Back in the days before you started bringing your own private chef on the trail. It's fun to watch these old videos. Most of your advise is still totally applicable.
These are the little details that make all the difference! Packing up each separate day will make it so much easier to pack just what's needed. I've been in a hurry and over packed food more than once. Picked up the British and Irish habit of having a separate brew kit though, if you become ''directionally challenged'' or some other crisis, stopping and ''brewing up'' makes you stop, gives you another focus, time and an energy boost. For more challenging hikes, protein powder in my oatmeal (and banana chips) is a nice boost in the morning. Thanks for the good ideas!
really awesome. I get very wrapped around dehydrating food, and buying specific stuff designed for light weight backpacking. this video was a god reminder that you can find simple and effective things in your own pantry. it also helps mix up the menu a little bit, so it's less boring.
My in-laws bought me an Excalibur food dehydrator a few years ago, and I just got a Foodsaver vaccum sealer, and a book on dehydrating meals for backpacking. The only caveat from what I understand though, is that it takes longer to re-hydrate these foods....but if you are just building fires, it would be perfect vs. using an iso-propane stove. My dad and I used to carry a small amount of powdered milk with us on BWCA trips to add to our Kraft dinners or whatever we had along that required milk, we would just add a small amount with the cheese "sauce" mixture and it seemed to help make it a bit creamier. We also used to make hamburger helper....without the hamburger, haha.
actually extremely helpful! just getting into multicast trips (mostly 2-3 days) and I have found food to be the most stressful part for me, what with all the options and suggested ways of doing things. I appreciate seeing this nice and simple lol
Feel free to ask me any questions or watch some of my other videos. Hiking is an awesome hobby. I wish I could do it full time, but I have this little problem called lack of time and money. Cheers.
I've been drinking water from high elevation creeks for 30 years. Occasionally I get a mild stomach upset, but that's mostly from the glacial silt in the water, which is basically silt. Our ancestors didn't have filters. I do avoid stagnant water. I choose smaller creeks that have lots of natural filtration. I'm more likely to get sick from eating food in a restaurant than I am from drinking unfiltered water. There are many risks that I manage in the wilderness, and access to clean water is very low on the list.
Martyupnorth Seems unwise when water treatment is easy. That said, I know a 30-year AMC guide who never treated his water either! Roll the dice I guess....
Hello Marty, great video on your daily meal plans, as for the Karft dinner , you can use the deluxe Kraft dinner which has the better cheese pack, , just a thought, im in Alberta also
Great Info Marty! I pack almost the same way and shopping at the supermarket saves alot of money. We have a 3 day trip coming up soon to! I will look forward to your vid of the trip! Thanks for sharing!
Being a vegetarian diabetic, I'd have to choose my foods differently, but I love your way of organizing, and it looks a lot better than digging through the pack, and making a big mess.
Great organization. I always eat less food than I pack even though it is planned out... Tortillas last for days too, add some single serving peanut butter packs and your good for lunch or snacks.
Thanks I'm going biking/camping for the first time and my buddies who went last year said they didn't pack enough food so I was worried. so thank you for this it really helps.
I'm with you. You can never have enough tea on a hike. I went on for a four day hike in Tasmania in winter and didn't bring enough tea. I was dreaming about it..
sometimes i'll make curried rice or tuna spaghetti or even tuna couscous. Chili is pretty good to do but does take some time to prepare since dehydrating the ingredients...The ground beef i cook it then drain it and rinse off the fat so it doesn't get rancid. After I will lay the ground beef on a baking sheet at a low temp in the oven. you should get dry beef crumbs when finished. tomatoes do take much longer to dehydrate. only thing i bring is a fresh garlic clove and the chili seasoning other than those it's all dehydrated
So much of this reminds me of hiking back home, EatMore bars! Canned smoked oysters! Can't get them where I live, so when I see you eating them Marty, oh the nostalgia!
Thank you for posting this. I bought a military style 3 day assault pack and have been trying to figure-out how to pack food in it for a 3 day camping trip. I’m not In The military. I just like the amount of space the pack has and the quality of the material. This helps me a lot! The only thing I’m wondering now is, is it possible to pack a small egg holder to bring those as well? I was actually forgetting that the day you leave counts as day one, meaning you only need two breakfasts and possibly lunches. So, that saves room In the pack for sure.
Martyupnorth ok, cool, thanks for letting me know. I just wondered since they are normally needing to be refrigerated. Oh, the other thing to go with that is, other than the boxes of ready-crisp bacon, do they sell that in smaller ziplock packages? Other than the bacon bits that is?
My first backpacking trip I completely overpacked on the food! We packed so much we ended up probably carrying 7-10 pounds of food for 3 days!!! We where so uneducated on what to bring including many natural fruits or veggies that where way too heavy. I would definitely suggest following a strict meal plan with light food that provides lots of energy!
have you ever been backpacking in Michigan ? I've been watching your videos. very helpful really makes me want to go out and backpack, but in only 14 so I need to find someone to go with that would like it. great videos keep them coming.
+Zachary Lenning No I haven't. I live in Alberta. I started hiking with a buddy when I was 16. He had a car, so we were able to drive to the trails. Hang in there. Won't be long and you'll be hiking.
i like bacon and eggs for breakfast, so i bought one of those egg holders you buy in the camping section at walmart that fits a dozen eggs, and then i bought a tupperware container for the bacon at the dollar store, i also like those baby bell cheese and smokies, not the ones with cheese.
Hi Marty. I just found your channel - looking forward to watching more of your videos. (And get inspired by the beautiful Alberta wilderness.) Ichan noodles, Knorr sides and Quaker oats can become pretty tedious on the taste buds and the freeze-dried meals can put put a dent in your wallet. Have you ever thought about dehydrating and creating some of your own meals for the sake of variety and nutrition?
+Daniel Luippold I have and did on some occasions. My wife is an amazing cook, so we eat well at home. I hunt and we grow a garden, so we mostly eat healthy. I don't mind "easy" food on hikes. I hike for the scenery and not for the food. I also don't usually have lots of advance warning for a trip. I just decide and go when work is not too busy and the weather looks good. So I just grab a few easy items at home and the store. I also tend to lose my appetite in the bush. Good question. Thanks for watching.
You eat a lot. I suppose that comes with hiking all day, you are fit. Your portions are large though lol I like that you have a lot of drink oriented stuff. Not a lot of weight, fun to make, gives you reason to build a fire and boil water, and is fun to consume.
+Tcamp On very long hikes I walk 20+ km per day. It's cold in the mountains, and the elevation also causes the body's metabolism to burn more calories. I use about 5,000+ calories per day, but consume less than 2,200. On some trips I love a pound of body weight every few days. Most foods I bring are high in carbohydrates so they burn quickly and don't get stored as fat.
you should see if you can get powdered milk or non dairy creamer powder for your oatmeal and coffee or UHT mini milks the ones you get in cafes they do not need to be refrigerated.
Marty, Great videos. I just found your channel this past week and have enjoyed it much. In another video (Loading my backpack for a 4-day trip) you mentioned your food was about a pound a day. What is see you packing in this video looks more like mine. I take about 2 pounds a day food. Have you weighed your food? Thanks again for all the great videos. Rodney
+Rodney Mruk On my last 10-day trip I used 14 lbs on consumables, which is almost all food, so I'm closer to 1.4 lbs/day. I just got a scale, so I'll start weighing. I also bring more lbs/day on short trips (luxuries). Long trips are very bare and plain.
+Martyupnorth - What do you do about those cheese smokies? Aren't they supposed to be refrigerated? Food poisoning on the trail would be a rough way to go. I would be tempted to freeze them the day beforehand.
+Robert Schon Humans discovered smoking meat as a way to preserve it long ago. That's why I bring sausage and jerky on the trail. It gives me access to protein without the need for refrigeration. Modern sausages have so much preservatives and in this case are stored under vacuum, so they keep a long time. If you keep the food in the bottom of the pack it stays quite cool. It's surprising how many foods keep well in the bush. I've had bacon that was many days old. It smells a little "off" but it's still good. Don't mistaken food poisoning with food spoilage. Modern humans are just too comfortable. When hiking I like to transport myself to a different time in history. No electricity, no refrigeration, no fancy water filtration. Also think about this...80% of the worlds population lives without all the comforts we enjoy, and they still survive. Thanks for the question, and thanks for watching.
Martyupnorth thanks for the insight. I love to see the perspective that individuals take on their outdoor adventures. I have no problem eating food like that...my wife isn't quite the case lol. Thanks for the good video and quick response. You've gained a follower in me. My sons will enjoy your videos as well. Best wishes friend!
I have really appreciated watching your videos. They are really great! I was wondering about drinking from creeks, rivers, streams. I know it LOOKS pure, but I sell water filters, for homes, and I've learned from colleagues citing studies that water in the wild can contain cryptospiridium and other parasites or cysts, because of wildlife, spores, etc. Did you research your destination's waters? Or have you just never had a problem?
No, it's just a personal preference. Sardines are just as good on the trail. Actually, the advantage of sardines and tuna is that they now sell it in pouches that weigh less than tin cans.
Great idea on sorting your meals. I only bring packages of soup, freeze dried meals and some granola bars. You certainly eat better meals hah. Do those smokies not need to be kept chilled?
Snow Peak If you buy pre-cooked sausages or smokies they keep for days. Especially the commercially packaged one. Remember, smoking meet was developed long ago to keep from spoiling. It's actually quite surprising what keeps for days, especially when it's a little cool out. Thanks for watching.
Martyupnorth yeah any of the dry cured salamis and prosuto style ham will keep for a good while un-refrigerated as well as hard wax covered cheeses.......a trick i used on long hikes is to suck boiled sweets the steady hit of glucose gives energy and you don't feel as hungry when you get to your camp site. have you ever considered making your own Jerky? its really easy to do at home.
Shake the package up a bit to spread the flavouring inside around. Just rip the top off. Pour your hot water in, stir, then eat. Make sure to grip the package on the outside edge or risk a burn. Once consumed throw the package out. Only thing to clean is your dirty spoon. A military guy showed me. I thought the packaging wouldn't hold up to the heat but it did.
+The Maker Geek You bet. Humans have been smoking meat and making sausage as a way to preserve food for a long time. Just make sure the sausage is cooked. It keeps for many days. For a little extra time freeze them first. It will take a day or two for them to thaw. It's cool in the mountains, so anything in a bag and inside my pack stays cool. Same goes for the cheese. Especially hard cheese. I buy individually wrapped Cheddar and Gouda.
I love The smokies and Oysters but I would take a lot of smoked jerky just in cause of emergency ! do you use a GPS at all ? I'm jealous I have to take my kids on one before its over
+Everett Smith I used to bring a GPS, but I don't any more. The trails are well defined after centuries of use by men and animals. Now I look at Google Earth to get ideas for new areas to explore. I just follow rivers and the high ground. If I get lost I backtrack. It's all good. Is that your service picture? Thanks for serving.
My Garmin watch and software calculate that I burn from 2,500-3,700 calories when I hike. I pack about 1,500 -1,800 calories per day worth of food. So my daily deficit is about 1,000-1,900. So technically I could lose about half a pound of body weight per day. On my 9 day hike video I weight myself at the end, and lost about 3.5 lbs so the math is correct. No all calories are equal. You want to pack mostly carbohydrates, with a bit of protein to rebuild damaged muscles. That's why 11 days is about my limit. That requires a good 20 lbs of food. Hope this answers your question. Cheers.
+adinson8 MRE are hard to find in Canada, so they are quite expensive. I've seen a few guys bring MRE on the trail, but they don't make a lot of sense for long distance hiking because they are no dehydrated food, so they are quite heavy (unless you buy winter ration MREs). For a one or 2 day trip, sure, just throw in a few MREs and your good to go.
+Peter Dassira I burn a lot of calories while hiking. I ration on the trail even further, just in case something happens and I'm stuck for a few extra days. "I'd rather look at it than for it".
Organization is important, but each meal doesn't require its own bag. You could put all your breakfast into one, all suppers into another. With less it's a lot easier to not forget something in your pack which should be hung or tucked into the bear proof lockers. For snacks just pull them out at breakfast and sort what you want while you're hiking. Pack your snacks with easy access in mind so if/when you stop they're easy to grab.
Karel Blankenfeldt Better pack Day One Breakfast separate from Day Two Breakfast so as Lunches and Dinners and so on. Why? Because its easier to sort and eat and the mentality of what you gonna eat that day. For example FIRST DAY (this would be LUNCH since you already have breakfast before hitting the trails.) Lunch menu would be tuna rolled in tortillas with some GORP. Then at DINNERtime the long awaited STEAK and potatoes. (A frozen steak will be defrost in the bag while hiking 10-14 hours. Then SECOND DAY BREAKFAST would be oatmeal and protein bars. Snack will be peanutbutter crackers, chocolate and so on, Lunch on SECOND DAY is bagel with summer sausages then dinner on SECOND DAY is mountain house. Things like that will give you boost since everything is prepared before the trip and will give you more miles to hike.
Looks good. But limited good protein. Trailing 8 miles or more per day, with high sodium food is not a great combo (my opinion). Quality good source protein needed. Trail mix, cheese, hot chocolate, bars yes!
I'm not sure why someone would need more than 4 or 5 percent protein on a long hike. You certainly aren't using a hike to build mass, and the protein he has in these foods is more than enough to function optimally as long as his calorie/carb intake is high enough.
Having saidthat, I am in agreement that too much sodium is going to be a pretty big detriment over a long distance hike, or any other cardio type exercise.
Hitch Christophers average "man" s.b getting 1 gm protein for every 1lb. Hiking is a workout, less if going downhill or carrying no weight. You definitely need to prime and feed protein to muscles. Not senseless calories/carbs. Key word is "nourishing", that's just me.
+Dave R I think that's fair enough, I'm just saying that if someone is getting enough calories and enough carbs, then the protein will automatically come with it
I appreciate all feedback. Last year I hiked 100 miles on the North Boundary in 9 days on this diet (the video is on my channel). Now I'm probably in better physical condition than most 49 year-old males, but I had no issues with the food. A couple of comments. Carbs are key. I know my body, and I can feel right away when I'm out of "juice". One day I had a snack of just canned oysters and cheese for lunch, and 20 minutes later I could immediately feel a lack of energy. Protein is good for rebuilding muscle for sure. The salt is not a big problem for me. I find I sweat so much that I need salt and other electolytes. I also tend to drink 4-5 litres a day on my hikes. Even at that rate, I had a moment on day 6 where my pee was dark like tea. On short trips under 4 days I do bring some fresh stuff like apples. I wish I could eat like I do at home, but that's not realistic. The other thing that people forget is that you're tired after a long day, and sometimes it's just about convenience. I do bring dehydrated professional meals as emergency rations, but it's surprising how often I eat them because I'm just too lazy, or it's raining and I'm stuck in my tent.
Back in the days before you started bringing your own private chef on the trail. It's fun to watch these old videos. Most of your advise is still totally applicable.
Thanks.
These are the little details that make all the difference! Packing up each separate day will make it so much easier to pack just what's needed. I've been in a hurry and over packed food more than once. Picked up the British and Irish habit of having a separate brew kit though, if you become ''directionally challenged'' or some other crisis, stopping and ''brewing up'' makes you stop, gives you another focus, time and an energy boost. For more challenging hikes, protein powder in my oatmeal (and banana chips) is a nice boost in the morning. Thanks for the good ideas!
Thank you for reusing the ziplocks!
really awesome. I get very wrapped around dehydrating food, and buying specific stuff designed for light weight backpacking. this video was a god reminder that you can find simple and effective things in your own pantry. it also helps mix up the menu a little bit, so it's less boring.
My in-laws bought me an Excalibur food dehydrator a few years ago, and I just got a Foodsaver vaccum sealer, and a book on dehydrating meals for backpacking. The only caveat from what I understand though, is that it takes longer to re-hydrate these foods....but if you are just building fires, it would be perfect vs. using an iso-propane stove. My dad and I used to carry a small amount of powdered milk with us on BWCA trips to add to our Kraft dinners or whatever we had along that required milk, we would just add a small amount with the cheese "sauce" mixture and it seemed to help make it a bit creamier. We also used to make hamburger helper....without the hamburger, haha.
Great video! Nice to have a Canadian perspective
actually extremely helpful! just getting into multicast trips (mostly 2-3 days) and I have found food to be the most stressful part for me, what with all the options and suggested ways of doing things. I appreciate seeing this nice and simple lol
Feel free to ask me any questions or watch some of my other videos. Hiking is an awesome hobby. I wish I could do it full time, but I have this little problem called lack of time and money. Cheers.
I've been drinking water from high elevation creeks for 30 years. Occasionally I get a mild stomach upset, but that's mostly from the glacial silt in the water, which is basically silt. Our ancestors didn't have filters. I do avoid stagnant water. I choose smaller creeks that have lots of natural filtration. I'm more likely to get sick from eating food in a restaurant than I am from drinking unfiltered water. There are many risks that I manage in the wilderness, and access to clean water is very low on the list.
Martyupnorth Seems unwise when water treatment is easy. That said, I know a 30-year AMC guide who never treated his water either! Roll the dice I guess....
Hello Marty, great video on your daily meal plans, as for the Karft dinner , you can use the deluxe Kraft dinner which has the better cheese pack, , just a thought, im in Alberta also
I like this idea of your MRE very detailed thanks for sharing
Great Info Marty! I pack almost the same way and shopping at the supermarket saves alot of money. We have a 3 day trip coming up soon to! I will look forward to your vid of the trip! Thanks for sharing!
Being a vegetarian diabetic, I'd have to choose my foods differently, but I love your way of organizing, and it looks a lot better than digging through the pack, and making a big mess.
Thanks Marty. Enjoy all your vids!!
Thanks for the helpful video. I always bring too much food, so I am rethinking my meal set up.
Great organization. I always eat less food than I pack even though it is planned out... Tortillas last for days too, add some single serving peanut butter packs and your good for lunch or snacks.
Great video. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks I'm going biking/camping for the first time and my buddies who went last year said they didn't pack enough food so I was worried. so thank you for this it really helps.
Better to look at it, than to look for it.
I'm with you. You can never have enough tea on a hike. I went on for a four day hike in Tasmania in winter and didn't bring enough tea. I was dreaming about it..
Thanks for the video. Heading out tomorrow to Yoho for a few nights. With lows of 3 I might even get blessed with a little snow!
sometimes i'll make curried rice or tuna spaghetti or even tuna couscous.
Chili is pretty good to do but does take some time to prepare since dehydrating the ingredients...The ground beef i cook it then drain it and rinse off the fat so it doesn't get rancid. After I will lay the ground beef on a baking sheet at a low temp in the oven. you should get dry beef crumbs when finished. tomatoes do take much longer to dehydrate. only thing i bring is a fresh garlic clove and the chili seasoning other than those it's all dehydrated
Anthony M. I'll have to give it a try. You should consider posting a video as well. Thanks for watching.
So much of this reminds me of hiking back home, EatMore bars! Canned smoked oysters! Can't get them where I live, so when I see you eating them Marty, oh the nostalgia!
GREAT video!!!
Thank you for posting this. I bought a military style 3 day assault pack and have been trying to figure-out how to pack food in it for a 3 day camping trip. I’m not In The military. I just like the amount of space the pack has and the quality of the material. This helps me a lot! The only thing I’m wondering now is, is it possible to pack a small egg holder to bring those as well? I was actually forgetting that the day you leave counts as day one, meaning you only need two breakfasts and possibly lunches. So, that saves room In the pack for sure.
I hike with a buddy who brings fresh eggs all the time in those special containers. Just don't be throwing the pack around and you'll be fine.
Martyupnorth ok, cool, thanks for letting me know. I just wondered since they are normally needing to be refrigerated. Oh, the other thing to go with that is, other than the boxes of ready-crisp bacon, do they sell that in smaller ziplock packages? Other than the bacon bits that is?
Great videos wish I could do stuff like you .
I should start doing this when I start school this year!!!!!!
My first backpacking trip I completely overpacked on the food! We packed so much we ended up probably carrying 7-10 pounds of food for 3 days!!! We where so uneducated on what to bring including many natural fruits or veggies that where way too heavy. I would definitely suggest following a strict meal plan with light food that provides lots of energy!
dehydrate some veggies and fruit slices and they can make a nice trail snack. you can use your oven on the lowest setting until they are like chips.
have you ever been backpacking in Michigan ? I've been watching your videos. very helpful really makes me want to go out and backpack, but in only 14 so I need to find someone to go with that would like it. great videos keep them coming.
+Zachary Lenning No I haven't. I live in Alberta. I started hiking with a buddy when I was 16. He had a car, so we were able to drive to the trails. Hang in there. Won't be long and you'll be hiking.
Molly McButter powder is pretty good.
i like bacon and eggs for breakfast, so i bought one of those egg holders you buy in the camping section at walmart that fits a dozen eggs, and then i bought a tupperware container for the bacon at the dollar store, i also like those baby bell cheese and smokies, not the ones with cheese.
I've been watching your videos for awhile, hope you upload another hiking video soon! thanks!
Hi Marty. I just found your channel - looking forward to watching more of your videos. (And get inspired by the beautiful Alberta wilderness.) Ichan noodles, Knorr sides and Quaker oats can become pretty tedious on the taste buds and the freeze-dried meals can put put a dent in your wallet. Have you ever thought about dehydrating and creating some of your own meals for the sake of variety and nutrition?
+Daniel Luippold I have and did on some occasions. My wife is an amazing cook, so we eat well at home. I hunt and we grow a garden, so we mostly eat healthy. I don't mind "easy" food on hikes. I hike for the scenery and not for the food. I also don't usually have lots of advance warning for a trip. I just decide and go when work is not too busy and the weather looks good. So I just grab a few easy items at home and the store. I also tend to lose my appetite in the bush. Good question. Thanks for watching.
You eat a lot. I suppose that comes with hiking all day, you are fit. Your portions are large though lol
I like that you have a lot of drink oriented stuff. Not a lot of weight, fun to make, gives you reason to build a fire and boil water, and is fun to consume.
+Tcamp On very long hikes I walk 20+ km per day. It's cold in the mountains, and the elevation also causes the body's metabolism to burn more calories. I use about 5,000+ calories per day, but consume less than 2,200. On some trips I love a pound of body weight every few days. Most foods I bring are high in carbohydrates so they burn quickly and don't get stored as fat.
you should see if you can get powdered milk or non dairy creamer powder for your oatmeal and coffee or UHT mini milks the ones you get in cafes they do not need to be refrigerated.
LOL i was waiting for you to say beef jerky
Thanks i share with my brother.
We are also from Alberta.
Baby bells are supposed to be refrigerated but I see lots of people taking them backpacking. They must keep well?
Many processed foods have so much preservatives that they keep extremely well on the trail, especially when it's moderately cool.
I was wondering that as well.
+Martyupnorth Thanks so much for your response. I feel better about taking them on my hike!
Marty,
Great videos. I just found your channel this past week and have enjoyed it much.
In another video (Loading my backpack for a 4-day trip) you mentioned your food was about a pound a day. What is see you packing in this video looks more like mine. I take about 2 pounds a day food. Have you weighed your food?
Thanks again for all the great videos.
Rodney
+Rodney Mruk On my last 10-day trip I used 14 lbs on consumables, which is almost all food, so I'm closer to 1.4 lbs/day. I just got a scale, so I'll start weighing. I also bring more lbs/day on short trips (luxuries). Long trips are very bare and plain.
+Martyupnorth - What do you do about those cheese smokies? Aren't they supposed to be refrigerated? Food poisoning on the trail would be a rough way to go. I would be tempted to freeze them the day beforehand.
+Robert Schon Humans discovered smoking meat as a way to preserve it long ago. That's why I bring sausage and jerky on the trail. It gives me access to protein without the need for refrigeration. Modern sausages have so much preservatives and in this case are stored under vacuum, so they keep a long time. If you keep the food in the bottom of the pack it stays quite cool. It's surprising how many foods keep well in the bush. I've had bacon that was many days old. It smells a little "off" but it's still good. Don't mistaken food poisoning with food spoilage. Modern humans are just too comfortable. When hiking I like to transport myself to a different time in history. No electricity, no refrigeration, no fancy water filtration. Also think about this...80% of the worlds population lives without all the comforts we enjoy, and they still survive. Thanks for the question, and thanks for watching.
Martyupnorth thanks for the insight. I love to see the perspective that individuals take on their outdoor adventures. I have no problem eating food like that...my wife isn't quite the case lol. Thanks for the good video and quick response. You've gained a follower in me. My sons will enjoy your videos as well. Best wishes friend!
I have really appreciated watching your videos. They are really great! I was wondering about drinking from creeks, rivers, streams. I know it LOOKS pure, but I sell water filters, for homes, and I've learned from colleagues citing studies that water in the wild can contain cryptospiridium and other parasites or cysts, because of wildlife, spores, etc. Did you research your destination's waters? Or have you just never had a problem?
Why oysters? Are they superior to other canned fish?
No, it's just a personal preference. Sardines are just as good on the trail. Actually, the advantage of sardines and tuna is that they now sell it in pouches that weigh less than tin cans.
Hi Marty,
Do you have to worry about the smokies going bad if you are not carrying a cooler?
No. They keep for at least 3-4 days.
Great idea on sorting your meals. I only bring packages of soup, freeze dried meals and some granola bars. You certainly eat better meals hah. Do those smokies not need to be kept chilled?
Snow Peak If you buy pre-cooked sausages or smokies they keep for days. Especially the commercially packaged one. Remember, smoking meet was developed long ago to keep from spoiling. It's actually quite surprising what keeps for days, especially when it's a little cool out. Thanks for watching.
That's great to hear! I'm going to bring some sausages on my next trip; it'll be a nice change from the usually freeze dried meal :)
Martyupnorth yeah any of the dry cured salamis and prosuto style ham will keep for a good while un-refrigerated as well as hard wax covered cheeses.......a trick i used on long hikes is to suck boiled sweets the steady hit of glucose gives energy and you don't feel as hungry when you get to your camp site. have you ever considered making your own Jerky? its really easy to do at home.
Hi Marty. Do you eat the oatmeal right out of the packages? It's a trick someone showed me and I've been doing it at work ever since?
I never knew you could do that. I'll have to try it.
Shake the package up a bit to spread the flavouring inside around. Just rip the top off. Pour your hot water in, stir, then eat. Make sure to grip the package on the outside edge or risk a burn. Once consumed throw the package out. Only thing to clean is your dirty spoon. A military guy showed me. I thought the packaging wouldn't hold up to the heat but it did.
Do the cheese and smokies do good without refrigeration?
+The Maker Geek You bet. Humans have been smoking meat and making sausage as a way to preserve food for a long time. Just make sure the sausage is cooked. It keeps for many days. For a little extra time freeze them first. It will take a day or two for them to thaw. It's cool in the mountains, so anything in a bag and inside my pack stays cool. Same goes for the cheese. Especially hard cheese. I buy individually wrapped Cheddar and Gouda.
I love The smokies and Oysters but I would take a lot of smoked jerky just in cause of emergency ! do you use a GPS at all ? I'm jealous I have to take my kids on one before its over
+Everett Smith I used to bring a GPS, but I don't any more. The trails are well defined after centuries of use by men and animals. Now I look at Google Earth to get ideas for new areas to explore. I just follow rivers and the high ground. If I get lost I backtrack. It's all good. Is that your service picture? Thanks for serving.
+Martyupnorth yes I was in the marines in the lait 70' thank God After Vietnam , I've been lost in a f
+Everett Smith freak snowstorm in BigHorns lost in 3' to 4' feet snow for 7 hours will not go out without one now your welcome
Is there sometimes a place to dispose of the trash, or do you usually just bring the empty packaging back?
Pack in, pack out. Some trails allow fires, in which case I'll burn some paper.
Marty, What would you say would be a good amount of calories to consume per day if someone is hiking 10-15 miles a day?
My Garmin watch and software calculate that I burn from 2,500-3,700 calories when I hike. I pack about 1,500 -1,800 calories per day worth of food. So my daily deficit is about 1,000-1,900. So technically I could lose about half a pound of body weight per day. On my 9 day hike video I weight myself at the end, and lost about 3.5 lbs so the math is correct. No all calories are equal. You want to pack mostly carbohydrates, with a bit of protein to rebuild damaged muscles. That's why 11 days is about my limit. That requires a good 20 lbs of food. Hope this answers your question. Cheers.
Thanks Marty! Also, look into L-Glutamine. Its what body builders and athletes use to repair their muscle after strenuous exercise, Cheers.
i keep hearing you say ichi brand soup ? is that just ramen noodles essentialy
+Andrew Flores Yes it is. It's a brand that is readily available in Canada.
Ichi ban. Brand name of noodles.
Is it cheaper to do it that way or buy mre
+adinson8 MRE are hard to find in Canada, so they are quite expensive. I've seen a few guys bring MRE on the trail, but they don't make a lot of sense for long distance hiking because they are no dehydrated food, so they are quite heavy (unless you buy winter ration MREs). For a one or 2 day trip, sure, just throw in a few MREs and your good to go.
+Martyupnorth thanks for the tip sir
MRE's are also bulky and harder to pack
+nukethebastards true you do have a great point on that I have also learned a lot from +martyupnorth. thanks for the comments
Man, you need some beef jerky and peanut butter in that..!! Love the simplicity while still being good..
You forgot to bring the beer lol
beer doesn't taste very god warm lol bit other than that ikr
That's a lot of food!
+Peter Dassira I burn a lot of calories while hiking. I ration on the trail even further, just in case something happens and I'm stuck for a few extra days. "I'd rather look at it than for it".
Very good point! I'm still trying to develop my backpacking system and cutting food needs to be the last resort. Thanks
Very good point! I'm still trying to develop my backpacking system and cutting food needs to be the last resort. Thanks
Save the money for the journey!
i realy like your videos but sound so not good will you upgrade your camera/mic?
I have. I purchased a new GoPro with an external mic.
Organization is important, but each meal doesn't require its own bag. You could put all your breakfast into one, all suppers into another. With less it's a lot easier to not forget something in your pack which should be hung or tucked into the bear proof lockers. For snacks just pull them out at breakfast and sort what you want while you're hiking. Pack your snacks with easy access in mind so if/when you stop they're easy to grab.
Karel Blankenfeldt Better pack Day One Breakfast separate from Day Two Breakfast so as Lunches and Dinners and so on. Why? Because its easier to sort and eat and the mentality of what you gonna eat that day. For example FIRST DAY (this would be LUNCH since you already have breakfast before hitting the trails.) Lunch menu would be tuna rolled in tortillas with some GORP. Then at DINNERtime the long awaited STEAK and potatoes. (A frozen steak will be defrost in the bag while hiking 10-14 hours. Then SECOND DAY BREAKFAST would be oatmeal and protein bars. Snack will be peanutbutter crackers, chocolate and so on, Lunch on SECOND DAY is bagel with summer sausages then dinner on SECOND DAY is mountain house. Things like that will give you boost since everything is prepared before the trip and will give you more miles to hike.
Looks good. But limited good protein. Trailing 8 miles or more per day, with high sodium food is not a great combo (my opinion). Quality good source protein needed. Trail mix, cheese, hot chocolate, bars yes!
I'm not sure why someone would need more than 4 or 5 percent protein on a long hike. You certainly aren't using a hike to build mass, and the protein he has in these foods is more than enough to function optimally as long as his calorie/carb intake is high enough.
Having saidthat, I am in agreement that too much sodium is going to be a pretty big detriment over a long distance hike, or any other cardio type exercise.
Hitch Christophers average "man" s.b getting 1 gm protein for every 1lb. Hiking is a workout, less if going downhill or carrying no weight. You definitely need to prime and feed protein to muscles. Not senseless calories/carbs. Key word is "nourishing", that's just me.
+Dave R I think that's fair enough, I'm just saying that if someone is getting enough calories and enough carbs, then the protein will automatically come with it
I appreciate all feedback. Last year I hiked 100 miles on the North Boundary in 9 days on this diet (the video is on my channel). Now I'm probably in better physical condition than most 49 year-old males, but I had no issues with the food. A couple of comments. Carbs are key. I know my body, and I can feel right away when I'm out of "juice". One day I had a snack of just canned oysters and cheese for lunch, and 20 minutes later I could immediately feel a lack of energy. Protein is good for rebuilding muscle for sure. The salt is not a big problem for me. I find I sweat so much that I need salt and other electolytes. I also tend to drink 4-5 litres a day on my hikes. Even at that rate, I had a moment on day 6 where my pee was dark like tea. On short trips under 4 days I do bring some fresh stuff like apples. I wish I could eat like I do at home, but that's not realistic. The other thing that people forget is that you're tired after a long day, and sometimes it's just about convenience. I do bring dehydrated professional meals as emergency rations, but it's surprising how often I eat them because I'm just too lazy, or it's raining and I'm stuck in my tent.
why does he need so much tea I don't under stand
Couldn't get more than a minute and a half into the video. That plastic bag sound is awful.
idk what camera he using its compressing the sound so much like 32 kbps sound
How do you do an overnight in 3 days? Do you freeze the sun or something?
Yes he does. Lame.