Coffee
06-05-2014, 16:23
On all of my hikes requiring resupply so far, I have relied on shipping myself food ahead of time to post offices or other places where I can receive packages such as hostels. I have only relied on shopping for food in towns as a non-essential supplement to what I am sending in resupply boxes. The food that I typically send in resupply boxes is repackaged ahead of time to eliminate bulky packaging materials and to properly size portions. I don't dehydrate my own food and everything I use is purchased from stores, although some items are from specialty stores like Trader Joe. At this point I have a "menu" of options that I regularly prepare and have things pretty much dialed in. However, for a few reasons, I want to start buying most of my food on the trail rather than relying on resupply boxes. The main reason is because I plan to hike the PCT next year and the idea of preparing and sending so many boxes is overwhelming and seems inflexible.
To get more accustomed to buying food along the trail, I am planning to buy food at grocery stores for most of my resupplies along the Colorado Trail this summer. But I don't want to be wandering the aisles inefficiently so I'm thinking of having a list of things I could buy ahead of time categorized by meal. That way if I know I'm shopping for 4 days of food, I can just check off four breakfasts, snacks/lunches, and dinners quickly.
What I'd appreciate feedback on is the type of foods I'm including in my shopping list and whether these types of foods are usually available in small groceries. Any additional items I'm not thinking of that could be good for the trail and readily available?
I'm finding this aspect of planning to be challenging, especially when it comes to estimating the weight of the resupplies and caloric density of what I might find in various small stores along the trail.
Breakfast Items
Instant oatmeal packets
Dried raisins or cranberries to put in oatmeal
Nido/Dry milk (could be hard to find?)
Pop Tarts
Instant grits
Instant coffee (Starbucks Via preferred)
Snack/Lunch Items
Peanuts, mixed nuts, prepackaged trail mix
Peanut butter
Tortillas
Granola bars
Candy bars
Trail stable cheese (like the individual wax wrapped variety)
Calorie dense chips like Fritos, possibly crushed to save volume
Dinner Items
Idahoan mashed potatos
Mac & Cheese
Stuffing mix (not my favorite...)
Knorr sides (also not a favorite)
Couscous
Taboule
Candy bars - dessert
In addition to these items, I'll buy fresh fruit and dairy items when available to eat while in town, but I won't carry fruit on the trail. Any ideas on perishable items that are reasonably calorie dense that I could take with me on the first day out of town and prepare for dinner?
To get more accustomed to buying food along the trail, I am planning to buy food at grocery stores for most of my resupplies along the Colorado Trail this summer. But I don't want to be wandering the aisles inefficiently so I'm thinking of having a list of things I could buy ahead of time categorized by meal. That way if I know I'm shopping for 4 days of food, I can just check off four breakfasts, snacks/lunches, and dinners quickly.
What I'd appreciate feedback on is the type of foods I'm including in my shopping list and whether these types of foods are usually available in small groceries. Any additional items I'm not thinking of that could be good for the trail and readily available?
I'm finding this aspect of planning to be challenging, especially when it comes to estimating the weight of the resupplies and caloric density of what I might find in various small stores along the trail.
Breakfast Items
Instant oatmeal packets
Dried raisins or cranberries to put in oatmeal
Nido/Dry milk (could be hard to find?)
Pop Tarts
Instant grits
Instant coffee (Starbucks Via preferred)
Snack/Lunch Items
Peanuts, mixed nuts, prepackaged trail mix
Peanut butter
Tortillas
Granola bars
Candy bars
Trail stable cheese (like the individual wax wrapped variety)
Calorie dense chips like Fritos, possibly crushed to save volume
Dinner Items
Idahoan mashed potatos
Mac & Cheese
Stuffing mix (not my favorite...)
Knorr sides (also not a favorite)
Couscous
Taboule
Candy bars - dessert
In addition to these items, I'll buy fresh fruit and dairy items when available to eat while in town, but I won't carry fruit on the trail. Any ideas on perishable items that are reasonably calorie dense that I could take with me on the first day out of town and prepare for dinner?