[pct-l] All about food

[msaenz at mve-architects.com (Mike Saenz)]

Brian,

You raise a very interesting point: "...non-cooked foods tend to contain more water..."
Is there any info available that compares water content between different foodstuffs?

I, for one, always take a stove. And it's not an alcohol ultra-light "you crazy thru hikers" (I'm beginning to become quite fond of that phrase ;)) carry. Mine's a multi-fuel.

To me, there is a certain level of comfort that preparing and consuming a hot cooked meal provides. I also get a kick out of successfully cooking recipes that I'd make at home while on the trail. I'm gonna try baking bread next...

My motto: "If you're goal is just to survive, you're missing the whole point."

M i c h a e l   S a e n z
McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners, Inc.
A r c h i t e c t u r e    P l a n n i n g    I n t e r i o r s
w  w  w  .  m  v  e  -  a  r  c  h  i  t  e  c  t  s  .  c  o  m

 -----Original Message-----
From: 	Brian McLaughlin [mailto:bmclaughlin@bigplanet.com] 
Sent:	Tuesday, February 10, 2004 9:43 AM
To:	Linda Cooper
Cc:	pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject:	Re: [pct-l] All about food

Linda Cooper wrote:
> 
> He is currently of the mindset to hike the trail without sending 
> himself food packages.  Also considering leaving the stove behind. 

I would not advise leaving the stove behind. If the idea is to cook
on campfires instead, he should understand that open fires are banned
in many places along the PCT. Also, gathering fuel and tending a fire
require extra effort and time each and every day.

If the idea is to limit himself to non-cooked foods exclusively, then
he should understand that he's condemning himself to a more monotonous
diet than almost anyone could stand for 4-5 months, especially if he
resupplies entirely from what he can buy near the PCT or scrounge from
hiker boxes. Also, non-cooked foods tend to contain more water, which
more than negates any weight savings from leaving the stove behind. He'd
almost certainly end up carrying more weight, total, that way.

If he is not convinced by these arguments, then at the very least I'd
suggest he put a stove into his bounce box, so he can change his mind
along the way.

He will, of course, hike his own hike.
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