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“Seeking lightweight food”

Tom Mangan’s Two-Heel Drive blog is the hub of the hiking blogisphere. I count on Tom to alert me what’s new and cool on the net.

I read Two-Heel Drive more often (88% of the time) than any other in my RSS reader. And I’m not the only one. Search for “hiking blog” on Google, Two-Heel Drive comes up #1.

When Tom said he was tempted to “to link to everything” posted by “Trailcraft Russ”, I got intrigued.

Russ is the editor of Wilderness Trailcraft. I’ve linked to it on the right hand navigation under BLOGS.

Please, just shoot me in the head. I’ve gone over the top this time. I have created an Excel spreadsheet with a whole bunch of different types of foods in the hope of finding the best lightweight food. Please don’t laugh; bear with me, this actually is interesting.

In the quest for lightening my load I finally made it to the food in my backpack. I have already created spreadsheets with the calorie intake for each meal so I know I’m not carrying too little or too much food. But one analysis remained, how can I lighten the per day weight of the food that I carry? I have read in multiple places that long-distance hikers use “1 1/2 lbs per day” as a rule of thumb. But when I weigh my food I am always over 2 lbs per day. What are they doing different than me?

I now understand the errors in my ways. Check out the table below. This table is sorted by Cal per Oz. The topmost items are the lightest foods for the number of calories they contain. If you carried only Mountain House Mac & Cheese then you would only have to carry 19oz to achieve 2500 calories (a typical daily intake). Here’s another way to look at it… If you want to carry 1 1/2 lbs per day and you need 2500 calories then you have to average 104 calories per ounce. So in the table below you need foods like Cheese Nips Crackers or Instant Oatmeal. Flour tortillas won’t get you there and neither will Tuna Creations (both are my personal favorites). You can eat these less efficient foods but you have to compensate with foods like Swiss Mix or Mac & Cheese to up your daily cal to weight average.

Seeking lightweight food

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Snowman Trek, Bhutan

Rogier Gruys is an expert on the West Coast Trail in Canada, the hike we rated #1 in the world. Rogier’s BluePeak Travel Photography pics of the WCT are still the best we’ve ever seen.

But Rogier likes the Snowman Trek even better.

Very few have ever done that long Himalayan trek (minimum 19 days) due to high cost (US$200 / day) and high risk.

The Snowman trek is the most difficult trek in Bhutan because one has to walk and camp at high altitude for nearly three weeks. As long as one has no problems with the high altitude and the weather is good, it is not a particularly difficult trek. But, if something were to happen along the way, someone would have to carry you down to the nearest house, or try to find a telephone to get a helicopter from Thimphu. Both are often several days’ walk. Initially, many people planned and wanted to go with us on the trek, but in the end they all bailed out and only two of us went.

Snowman trek description, Bhutan

snowman.jpg
BluePeak photo – high resolution version – flickr

Rogier recommends the Cicerone guidebook. It’s essential advanced reading for anyone considering trekking in Bhutan.

A Trekker's Guide (Cicerone)

Bhutan: A Trekker’s Guide (Cicerone)

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books on ultralight Backpacking

The two most popular books on Amazon.com right now are:

  • 1) The Ultralight Backpacker : The Complete Guide to Simplicity and Comfort on the Trail, Ryel Kestenbaum, 2001
  • 2) Lighten Up!: A Complete Handbook for Light and Ultralight Backpacking (Falcon Guide), Don Ladigin, 2005

    • Of the two, I prefer the Ladigin as it is more accessible to beginners, friendlier in format and … weighs only 8oz. (It’s published by Falcon, a company we often criticize on this site. Good job with this book.)

    A Complete Handbook for Light and Ultralight Backpacking

    Lighten Up!: A Complete Handbook for Light and Ultralight Backpacking (Falcon Guide)

    In Australia I was surprised to see the vast majority of hikers with heavy, traditional (out-of-date) gear. The lightweight movement clearly has not reached Down Under.

    Experienced ultralight hikers will find more of interest on-line. But the inexpensive Ladigin book would be an ideal gift for any hiker you know who could easily reduce the size of their base pack weight.

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    concerned – West Coast Trail

    Those who love the West Coast Trail are happy it MIGHT open May 1st on schedule for it’s 100 year anniversary.

    Bill Fox, manager of marine assets at Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, told Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District directors Wednesday that contractors and First Nations are rebuilding and repairing 10 bridges, three cable cars and clearing thousands of fallen trees along the West Coast Trail.

    “We might open as of May 1,” said Fox. “The West Coast Trail experience will be different for a while, probably for much of our lifetimes.”

    West Coast Trail May Open May 1 – Westcoaster.ca

    316942490_169e372563.jpg
    larger version – flickr – BluePeak

    Among those of us concerned is Bob Bannon, author of The West Coast Trail – One Step at a Time.

    If you’re looking for inspiration, this is the book for you. It’s a feature length trip report including a bear encounter and the antics of “hockey stick hikers”.

    The book reminds me of the best-seller Marley and Me — the life story of a dog named Marley which might have been written by any dog owner.

    Likewise, anyone could write a book about an intense week on the West Coast Trail. Bob and his buddy Gord were neophyte hikers, deeply uncertain about their ability to complete a physical challenge like the WCT. They had some tough times on the trail but ultimately conquered their fears … and the dozens of steep ladders.

    We heartily recommend The West Coast Trail – One Step at a Time.

    The author sells it directly on his website for C$20. Or you can pick it up in book and gear shops in Western Canada.

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    Tasmania – Cradle, Ossa, Acropolis

    Scrambling adjacent mountain peaks is one of the reasons we love the Overland Track in Tasmania.

    The three best sidetrip climbs are Cradle Mountain, Mt. Ossa and The Acropolis. We’ve posted our photos of each of those three.

    cradle-look.jpg
    more Cradle Mountain photos on flickr

    Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park – Wikipedia

    Ossa is the the highest mountain on the island, but the easiest of the three scrambles we did.
    ossa.jpg
    more Mt. Ossa photos on flickr

    Mt. Ossa – Wikipedia

    The sidetrip to climb The Acropolis adds a day to the regular Overland itinerary. Staying one extra night at Pine Hut is highly recommended.
    acropolis.jpg
    more Acropolis photos on flickr

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    Overland Track, Tasmania – trip report

    Rick McCharles

    We named Overland one of the top 10 hikes in the world for good reason.

    It’s one of the best walking adventures anywhere.

    I could not have been more excited to get started when I arrived in Hobart. I immediately purchased the best guidebook (Chapman) and a map.

    Transportation to and from the trailheads is provided by Tassielink bus. An early morning departure would get me to the trailhead and started same day.

    This is me trying to hitch a ride after being forgotten by the bus driver en route.

    hitchhiking.jpg

    Apparently I was the first passenger left behind in 7 years.

    Not an auspicious start to the hike.

    The bus company rerouted me overnight, arranging a bed at a popular backpacker’s hostel. There my chicken lunch for the next day was stolen from the communal fridge — the first time I have ever had anything taken from hostel or campground.

    Yeesh.

    backpacker.jpg

    Next morning another Tassielink bus arrived at 5:30AM.

    But this time things went smoothly and I was delivered to the Cradle trailhead without a glitch. The weather was perfect.

    cradle.jpg

    First priority was to scramble Cradle Mountain, the most photogenic peak in Tasmania.

    I had seen many photos of the Overland Track, but the reality was far, far better. Unique, stunning scenery.

    The infamous wet, stormy weather … seems to be a fabrication. Hard to believe it can snow here any day of the year.

    cradle2.jpg

    One of the best reasons to travel to Australia for hiking is the fantastic, diverse animal life. Friendly wallabies hang out at every hut.

    wallaby.jpg

    Much of the talk on the trail is deciding which sidetrip peaks to climb. Decisions are based mainly on weather. (No use climbing up into the clouds.)

    scrambles.jpg

    Hikers have the choice to tent … or stay in loud, crowded, smelly huts. (Bring your earplugs if you decide on the huts.)

    Since the weather stayed clear, I tented every night.

    And when the weather is good this hike is fairly easy. It even provides the most modern solar composting toilets.

    toilet.jpg

    And the Overland Track continues to get more accessible for more hikers as muddy sections are covered with boardwalk.

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    Certainly the Overland Track is one of the best hikes of my life. If you want to organize a trip there check our Overland information page.

    Check flickr to see all photos from this trip annotated in full resolution

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    climbing Aconcagua independently

    What does it take to climb the highest peak outside Asia independently?

    It took the Pfluegl brothers 2 years of passion, dedication and commitment.

    It cost them about US$5000 each.

    But how did they feel on summit day?

    aconcacuga-summit.jpg
    Pfluegl brothers Dec. 27th, 2006

    To “climb” Aconcagua they trekked 22 days, 70km (43mi) return with pack weights of up to 42kg (92lbs)!

    For details positively Teutonic, check the trip report by Manfred Pfluegl.

    More information on trekking (not climbing) Aconcagua. – besthike.com

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    best bear-proof food container?

    There are a number of bear canisters on the market. Be aware that the list of “approved” canisters changes. For the latest information on bear canisters approved by the National Park Service</a.

    For tips on how to pack your canister, read The Care and Feeding of Your Bear Canister by Tom Reynolds.

    Pacific Crest Trail Association – Bears

    Cramming 18 pounds of food into a canister may, at first, seem impossible. However, following these instructions and a little planning and patience will accomplish the task.

    source – Tom Reynolds

    I am most interested in the “Ursack”, myself. (I could have used one in Australia to keep out pesky possums.)

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    West Coast Trail storm damage

    The trail we named “best hike in the world” usually opens May 1. As this is the 100 year anniversary of founding, celebrations were planned. But the WCT opening may be delayed — a suspension bridge is missing and two cable-car crossings are out.

    The West Coast Trail is one of North America’s best-known and most challenging wilderness treks, but the storm has left it impassible, at least until repair work can be done.

    An estimated 2,000 trees are down in the park, one footbridge has been destroyed and three of the five hand-operated cable cars that allow hikers to pass over streams and ravines are out of service.

    “It was unbelievable,” Mr. Brand said, recalling the Dec. 11 storm. “We had trees coming down everywhere. The sea was like a giant washing machine. . . . I think the problem was not just the wind, but the gusts. It went from 60 knots to 100 knots in a microsecond.”

    STORM DAMAGE: B.C.’s trail of destruction     – Globe and Mail

    Happily, the Canadian federal government said it will pay for part of the cleanup.

    West Coast Trail – besthike information page

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