[pct-l] how many days food do you carry?

[Robert Bellingham]

As first time PCT hikers last year we had the same concerns. The longest stretch for us, without resupply, was 14 days from Lone Pine CA to Vermillion Valley Resort where we ate in the restaurant and bought some stuff from the store to get us to Reds Meadows and then in to Mammoth.

We did find stuff in hiker boxes on the way but we never relied on it, our strategy was to carry an extra day's food for any stretch less than 7 days and 2 days extra food for any stretch longer than that. This worked well for us and we were never concerned about being on the trail without "something" to eat. All our food was bought on route (i.e. no pre-prepared parcels from home/friends etc) and we were surprised at how many places there were to buy food; maybe not the best selection or the most nutritious but always something.
Bob
Slow & Steady 2010

On 10/01/2011, at 12:43 AM, Scott Williams wrote:

> Hi Mike,
> 5 to 6 days is usually about right, but it varies depending on the section
> you're hiking.  And you will get faster as the months progress.  Lots of
> food gets left in the hiker boxes because of this, and makes for some
> wonderful additions.  Also, I didn't know of anyone taking a zero at the end
> of each week, but it would be fun to have that much time.  I found life on
> trail so satisfying I ended up  going long stretches between zeros.  In the
> end I didn't really need to, but it just felt good not to stop.  On the
> other end of the spectrum was Freebird, really enjoying last summer's hike,
> averaging 10 miles per day, and zeroing every chance he got.  He was the
> first person on trail, in March sometime, and came into BC a few weeks after
> me.  But loving every day he walked.
> 
> As for "local fodder," I think you mean what you can buy on the zero in
> town.  Sometimes that isn't even cheese.  Maybe just corn nuts, part of my
> breakfast of champions.  Check out Yogi's book for availability of quality
> food at the different trail stops, as it really varies.
> 
> Shroomer
> 
> 
>> 
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