[pct-l] All about food

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

I really question the premise that non-cooked foods contain more water.

I believe the individual I knew who did not cook on the trail ate a lot of
nuts, powdered power meal types of foods, powdered electrolytes, etc. He
also went very light (Teva sandals, no shelter - had a water proof bag,
little clothing). He was easily doing 25-30 mile days after the Sierras.
Still, I don't know how he managed to get the calories he needed. But, he
did.

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

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Saenz" <msaenz@mve-architects.com>
To: "Brian McLaughlin" <bmclaughlin@bigplanet.com>; "Linda Cooper"
<LCooper@WHF-Law.com>
Cc: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 11:01 AM
Subject: RE: [pct-l] All about food


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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