Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Food suggestions for 4 day backpacking..???

Hi,

Myself and 3 others are going backpacking for 4 days in Mid-Sept. Last year all we did was eat top Ramien and Cliff bars... YUCK..!!! Maybe some of you more experienced packers can fill me in on a more substantial food list for our time..? We are not hiking that far, so we could carry a little extra weight..But it must fit in 3 - 4 bear canisters..OK?

Thanks,

tidbit

My Standard is usually, 1-2 Quaker instant oatmeals for breakfast, Tuna (Hickory Smoked, Zesty Lemon Pepper or Sweat and Spicy) in a tortilla for lunch, and mountain house for dinner. Never been dissapointed.

Snacks along the way I usually bring beef jerky, trail mix, dehydrated fruit, ritz or wheat thin crackers.

I usually end up about 1.5-2lbs a day per food according to this.

Steak.

Oatmeal and coffee for breakfast, (coffee bags work but ground/filters is better - but no instant crap).
Peanut butter on pita bead, crackers or totillas, jerky, nuts and dried fruit for lunch.
Mountainhouse, chocolate and a nice cup of wine (decanter into plastic or s/steel bottle) for dinner.
In my view some half decent food makes trips more enjoyable.
If you are not hiking very far then take more fresh and elaborate food - you only have to carry it one way!

I am SOOO signing up for Kevin's next trip! mmmmmm, beef!

Gosh, don't get me started on the food thing! With that long of a trip, you can prepare some nice stuff at home and take it with you in doubled ziplocs. Should keep just fine. The trick is putting in the time and effort in prep prior to leaving, which can sometimes be tough.

I usually grill/roast some sort of meat, cut it into bite-size pieces, then use the drippings along with wine or broth to make a sauce (mix in whatever your heart desires: onions, shallots, garlic, other veggies, capers), then I freeze the food in its bags until I leave. I then take along pasta to make in my pot, then dump in the meat+sauce to warm it through.

If you're not averse to carrying the weight of hydrated food, this is a fun and easy way to transport good eats. Gets me thinking about what I might take this weekend... hmmm...

-L

PS: Consider your caloric input/output as well when planning. This will help your body's recovery from the day's work as well as prep it for the following day's adventures!