How I Packed 7.5 Days of Food for 100 Miles on the PCT

[@2DaysYouth]

food is always the hard part, SO much volume! Great job. I like how you shout out the bag so we know which one can fit it all.

[@topshelfbackpacking7867]

@@2DaysYouth zpacks has always made solid gear in my opinion. Cheers!

[@Ericidryfly]

Nice video… Idea for the next video would be to show how much food you had left when you finished your hike. I find that I always come home with a ton of food.

[@topshelfbackpacking7867]

@@Ericidryfly that’s a great idea. Thank you. Cheers!

[@kelkel3883]

It's good that you are being cautious about how long it may take.

[@topshelfbackpacking7867]

@@kelkel3883 had I prepared better I may not have been as nervous but better to carry a few extra pounds of food than go hungry for days. Cheers!

[@ashab1]

Did you feel dehydrated with all that coffee?

[@topshelfbackpacking7867]

@@ashab1 thanks to all the LMNT and frequent water stops the pack of coffee a day did not dehydrate me. Cheers!

[@scrollsung]

100 miles! Good Luck out there

[@topshelfbackpacking7867]

@@scrollsung seems like a bold goal for a big guy like myself. Cheers!

[@miken7629]

I use pint freezer bags and have Milk & Cereal every day for first & second breakfast. I also bring 1 pound Walnut Halves, calorie dense @ 3000 calories, mostly protein & fat + soluble fiber.

[@topshelfbackpacking7867]

@@miken7629 nuts are a great way to add in a lot of calories without adding a lot of weight. Cheers!

[@kristymoore7052]

Curious how you fared after. Too much, too little? I hiked the JMT this last summer. I thought I was totally prepared for a 7 day and later also an 8 day food carry. The rest were 4-5 days. I found that what I packed I could barely eat or didn’t like or it didn’t agree with me. I am an avid backpacker, though had never done a multi-week thru hike with these long carries.

[@topshelfbackpacking7867]

@@kristymoore7052 if farting more would have helped propel me along the trail then I would say too little. Thankfully I’ve had enough meals to know what I like and what I can tolerate on longer trips. That helped keep farts to a minimum. Cheers!

[@andymytys]

I find that the Sharpie notes tend to easily smear off of the Ziploc bag.

[@topshelfbackpacking7867]

@@andymytys I write how much water and time on the white part and haven’t had that issue but it could just be luck. Cheers!

[@HikingWithCam]

I’d say… I don’t know… 11 lbs. 5 oz.? 😂

[@topshelfbackpacking7867]

Incredible! You got it right on the money 😂 cheers!

[@VanillaGorilla21]

I bet that cat supplies a lot of protein

[@topshelfbackpacking7867]

@@VanillaGorilla21 cook time is way too long for my little stove 🙀

[@gabriele1975]

14 pounds? LOL! Nevermind. I just watched till the end.

[@gabriele1975]

I love that you weren't bothered by the cat walking into your video. Precious!

[@topshelfbackpacking7867]

I was probably bothered the first 189 times she did it. Cheers!

[@gabriele1975]

@@topshelfbackpacking7867 🤣

[@timryder5557]

Why allow your cat to interrupt watching your video?

[@topshelfbackpacking7867]

@@timryder5557 I’m not sure you understand just how little cats listen. 😂 cheers!

[@BillyBnMore]

Taking food out of the sterlized container seems like a waste of time with no benefit. I don't get it.

[@topshelfbackpacking7867]

@@BillyBnMore that’s a great concern and not a thing I would do ahead of time. I may shoot a video showing what 7.5 days of food looks like in its standard packing. Takes up more space than you’d realize. Cheers!

[@TheLicewine]

I think you have already stored some good amounts of calories in your body. Hiking is a low intensity exercise, so burning your body fat is a good proposition. You packed way too much food.

[@topshelfbackpacking7867]

@@TheLicewine not sure the wilderness is where I want to test out ketosis. I packed about half to a third of the calories I would burn per day and generally felt good most days. I’m not sure I agree hiking 20 miles a day over mountains counts as low intensity. Cheers!

[@TheLicewine]

@topshelfbackpacking7867 I didn't make myself clear. 20 miles over mountains is strenuous, but in terms deriving energy from body fat is normal. There is a common misperception that low body fat is good. Like when you go hiking or getting old, it pays to have a bit more.

[@topshelfbackpacking7867]

@@TheLicewine I have definitely had longer trips where I under packed food and my performance paid the price. I am glad I had the reserves to make up the 3-4k a day calorie deficit but not having years worth of reserve would be nice. Cheers!

[@topshelfbackpacking7867]

@@TheLicewine funny enough I’ve always wanted to do a weekend trip without food just to see how it feels. I’ve just struggled with the logistics just in case I bonk harder than I expect. Cheers!

[@TheLicewine]

@topshelfbackpacking7867 I think, we just need to go out and play. There is always a way to get food and water. Where I live, cemeteries are a good source of water. Food is always available. Fun is more difficult to obtain.