[pct-l] pct-l] Bear Canisters: Good for Bear, not for Hungry Hiker?

[Jackie McDonnell]

Katy is absolutely correct.

And............although it is fun to load up on calories in town, your body
cannot use all those calories, and you end up pooping it all out.  I had a
long conversation with Brenda Braaten about this.  Brenda is the Belden
Trail Angel, and she is a Registered Dietitian, has a Doctorate in
Nutrition, did her sabbatical research on thru-hiker food.  She convinced
me that when I get to town, I should have the giant burger, go back several
hours later for the fries and milkshake because the body cannot process it
all at once.  You'll just end up carrying 5 extra pounds out of
town..........inside your stomach.

Yogi
www.yogisbooks.com


On Tue, Aug 12, 2014 at 6:55 PM, goslowgofar <goslowgofar at yahoo.com> wrote:

> So, are you saying that PCT hikers don't lose any weight until after they
> pick up the bear canisters at KM?  Hmmm.  Don't think that's accurate.  I
> know that on the AT, where bear canisters aren't used, and food resupply
> options are plentiful, hikers still lose weight.  That was definitely true
> when I hiked it in '85...
> I'd rather use a bear canister and protect the bears.  It's part of the
> experience!
> Katy
>
> Ned said:
> ________________________________
>
> A little reflection on the use of Bear Canisters (BCs) by JMT vs. PCT thru
> hikers and weight loss... I was wondering, with the requirement of BCs thru
> some of the roughest sections of the Pacific Crest Trail (basically all of
> the JMT), could it be so simple a statement as to say their food-space
> limitations are the reason why PCT thru hikers lose so much weight? The JMT
> thru hiker starts out with a BC, but they aren’t that hungry at first, so
> the BC works for them (at least for a while). The PCT thru hiker starts
> using a BC after their first 30 or so days on-trail, certainly at the point
> already where they are really hungry, then are limited with the volume of
> food they can carry and must start a long-term food depreciation phase over
> the toughest trail and snow of their trip! Is there any sense to this? BCs
> are good for the bear, but not so good for the food-starving, long-distance
> hiker!  So, I guess for the areas where BCs are required, it is best
>  to major carbo-load before going in or do these sections after several
> weeks of packing in town food reserves, otherwise you’re going to lose
> weight!  For some, this could be a good thing (to lose weight), but for the
> skinny people like me, I “bonk” pretty early without eating a ton of food
> (after being on the trail for at least a week). So, a Bear Canister can be
> a real food volume limiter and we can’t do anything about it except bring
> two canisters (which my son did when he flip-flopped the JMT a few years
> ago)... Food for thought. (Hey, just sayin’!) Ned Tibbits, Director
> Mountain Education, Inc.
> www.mountaineducation.org ned at mountaineducation.org Mission:
> "To minimize wilderness accidents, injury, and illness in order to
> maximize wilderness enjoyment, safety, and personal growth, all through
> experiential education and risk awareness training."
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