View Full Version : Vegan Thru-Hike
Hello, all.
I'm planning out my 2015 thru and have some concerns about resupply on a vegan diet. I'm also hoping this will be a no-cook journey. I've heard people say that the AT can be done with very few or no mail drops, but I'm afraid that my diet will require excessive mail drops, especially in the south. I'm not interested in whether or not vegan/no-cook hiking is a good idea, so I was hoping I could hear from some vegans who have dealt with this in the past. Are there specific towns where a mail drop is absolutely necessary in my case? Any good vegan-friendly restaurants along the way? I'm a little concerned that I'll get into every town looking forward to a nice, big meal only to be handed a head of lettuce.
Thanks in advance!
DA google:
http://backpackingvegan.wordpress.com/resupply-guide/
It is five years old, but should be OK otherwise. One thing omitted is Williamstown, MA With a small liberal arts college, you know there has to vegan friendly options.
flyguync
06-14-2014, 00:10
Try this book: http://www.amazon.com/Cookery-National-Outdoor-Leadership-Library/dp/0811731081
Although it's not specifically designed for vegans, it does have some vegan-friendly recipes and lots of planning tips and it's inexpensive. It's tough being a vegan.
It'll be easier if you focus on resupplying where there are larger grocery stores like in larger towns. I've done the TC as a pesce vegetarian without a great many diet issues although I've mailed myself resupply boxes on all three of those thru-hikes which I was doing mainly because I take many supplements and so felt it convenient to simply add some vegetarian meals into those resupply boxes.
Tipi Walter
06-14-2014, 08:12
My friend Amy "Willow" Allen did the AT back in 2006 and wanted to eat healthy so she prepared many mail drops of Mary Jane's Farm foods, in vegan and lacto variations. See---
http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=121703
Also see---
http://www.amyallenbooks.com/about-the-author.html
And also---
http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/categories/food-pantry.asp
I've been in the vegan mode for several months (vegetarian since 1973) and let's face it, on-trail resupply is very limited. Luckily on my trips I carry all the food I need for 21+ days (heavy food load) and therefore can load up on neat vegan stuff like hummus and tempeh and brown rice etc. My faves are cashew and almond butters. You will rarely find this stuff on the trail at resupply points. So, do mail drops.
Plus, doing vegan AND no-cook is very limiting. Why do it??
Oh, and check out Willow's food---
http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=123837
Here's something I've done on trail - grow my own sprouts. They are highly nutritious and it's quite easy to do providing fresh healthful nutritious sprouts about every 2 days. These sprouting kits are specifically designed for hikers on the move. You'll also get some Vegan recipe ideas. http://outdoorherbivore.com/ http://www.sprouthouse.com/Hemp_Bag_Sprouting_Kit_p/bagkit.htm
The other thing I've done is look at the ingredients of prepackaged freeze dried vegetarian meals and make my own from fresh ingredients bought at larger grocery stores. I don't have a list but if you could locate farmers markets not overly distant from the AT that could be of assistance too. For example I know there's one in Asheville, Charlotte, one at DWG(at least there was in 2006), one in one of the Connecticut towns near the AT, and I'm sure in New Hampshire. Probably farmers markets in MASS, VERMONT, PA, etc near the AT too.
Tipi Walter
06-14-2014, 15:40
The other thing I've done is look at the ingredients of prepackaged freeze dried vegetarian meals and make my own from fresh ingredients bought at larger grocery stores. I don't have a list but if you could locate farmers markets not overly distant from the AT that could be of assistance too. For example I know there's one in Asheville, Charlotte, one at DWG(at least there was in 2006), one in one of the Connecticut towns near the AT, and I'm sure in New Hampshire. Probably farmers markets in MASS, VERMONT, PA, etc near the AT too.
I often look at these interesting recipes and consider gathering the ingredients, making the meals, and drying them on my home dehydrator.
http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2012/10/spicy-sriracha-tofu-peanut-butter.html
http://healthyblenderrecipes.com/recipes/quick_easy_vegan_gluten_free_mac_n_cheese
http://crunchandchew.wordpress.com/2011/04/06/creamy-avocado-carbonara/
http://www.theppk.com/2012/01/porcini-crusted-tofu-with-shallot-gravy/
http://cookeasyvegan.blogspot.com/2008/09/tofu-squash-curry-with-swiss-chard.html
http://www.allysonkramer.com/2011/10/sweet-potato-cauliflower-soup/
garlic08
06-14-2014, 16:17
I met this guy (http://www.rawhike.com/)on the CDT in '05. Compared to a raw food CDT hike, a vegan AT hike would be a snap.
Good luck to you--it will be tough, but nothing worthwhile is easy.
Tipi Walter
06-14-2014, 16:34
I met this guy (http://www.rawhike.com/)on the CDT in '05. Compared to a raw food CDT hike, a vegan AT hike would be a snap.
Good luck to you--it will be tough, but nothing worthwhile is easy.
Thanks for the link, now I have something to copy and read on my next vegan trip.
"A vegan AT hike would be a snap" seems a little exaggerated, unless a person wants to live on hydrogenated peanut butter, white bread, oatmeal, sugar, so-called "whole grain" flour, etc. Of course, I'm thinking of the usual small groceries located nearby and not hitching to the big stores off the trail. The big ones have a rich selection of vegan choices if you can get to them on a frequent basis. When a hiker ditches not only meat and chicken and fish but also dairy, dry milk, cheese, yogurt and eggs, well, things get a little tricky.
Don't recall his name but there was a thru-hiker who ate an entirely raw food diet on both the PCT and CDT.
If no-cook can be abandoned, I expect a big, secured bag of Dr. McDougal's split pea and barley soup could take one a long way - you could have a designated tin cup or small pot for cooking it in. Boiling ain't the most complicated bit of cooking, after all.
I'm lacto-ovo veg for 10 weeks as of tomorrow, with fish about once a week, and looking at vegan, and and Dr. M has quickly become a favorite.
Thanks for raising this subject, busfoot - having been in peak-bagging mode for a couple years, I'm feeling a switch of emphasis to longer-distance trekking coming on, and, wondering about this topic, came upon your thread. Much appreciated.
rocketsocks
06-18-2014, 01:06
I can never remember the difference between vegan and vegetarian...Pass
I can never remember the difference between vegan and vegetarian...Pass
That's because eating too much red meat affects your memory. :D Plus, you live in NJ. :D
I can never remember the difference between vegan and vegetarian...Pass
If you go veg, you might find you pass a lot more. ...
rocketsocks
06-18-2014, 02:27
That's because eating too much red meat affects your memory. :D Plus, you live in NJ. :DI do love me some grillins
If you go veg, you might find you pass a lot more. ...
Pass for what?
...oh Pass :D
The Kisco Kid
06-18-2014, 10:19
Check out: A Long Way From Nowhere by Julie and Matt Urbanski about their CDT thru-hike. Matt was a strict vegan for the entire journey, Julie mostly. Good read too.
To be honest though (and this is coming from a former vegetarian and vegan) their diet consisted of lots of junk food and seemed really unhealthy. Maintaining a vegan diet in the real world is hard enough, on the trail is another story. That, and you'll miss out on a lot of cultural experiences on such a limited diet. I gave it up when I moved to New Orleans and was a richer person for it.
squeezebox
06-18-2014, 10:27
Any chance of bringing a goat or lamb, on hoof, with me as a portable meat source ??
Any chance of bringing a goat or lamb, on hoof, with me as a portable meat source ??
It is what the Roman legions did.
OTOH, this a a thread about vegan options on the AT. Play nice. :)
Tipi Walter
06-18-2014, 11:33
To be honest though (and this is coming from a former vegetarian and vegan) their diet consisted of lots of junk food and seemed really unhealthy. Maintaining a vegan diet in the real world is hard enough, on the trail is another story. That, and you'll miss out on a lot of cultural experiences on such a limited diet. I gave it up when I moved to New Orleans and was a richer person for it.
Once again, the answer is prearranged mail drops.
Feral Bill
06-18-2014, 14:16
I would think that vegan OR raw would work well enough, especially using some mail drops, but both? Try it at home, first.
squeezebox
06-18-2014, 17:56
I had a Jewish friend, died of Croan's disease. in his 50's.
The Croan's started in his late teens.
At 18 yrs old or so he was in Jewish hospital here in St. Louis.
I'm not sure when Jewish stopped being a Kosher kitchen, but it did.
He complained to his Rabbi that the food was not Kosher.
Rabbi said "You're in the hospital, you'll eat what ever is put in front of you.
you will not die over the issue of food."
My point!!
Sure be vegan as best you can , but don't risk your health over it.
blue blaze cafe
06-18-2014, 18:02
Don't be discouraged, there are plenty of people who are vegan who have hiked. We own the Blue Blaze Cafe/Pizza in Damascus and are vegan, there is a vegan/vegetarian menu available with plenty of options. The best part of hiking vegan is the energy level, don't forget your grains like quinoa, which do an awesome job of 'cooking' raw/soaking while you hike if you add water. Cuts down on cooking time. When we have hiked, we always carry onion, avacado's, roasted red peppers and quinoa. Some 'live' food is heavy, but you can do it, and your body will certainly thank you :)
Good luck with your hike!