Originally Posted by
alwaysa3dognight
I have no idea how my stomach would react to a nut diet. They aren't a big part of my diet. How much protein does a person need while hiking? I counted up the protein from my meals today and got a total of about 70g. Cereal with milk, sandwich with soup, pasta with cheese and hot cocoa (the last part was due to all the mentions of it on here!)
A lot, you need a lot of protein. Also, its damn near impossible to avoid a substantial quantity of nuts/seeds, even if you're not a vegetarian. They have very good Cal/oz and a good amount of proteins and fats.
Sadly, I eat like a typical 4 year old - very picky. I bought a few things I thought could be good on the trail. Powdered milk - can't tell the difference on cereal and tastes better in things like mac and cheese Good, stuffing - I read somewhere it was a good trail food - YUCK Bummer, powdered mashed potatoes - tasteless and probably nutrition less, so pointless? Calories are never pointless, I looked at powdered peanut butter, but left it on the shelf at the grocery store Nuts. I love dried fruit, but that's pretty much calorie free Dried fruit is awesome. What will I eat other than pasta and beans? Rice and beans? Dried lentil soups and things like that would be good Yup. Is a flattened down loaf of bread something that makes sense in a pack?Tortillas, pitas, bagels. Squishy sandwiches sound good. I can see how many places are close to towns and things like that, but what I want to know more is how many of them have a nearby grocery store where I could grab a thing of spinach for a salad and some fresh fruit. I think I will miss those the most. Many "stores" will not have a very good selection or even a produce department.
My first sleeping bag was a 20 degree hoodless Marmot. At 50 degrees I shivered to the point that I couldn't sleep. With fleece pajamas on and a sweatshirt. I replaced it with a North Face (probably uncool to say that) 0 degree with a hood. I used it twice so far and it was okay for about 30 degrees. Any colder and I think I will die. Will I get over this and survive cold nights, or do I really need to start out with a crazy arctic sleeping bag? Also, I rolled in my sleep and woke up with the non breathable hood over my face and my arms pinned to my side and I was sure someone was suffocating me and I would die before I got to the zipper. Do you get used to this??? Maybe, I still wind up tangled in my bag. Stuff happens.
I can set up my tent in the dark and rain without any light. That's the only thing I have down! Need to learn what to wear. While on my MD adventures last Jan, I was amazed to find that at 30 degrees I needed nothing more than a teeshirt and a hat and gloves Your body is a stove. But I know at camp I will want so much more Yup. As for stoves, friends sometimes bring the canister ones when we car camp so I have seen how they work. I have never seen an alcohol one used and am a bit fearful of the how to use them So am I. I have read enough to know that discussing stoves on the AT can be fighting words! Seems that is something no one agrees on at all!
Thinking of starting my hike in Waynesboro, VA and going to Duncannon, PA in Feb and Mar the heading down to Springer and then skip that section as I get up to it. That way in the first month I will never be more than 3 hours from home. I know everyone does every sort of hike, but what are the mental games that could come with that? I don't think I will see many people in that first month. After hiking Springer to Waynesboro with a plan of a few 0 days and a jump up to Duncannon be rough? No 4 state challenge. Leaving any people I am hiking with. Running back into people who ran from my chattyness! Will all that make me want to just stay at home? Full disclosure, I haven't hiked the AT, but I have hike the Colorado Trail. My advice, dive headlong into it. The only thing being only 3 hours from home will make easier is quitting. Not because the distance makes quitting easier, but the mindset that you are ONLY 3 hours from home and therefore not fully committed is not the type of mindset conducive to completing a tough challenge. No matter how far from home you are, you will be about equally away from civilization. Furthermore, if you start at the traditional time in the traditional place you will have more support from fellow hikers. Moreover, there is a reason these are traditional.
You all are amazing! I feel like a lot of this I can figure out on my own or learn by continuing to read and watch videos, but talking it through seems to be a big mental help for me! Thanks for listening and sharing!