Beachy and backpacking?

[Pancho,n,Lefty]

Looking for ideas...

I'm solidly in phase 2 now. I'm planning a 2 week, 110 mile backpack next month and starting to go through the food. There's a real limit on how much I can carry re food and fuel. So, fresh veggies aren't coming along, I also won't have the fuel needed to cook whole grains.

Most of the commercial dehydrated or freeze dried meals are heavy on instant mashed potatoes and instant rice. I've found several that include dehydrated corn along with other dehydrated veggies. But they still aren't what I would consider "Beachy". I know quinoa is quick cooking, but eating quinoa for 2 meals a day for 14 days seems a bit much... Lunch won't be as difficult because I've figured out a way to keep Wasa crisps from going completely to crumbs.

I really don't want to derail myself. But, I've been planning this trip for over a year now.

Do I just give up on the diet and figure I'm going to be seriously exercising all of those 14 days? Has anyone else done this sort of thing before?

[robcurtross]

I tend to focus on nutrient rich, beachy foods on hikes -- the initial boredom often turns to a kind of joy as I explore the tastes and mouth feel of foods I thought I knew very well.

My current favorites on three to five day hikes -- chia seeds, oat bran, steel cut oats. Hydrate the night before and eat for breakfast hot or cold. The chia seeds hydrate in ten minutes and make Jello of the Desert -- high in nutrients, protein and fiber -- the Aztecs used them for centuries for long distance running.

Salmon in pouches.

Walnuts. Almonds. Peanut butter (without additives, like sugar -- grind your own).

Dried blueberries -- avoid the ones with sugar added.

Dehydrated vegetables and fruits -- our local camping stores have several really good versions. I dry many of my own; it's easy and avoids the preservatives. Apricots work very well.

Lentils -- hydrate as I go -- they take about half an hour without cooking. There are other legumes that work well too. Carry a spice mix that pep them up.

Be sure to get plenty of fiber -- constipation has ruined many a hiking trip -- read Livingston's account of travelling in Africa on the risk.

Avoid sugars -- they make you hungrier -- take lots of teas, including coca tea -- the coca leaves are used in the Andes for endurance with little caloric load. Hiking is a great time to jump start a Phase 2 program.

It's surprising really how little food you really need on a hike. On my last three day hike I carried about 4500 calories, less than ten pounds, and was very satisfied with this "menu". I'm assuming water is available on the trail; in dry areas I would concentrate on the chia.

An interesting article on ultralight backpacking focuses on food -- this fellow believes as I do that the hiking is the experience and food isn't too important. I particularly agree with the idea of not eating at all on the first day -- get lots of water though:

http://www.adventurealan.com/food_general.htm

Extract:

Keep it simple: My thoughts on backpacking food are not for all. I tend to take simple, inexpensive trail food that requires little or no preparation. If you are interested in a lot of hot meal ideas and delicious gourmet trail food, you may do better to check with others. But if you are still interested read on.

Take 125 to 130 calories/ounce of food - Maintain nutrition: Try to get the most calories per unit weight in your food but not at the expense of a poor diet. You want a balanced diet with protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins and other nutrients. A good target to balance calories and nutrition is 125 to 130 calories per ounce. In comparison, most backpacers don’t average above 100 cal/oz for their food.

What types of food should I take?

How much food should I take?

Take healthy, natural foods: like dried fruit, dried vegetables, nuts, whole grains, soybean jerky, vegetable oils, etc. Some ultralight hikers try to get in the 150 cal/oz range, but in my opinion their food is too high in fat and too low in other nutritional measures. I don't think this is a realistic or healthy way for most people to eat. On most of my trips even if I try to pump up the high fat foods, like peanut butter, nuts, vegetable oils, whole-fat powdered milk and chocolate, I always seem to end up around 125 to 130 calories per ounce.

Don't carry extra food: I figure I can make it at least 3 days without any food. I've had to do this before and feel comfortable with my choice. Some mainstream outdoor training courses (NOLS, Outward Bound) have two to three food-less days in their programs. This is not a recommendation for others to do the same. You'll have to make your own decision on extra food. Maybe you will bring a bit less next trip.

"Skip" one day of food: I eat a huge breakfast or lunch before I start hiking the first day and I eat a huge meal when I get out. By boosting my off trail calories on the first and last day I eliminate carrying a whole day's worth of food in my pack. So for a weekend trip (three days and two nights) I might carry 3.4 pounds or less of food.
I am mostly veggie at this point (but do not wish to pitch my choice to others). Some backpackers may choose to take meat jerky that will keep virtually forever and/or hard, dry salami. The protein in these meats will complement grain proteins (grape nuts, crackers, grains in energy bars, etc.). Many of these meats are also high in fat, increasing your calories per ounce.

Have fun. Bob

[Pancho,n,Lefty]

Wow. Thank you!

I have found nothing added peanut butter in little squeeze pouches. (the brand is Justin's Organic) I know that sharp cheddar cheese travels really well, and dried hummus mix and dried refried beans are easy to find. That's what I'm basing lunches on.

I decided to head out for a 4-day, 40 mile hike this weekend to try things out, and I'm printing out your post so I can shop tomorrow when I'm in town. It never occured to me that lentils wouldn't need cooking! I've added dried milk and water to muesli the night before to have cold cereal for breakfast -- I don't know why it didn't occur to me that I could do the same thing with just oats. I've never done anything with chia before... sounds interesting.

I also found a dehydrated bean salad that does have corn in it, but might work for a veggie side dish if I can rehydrate it cold. I'm going to give it a try.

I don't think I've ever seen salmon in pouches. Tuna, in lots of different flavors, but not salmon. I'll have to look. Smoked salmon is easy to get around here and would probably pack just fine.

Thank you again! You gave me alot to work with.

[robcurtross]

I'm glad my post was helpful.

I tend to pick heart healthy foods and salmon is a real favorite -- primarily Alaskan. The best source for me in this area is Vital Choice -- www.vitalchoice.com/ . They have salmon in pouches -- I prefer them for hiking over cans -- the pouches fit in nooks and crannies full and empty and can be re-used for a variety of purposes.

We'll be spending five days is Seattle on our first visit in a couple of weeks -- I'm looking forward to exploring other sources of salmon by mail order, although Vital Choice is tough to beat in my experience.

Best, Bob

[Pancho,n,Lefty]

The backpack went great. I was able to keep the starting weight, including water, right at 50 lbs, and I was able to eat really well.

The lentils worked out nicely. I added water to them when I stopped for lunch and they just were a nice consistency after I brought them to a boil at dinner time and let them sit for a few minutes.

I found pouched salmon along with the tuna and was able to come up with some tasty combinations. Lets face it, after carrying a pack for 14 miles a day (on average), just about anything resembling food tastes good.

The nuts, peanut butter, and sharp cheddar all traveled just fine. Along with Wasa rye crisps for some carbs at lunch time.

The dehydrated bean salad worked like a dream. It has corn, and some sugar in it, but I found that to be a reasonable trade off to have beans, green beans, bell peppers, and onions long after the fresh veggies I did stuff into my pack were gone. Next year, I'll have a stock pile of my own dehydrated veggies to pull from.

I have to admit, I did not like the chia. It's a texture thing.

What I did like, alot, was rolled oats soaked overnight with dehydrated milk and water. Very tasty and substantial.

I came out about even on the food. I got to the trailhead with a pouch of lentils and some cliff bar things left.

I did end up allowing myself one regular sized candy bar, or cliff bar, or gu packet a day in case I needed the extra sugar boost. I needed those a few times when I couldn't warm up at night, and when I had to put in a few high mileage days back to back.