[pct-l] How much food a day do you need?

[m.karon at comcast.net (Marshall Karon)]

It is not just the pounds of food, but the quality. You need high calorie,
high protein, and high fat. Take olive oil for the fat and use at least 1
tablespoon in cooked meals, hummus, etc. After a month, I would have loved
to have carried 3 lbs per day, but that was just too much weight and bulk,
so 2 lbs had to do. Unless you are totally seasoned, you will lose weight.
Be careful at resupply stops that you don't eat too much - you will feel
bloated and take several days to get your hiking fitness back. Unless you
have done something like this a few times, you really are guessing at how
much you need. That is part of the adventure. And being able to eat a gallon
of ice cream and not worry about it is heaven.

Hopefully you will have someone sending you packages. Call them to adjust
what you need - add more, take away stuff you can't stand, etc. Supplement
at stores along the way.

Marshall Karon
Portland, OR
m.karon@comcast.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <CMountainDave@aol.com>
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 12:22 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] How much food a day do you need?


>
> In a message dated 1/11/04 7:52:16 PM, themtgoat@yahoo.com writes:
>
> << I have been working on the food needed for the PCT trip. I am one of
those
> dreaded pre-planners (sorry to those who prefer to buy food as you
go-hikers
> :-)...). I used to take about 1.25LB of food per day regardless of length
of
> trip. But a couple of my Backpacking buddies have told me that I couldn't
last
> because I would lose to much weight. >>
>
>
> I agree that 1.25 pounds is way too little. I averaged about 2 pounds a
day
> but there are so many variables such as elevation gain per section,
personal
> tastes, type of food that a firm figure is difficult to come by. I found
that in
> the Sierra, 3 lbs a day would not have been too much. I remember eating an
> entire pound of Oreo's for a mid morning snack. I weigh about the same as
you.
>   David C
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