Hiker Appetites

[Ron Haven]

:-? I have saw in the past hikers scarfing up some vidles.As the many times I have went out to eat with them this year they seem to be eating like normal people.What is bringing on this change?:o

[Thru Hiker Wife]

Just dropped Runsalone back to the trail in Hot Springs. He had a a pretty good appetite while here but has issues on the trail with hunger...as in not having it. Tends to make himself it just cause he knows he should

[Lone Wolf]

:-? I have saw in the past hikers scarfing up some vidles.As the many times I have went out to eat with them this year they seem to be eating like normal people.What is bringing on this change?:o

they're carrying weenie packs, slackpacking too much and staying too long in hostels

[Thru Hiker Wife]

~Sigh~

No that;s not what my husband is doing.

[Ron Haven]

they're carrying weenie packs, slackpacking too much and staying too long in hostelsMaybe that's it :-? I remember at the prime sirleon seeing a skinny hiker eat 8 steaks,salad,vegetables and dessertsssssss :cool: Come back to the motel and drink a few yuenglings.Eat 2 large bags of potatoe chips and a can of 9 lives cat food someone had thrown in the hiker box:eek:

Just before I left he ask me,"what time was the breakfast shuttle?" :o

[Dholmblad]

I still had the hiker appetite months after I got off the trail.

[Quoddy]

Any hiker putting in long miles for many consecutive days will definitely outpace the amount of food that they need to consume, and will have a hiker appetite when they finally get to a town meal. Hikers that are stopping regularly in town will never reach that kind of caloric deficit, and will eat almost normally.

[max patch]

I know when I stayed at Rainbow Springs I ate like a normal person.

I discussed this subject with Jensine over the years when I returned to RSC on section/day hikes. She was of the opinion that the legendary thru hiker appetite had not yet kicked in when hikers reached RSC.

[Bare Bear]

Different strokes Ron.......I don't get hungry for about thirty days on the trail. Then I want fresh salads. I recall Dick Tracy eating five 1/3 pound cheese burgers with all the fixings at some Trail Magic in Va! I was amazed such a skinny guy could eat that much. It just aint fair that us short fat guys eat less and still weigh more :)

[Blissful]

Ours really didn't kick in for about 2 months. Takes time for the metabolism to shift. By mid VA it was in full swing.

[Ron Haven]

Different strokes Ron.......I don't get hungry for about thirty days on the trail. Then I want fresh salads. I recall Dick Tracy eating five 1/3 pound cheese burgers with all the fixings at some Trail Magic in Va! I was amazed such a skinny guy could eat that much. It just aint fair that us short fat guys eat less and still weigh more :)I know that is right.In the year of 2000 I weighed 220 which is about right for a man my size.Riding around with hiker friends to buffets has netted me at 260 lbs :eek:

[buff_jeff]

I only got into backpacking last year, but on my first trip ever--the northern 76 miles of Pennsylvania--I had almost no appetite. I've heard other people mention the same thing, that it takes time for the appetite to build up. When I finished the southern 150 miles or so with my Dad we had no appetite until we made it to Duncannon. We pretty much ate constantly the entire day we were there.

[tlbj6142]

For my short trips, I have to make myself eat the little food I carry. Probably far fewer calories than I eat at home each day. As mentioned above, it can take several weeks before this kicks in.

[Dholmblad]

I remember eating my entire food bag 1 day out, then having to go back into town to get more food..

[astrogirl]

I was really hungry after the second day on this trip. I did notice hikers eating less than I expected and certainly less than I've seen in the past.

Sometimes, the shock of constant exertion will kill your appetite. You get over it. :D