High Sierra Topix

As noted on the "mountain hunger" thread, I don't have a problem with calorie consumption, but, on the other hand, I make sure I bring a ton of food, and I catch and eat a whole lot of fish. The flip side of this is that I don't really care about carrying a much heavier pack than most carry on long trips. With folks of equal size and strength my pack will weigh in the 50's for a 7-9 day trip and it weighed in the 60's when I went with my wife (who weighs all of 90lbs herself).

I don't have a lot of extra reserve, though, and I found that on some trips, particularly prior to really starting to pile on the food supply in the mid 90's, that if I went into a trip too lean (ie not having a touch extra padding) I'd start to feel it in the latter part of the trip. So, for very serious death marches I'd train like crazy AND intentionally overeat for awhile going into the trip so I'd be carrying an extra 5-10 lbs or so over my usual 5'10" 165lbs. From the late 90's onward though, I've eaten so much on my long trips I haven't bothered with my pre-trip fattening up.

A plastic flask of olive oil is one of the highest calorie/oz food items and can be used as an additive to most prepared dishes.

I'm also a big fan of Moose Goo on Lard based tortillas
http://www.ultralightbackpacker.com/moosegoo.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

fedak wrote:A plastic flask of olive oil is one of the highest calorie/oz food items and can be used as an additive to most prepared dishes....

All the plant oils (olive, corn, canola, soybean, peanut, et al) are basically the same -- roughly 7.5 cal/gm. Slight variations among the brand names and method of manufacture, but the difference is negligible. Olive is considered 'healthier' in some respects so many prefer it.

dave54 wrote:
All the plant oils (olive, corn, canola, soybean, peanut, et al) are basically the same -- roughly 7.5 cal/gm. Slight variations among the brand names and method of manufacture, but the difference is negligible. Olive is considered 'healthier' in some respects so many prefer it.

* CORN: 59% polyunsaturated 24% monounsaturated 13% saturated 6.4:1 unsaturated/saturated fat ratio
* OLIVE: 9% polyunsaturated 72% monounsaturated 14% saturated 5.8:1 unsaturated/saturated fat ratio

Doesn't look the same to me.

(The Wellness Encyclopedia of Food and Nutrition, 1992)

The OP is about calories, not lipid composition.

I have tracked nutritional content of my backpack food for many years. I always take at least 2,400 calories per day, with about 30%-35% fat, 20% protein, 50%carbs in 1.25 to 1.4 pounds per day. (I weigh 115 pounds and do not have much fat to spare). I can fit 8-9 days food in a Bearikade weekender (this requires very careful consideration of the bulk per calorie- for example all Malt-o-meal instead of oatmeal). On my 34 day Ropers High Route I lost 6 pounds. Last year for the summer in the Wind Rivers I lost 10 pounds over 2 months. So I am not keeping up with calorie output. I COULD eat my required calories, but simply limit my food because I do not want to carry more weight. In the past, when bear cannisters were not required, I would always eat at least one trail bar at night. I no longer do this. I have NEVER had any trouble with back-country appatite! Watch out if you go with me, I will eat all your food too!

If you go with me, you can eat my food if you want. I will have plenty. But I still lose about two notches in my belt no matter how much I eat or how careful I am to eat enough.

I still haven't gained back the last notch of the two lost from last summer.

And I really have trouble counting and planning. So I really am at a loss about the whole calorie thing.