Things That Matter

The amount of food to be carried on an expedition is determined by the length of stay in the wild plus extra rations in case of emergencies. The type and amount of food to be used and brought can be determined by the following guidelines.

Meals should be able to provide and replenish the energy requirements of the climb. This means packing a lot of carbohydrate and protein rich food.

Meals for the trail should be nutritious but also compact and light.
Multi day ascents require meals that will not spoil easily. Food can be preserved through drying, pickling and salting. Food treated with spices and vinegar usually lasts for days.

Trails meals should be easy to prepare and require little or no cooking at all. Time and fuel constraint should be considered.
It is easier plan and prepares meals for smaller groups. Large group requires large and heavy utensils.

Trails meals should be supplemented with snacks or trail foods such as crackers, nuts, candies or chocolates. Your body’s energy reserve must continually be replenished.

Trail food should:

(1.) not induce thirst, since this would induce the individual to consume more water and

(2) it must satisfy your body’s energy requirements. Sweat, in general, meets these criteria but may require some catabolic conversion before your body could use it as fuel.

Trail meals need not be limited to pre-packed food or canned goods. The creative outdoorsman can come up with hundred different ways of preparing nutritious and delicious meals in the countryside.

Keep in mind, however, that the wise backpacker will design menus that will use light ingredients. Canned tomato sauce may be replaced by powedered tomato past. Soup mixes are lighter than their canned version. By using light ingredient, you will be able to lessen your climbing load.