[at-l] Food in maildrops vs food along the trail

[EHamilton]

I sort of have special dietary needs. I have to keep wheat to a minimum... I don't have celiac disease, but my gut is sensitive to wheat and I would just as soon not have to make 3-4 hurry-up cat-hole stops per morning, so I'm not going to be able to rely on Ramen and angel-hair spaghetti as staples. I'm dehydrating beans and rice (they rehydrate in a flash.) I also do much better on more protein and fat and less carbohydrate (yes I know beans and rice are carbs.) My blood sugar is kind of high-normal, not high enough to be "borderline" but high enough to have my doctor and me scratching our heads, although quite probably hiking all day every day will take care of that.


Anyway, I need quick-cook staples that aren't wheat; I need meat ("hamburger rocks"); and I want vegetables. All this boils (joke) down to dehydrating ahead of time. I doubt I'll get sick of it.... I'm drying what I usually eat anyway. I've got my "staples" that I haven't gotten sick of for over a year.

Aside from drying more vegetables, getting a headlamp (not essential -- I have 2 mini-flashlights -- but I really want one). getting the 2009 Companion, and putting everything together, I could go now on the preparations I've already made. Maybe that's why I feel like I'm in a slump.... not that much planning left? That directly contradicts what I said in my original post about feeling overwhelmed.

I didn't even think about cross-posting it to this group; thanks for doing it for me!

MacGyver




 



________________________________
From: Tenacious Tanasi <tenacious_tanasi at yahoo.com>
To: AT-L <at-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 1:45:49 PM
Subject: [at-l] Food in maildrops vs food along the trail


What are your thoughts on obtaining food along the trail versus prepping food and utilizing mail drops?

I have been debating with myself on this.  Currently I have no special dietary needs that would stipulate that I must put food in mail drops.  Worrying about a home base and hiking support system that I depend upon (let's face it folks at home have a life to lead while we're out doing this), has subtly been nudging me toward getting food along the trail.  

Money savings?  Not quite sure here.  If you purchase/plan/hydrate meals ahead of time, what good are they if when they get to you there is the realization that you really don't want it?  Then you are out the money for those foods, postage, and buying new foods along the trail anyways.

Availability of variety along the trail?  Let's hear it from some experience hikers in what is out there.  I really don't want to end up existing on year old Moon Pies.  lol

Tenacious Tanasi 
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