Food/Snacks

[hardc0r3y]

Hi all,

New here, and new to climbing 14ers. But always been very active and into sports/hiking/biking, etc.

One of my biggest questions is what do people bring for fuel? I tend to have a fast metabolism and burn calories quickly, and thus burn out and crash unless replenished consistently. I've (considered lucky to some) never really been able to gain weight. I can eat and eat and eat and not gain an ounce. I'm mid 30s and have been 6' and 155lbs for like 15+ years.

Anyway, what are your go-to snacks when climbing a 14er? How much do you bring? How often do you eat? Any tips on high calorie to weight ratio snacks? I've just bought some of those Honey Stinger Energy Gels, but have not tried them yet. They have 90 calories and 24g of carbs (as well as electrolytes and B vits) in a single 1oz packet. I haven't given them a try yet. My normal go-to on long hikes has always been things like Larabars and/or nuts/seeds. Recently been on a walnut kick, 1oz of walnuts is almost 200 cal. Obviously there's more than just calories that matter, I'm sure carbs have a lot to do with it too (I'm no dietician or nutritionalist, no idea).

I guess that brings me to another question: what's more important, calories or carbs? I've always assumed calories, but curious what fuels others here!

[justiner]

Appetite is finicky to begin with at altitude. I would kind of suggest bringing an assortment of food that have different flavor profiles (sweet, salty, savory, etc) and see what you crave. Who knows? Maybe it's pizza from last night, maybe it's a tuna fish sandwich with potato chips in it, or maybe it's a handful of jelly beans?

But maybe consider that the body does favor more carbs at altitude, so I wouldn't suggest trying out a keto diet for the first time on a 14er.

IANAD, but if you think you need to constantly top off calories, there's a bunch of powder drinks you can try out. If you're drinking water, you would then be taking in calories and you should be drinking water pretty regularly.

[Chicago Transplant]

Agree with Justin, bring a variety until you know what you crave and can eat at altitude. Some things that I eat at home I can't eat up high because they dry my mouth out too much and I struggle to swallow them. There can be a lot of debate over what to eat (ie calories or carbs), but if you can't actually stand to eat something it won't do you any good, so you may need to experiment a little to find your go to.

I generally like dried fruits (large variety, but blueberries, cranberries and strawberries probably my favorite), some seeds (sunflower/pumpkin), cheese, cured meat (salami, pepperoni or meat sticks - jerky can be too dry), certain salty snacks work for me like pretzel chips or cheez-its but others are too dry. I am very limited in bars I can eat, I can pretty much only eat builders bars mint or peanut butter. I am allergic to almonds so its hard to find ones that don't have almond butter and many of them aren too dry. Gummy bears and gummy peaches are good too.

[two lunches]

- bacon jerky
- granola bars
- salted almonds
- dried mango
- electrolyte/energy gels and chews
- occasionally a powdered drink like perpetuem or huel

i have next to no appetite in the high country so i always come back with leftovers, but those are the only things that don't make me sick to think about eating.

follow it up with first lunch when i get back to the 4runner
and second lunch an hour or two later

[Ptglhs]

I'm a diabetic so I bring a ton of food with me when hiking. I also turn around if I have only 2 snacks remaining. I bring a variety:

Trail mix, nuts for the fat, dried fruit for sugar, usually there's a bit of chocolate mixed in.

Candy that won't melt: Skittles, starburst, Lemonheads, Mike and Ikea, Fruit Jellies from trader Joe's (the last is a must have when I'm doing backpacking. Heat or cold won't destroy them, taste good even when feeling blah, and have a crap ton of quick sugar)

Peanut butter crackers, beef jerky, maybe a candy bar if it's not too hot.

Always have a couple of packages of ramen in my bag. You can eat them dry and they have about 400 calories in a package. This is more of an 'oh s**t' food than anything I want to eat.

If it's just a day hike I'll bring fresh fruit. Eating a cara cara orange while taking the 1st break over treeline an hour after sunrise and enjoying the view is almost heaven.

Mix of regular and zero sugar Gatorade. The full sugar stuff will spike my blood sugar, but I need to have something to burn while I'm out.

[PJ88]

Like others have said, best to bring a variety and find out what you like best and then dial in what you take over time based on your goals for the day.

I’ll echo the dried fruits, granola bars, energy chews, jerky, etc. I don’t like to eat super early before starting my hikes so I’ll usually bring something more substantial for the summit like a sandwich. I almost always have a pack of peanut butter m&ms.

[SkaredShtles]

Breakfast burritos, pocket-bacon, leftover pizza, al pastor tortas, and beer.

[PJ88]

Breakfast burritos, pocket-bacon, leftover pizza, al pastor tortas, and beer.

https://www.amazon.com/The-Original-Por ... B01AWYY7ES

You’re welcome.

[hardc0r3y]

Breakfast burritos, pocket-bacon, leftover pizza, al pastor tortas, and beer.

If I had a beer on my hike I'd end up pulling over to a rest stop and taking an hour long nap.

Now, 2+ beers on the other hand...

[SkaredShtles]

Breakfast burritos, pocket-bacon, leftover pizza, al pastor tortas, and beer.

If I had a beer on my hike I'd end up pulling over to a rest stop and taking an hour long nap.

Sounds like you are beginning to see the brilliance...

[hardc0r3y]

Breakfast burritos, pocket-bacon, leftover pizza, al pastor tortas, and beer.

https://www.amazon.com/The-Original-Por ... B01AWYY7ES

You’re welcome.

Is this considered UL hahahahaha

[mtree]

I'm with Two Lunches... very little appetite while hiking. If its over 5 hours I have to force myself to eat something. I carried a bag of beef jerky in my pack last year and it lasted all summer!

Depends what I have on hand. Preferences:

- meat jerky
- trail mix (no chocolate! It tends to melt)
- Kind nut bars
- maybe a Cliff bar

Sometimes I'll pack an ice cooler in the car with a Body Armor or road-soda for afterwards. Always refreshing! It takes me a few hours after the hike to get my appetite back. Same with snow surfing. Its an exercise thing.