-l at backcountry.net> 
> Sent: Sunday, March 3, 2013 11:35 AM
> Subject: [pct-l] Wise dehydrated food and other bulk disaster foods
> 
> Hey there,
> 
> I am starting to put together my food for my mail drops and was wondering
> if the best way to purchase dehydrated foods was in bulk off Amazon and
> other discount companies. I am on kind of a tight budget and need calories.
> Hs anyone had success using companies like this and does anyone have any
> suggestions for high calorie CHEAP backpacking foods. I am starting in
> Campo and will start buying stuff for my first couple of maildrops this
> week so I can get them sent off. I am leaving April 15 and need some input
> before the end of the week so I will have time to order the food and get it
> packaged and sent before I leave. I wanna leave yesterday but gotta have
> that food. Getting stoked for my thru hike and want to make sure I have
> enough calories. I weigh about 162 so I am figuring I will need between
> 5000 and 6000 calls a day.
> Thanks and see you out there!
> 
> Patrick aka TexasPoo
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