[pct-l] 3 days food?

[ccleveland at gmail.com (Clinton Cleveland)]

Hi Kraig,
 I'm guessing that you haven't done this much before, but forgive me if I 
misread and this is old hat to you. I first recommend you check out 
something like "Walking Softly in the Wilderness"<pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
by John Hart or some similar general book on backpacking (your local library 
should have a copy). There, you'll find excellent rocommendations on what 
types and quantities of food to take as well as other essential 
considerations for planning a trip. You don't have to get too elaborate, but 
preparation will make all the difference between a gruelling ordeal and a 
spiritual journey.
 That said, I'd recommend at least getting an Esbit stove, and an aluminum 
pot to boil water in. The Esbit is a little $10 solid-fuel stove which will 
let you boil water,
and greatly increase your food options.
 As far as quantity goes, just plan for a little more than you'd normally 
eat in a day
and then take one extra day's food just in case. The nice thing about going 
for three to four days is that you can take more or less 'normal' foods: 
fresh fruits and vegetables, single serving cheese packets, salami - all 
stuff you can get at the grocery store, but which may be too heavy or 
perishable for longer trips. Add to that granola, dried fruits, jerky, 
protein bars, instant oatmeal, instant soups (if you decide to take a 
stove), and you can plan almost as if you were at home.
 But really, the best thing to do is spend a few hours with a good book on 
the subject and make sure you've got all the basics covered. The romance of 
'just taking off' can quickly fade if you get cold, wet, dehydrated or lost.
 Hope this helps and have a great trip,
Clint
   2005/8/31, Kraig Mottar <kraig.mottar@verizon.net>: 
> 
> I'm considering taking a hike. Its for the joy of hiking as well as a 
> spiritual journey. I don't expect everyone to understand the spiritual 
> journey part. But, if you do, you do.
> 
> As a spiritual journey, it will be a solitary journey.
> 
> Here is my question, about food. How much food is neccessary for 3 days? I 
> guess I won't be able to cook it if I go anytime soon, as I see, fires are 
> currently illegal outside of "campgrounds".
> 
> What I want to do is, leave, with a backpack with 3 days worth of food, 
> and return 3 days later. Maybe I should make it 4 days, 4 days would be 
> easier to calculate than 3.
> 
> Will probably leave out of Big Bear.
> 
> What are your thought or advice?
> 
> Kraig
> 
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-- 
Clinton Cleveland 
1462 San Bruno Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94110