On the bear issue, I use a Ursack. I have run across 5 bears in roughly 75 nights on the CT over the past 5 years.
2014) 6-6.0 at Jefferson Creek (campground by creek). A very large bear ran through camp as we were breaking camp in the morning. I later found out another group had spilled food the night prior.
2013) 8-19.2 at Camp Hale bunkers. A bear was foraging around in the middle of the night. I scared it off with my mini air horn.
2012) 22-1.7 at Rito Hondo Creek in late morning.
2011) 24-15.2 at the Animas River in the afternoon.
2010) 24-11.6 at the ponds right off the trail in the Elk Creek drainage.
The Bears that I ran across during the day simply ran away when encountered.
Decades ago, I always brought a .45 with me. Years ago, it was the big bear spray. Now, it's simply a mini air horn that weighs nothing and works well.
Ron
In my day to day life I eat paleo. All of my carbs come from vegetables and sweet potatoes with the occasional white potato. I don't touch pasta, oats, grains etc. I don't eat anything processed. The only dairy I consume is a little bit of cheese in the morning with my eggs. I don't drink milk. On the other hand, in my trail life I live off of low sugar instant oatmeal, peanut butter, Annie's boxed mac and cheese, Nido, tuna packets, summer sausage, and protein powder. Almost all things I don't normally eat in my day to day life.
When I'm burning 5k calories s day my dietary needs are a little different and it's also only temporary. When I'm off the trail I go back to a strict diet. I find that most of the thing I eat on the trail make me feel like crab when I'm not on the trail, but hiking 10 miles seems to change the way my body feels about some foods.. I'll still avoid the real junk food though like candy bars and other sugary gut bombs. I also won't ever be caught dead in a McDonald's.
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You could make your own meals. This is what we do when we backpack.
Although, Mountain House has some great selections also.
Here are some options:
https://naturalred.wordpress.com/201...s-and-chicken/
https://naturalred.wordpress.com/201...cken-and-rice/
https://naturalred.wordpress.com/201...t-peters-dome/
Avoiding carbs is really not even an option or realistic for that matter.
Good Luck!
Don't over-think this. You can buy all your food in towns along the trail. Go back to your normal diet when you get back home. Reference hanging food: I personally hang my food 99% of the time.
Lonehiker (MRT '22)
I learned to identify many edible plants and eat them while walking. It's amazing how full you can get on berries, leafy greens, and fungus. I don't waste time washing anything. Tea Berries are out now.