[pct-l] Cal/ ounce, nutritionu

[Jim Marco]

All,
Based on an average caloric intake of about 4200C/day, you quickly find that your dietary needs are NOT the same as a typical USA citizen at 2000C/day. Basically, you need about the same percentage of proteins/amino acids in your diet, or, roughly about 6-8oz of meat/fish/beans per day. Vitamins remain close to the recommended 2000C levels, since they are usually used as catalysts in the body. Minerals are increased, quite a bit, especially salt and calcium, due to the rigors of hiking. Many minerals/trace elements are also used in metabolic activities, especially mitochondrial processes used to produce energy. And a much large number of sugars/starches are needed to maintain the increased level of energy utilized. Fats are metabolized slower and are good for maintaining long term energy needs as well as to transport various fat soluble vitamins/antibodies/white blood cells throughout the body. 

I usually figure around 100-120C/oz for proteins and carbs. I usually figure about 60C/oz for fresh veggies, about 100C/oz for dehydrated veggies. Fats/oils (lipids) I usually figure around 200C/oz. I believe Frito's or Corn Curls have about 160C/oz for an example.

About 500C of high protein food, about 500C of mixed veggies, and, 500C of some fatty foods is generally enough to keep you in good health. The rest is whatever. You will just burn them as energy. 
	My thoughts only . . .
		jdm     

 
-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of DayLate07 .
Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2014 11:32 PM
To: pct-l
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Cal/ ounce, nutritionu

First decide how long you would like to go between resupplies.  Your choice is basically one of three options.  1) Resupply as often as possible to keep weight down, 2) resupply as far apart as possible to give you more trail time and less town time, or 3) pick a mileage (or number of days) at which you would ideally like to resupply like every 5 days or every 100 miles etc .

Next using Yogi's guide, pick out the towns that closely meet your desires above starting from the beginning (Campo or Washington).  Then look at each town, if it has a full grocery store then don't ship anything there.  If it has a small convenient store or nothing ship most of what you will need for the next segment of your trip.  If it is a medium sized store then ship just some meals and pick up the rest locally.

For me, I usually try to go about 6-8 days between resupply, at 2.5 pounds per day that is about 15 to 20 pounds of food - leaving town.  I usually just put the mileage between towns into a spreadsheet and it works out pretty easily, just work the data from town to town.  Once in a while you will find you have to go a day or two longer (Sierra's) or shorter (So Cal).  On the PCT you shouldn't need more than 8- 10 resupplies max unless you have some strict dietary requirements, and you could do it with only a
couple if you aren't too picky about what you eat.   For me, I like a wide
variety of food and things I can't find in many small towns so I had about
10 packages for the PCT.  I could have done it with only a few packages if needed but I like to eat better than the average thru hiker.

Note: the average thru hiker is about 23 years old and eats a lot of prepackaged junk (Just my observation).

 Not to say I don't eat prepackaged junk occasionally too, just not as much as many thru hikers.  I can remember eating boxed  mac and cheese and thinking how good it is but I suspect that is mostly hiker hunger kicking in.  Do what works for you.

But if you are going to ship yourself food try to up the variety so it is a better option then the prepackaged junk you will be forced into at some resupplies.  I never shipped myself any raman, liptons, instant mashed, etc as these are ubiquitous on the trail.

Enjoy the great adventure

Day-Late
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