Backcountry menu....need some input

[rhendrix]

This is for a 7 day hunt, I carried way too much food last year, trying to cut down on some weight this year...heres my current menu:

Mtn House Various flavors (7) 575-600 calories per meal, not bad
Granola bars Various flavors (14) 190 calories per package (380 total), light weight, smash easily though
Power Bars Various flavors (7) 240 calories per package
Tortilla Rollups Tortilla, Salami, Cheese Stick (14) 300 calories each (600 total)
Trail Mix Krogers Traditional Trail Mix 280 calories each
Oatmeal Various flavors (7) 160 calories per package, light weight

Total Calories: 2235
Total weight: ?

Trying to find something to replace the power bars with...and I am debating throwing a couple bags of skittles in there...nothing beats skittles on top of a mountain. Anyone see anything that I could change out...planning on weighing everything tomorrow, will update then.

 

[colonel00]

I may be in the minority but I don't mind carrying a little extra food because you never know whey you may need it or you may need some extra calories. Besides, it is a diminishing weight that you don't have to carry out. Just glancing at it, your list seems pretty minimal and fairly reasonable. Throw it together and see what it weighs.

 

[jmez]

About the exact same as my list. I'll take 1 pack of granola bars and 1 pack of peanut butter crackers rather than 2 granola bars. I also take an apple for every day. I think I'll add a candy bar of some sort for every day this year.

 

[Jlbmlb4]

I like to throw in some dehydrated fruit. Especially mangos or apples. Also, what about some jerky?

 

[2ski]

If you want to replace power bars try probars. More calories per bar but I haven't found one yet I didn't like the taste of. Peanut Butter and chocolate chip has to be my favorite.

 

[rhendrix]

About the exact same as my list. I'll take 1 pack of granola bars and 1 pack of peanut butter crackers rather than 2 granola bars. I also take an apple for every day. I think I'll add a candy bar of some sort for every day this year.

Your pb crackers don't wind up smashed to bits. That was my experience last year.

Will look into some dried fruit and jerky.

I've never heard of probars, don't think I could get them without ordering them online.

 

[gelton]

No ramen noodles? It's a staple in my pack for lunch. Also find that I crave milk on the mountain and I can't seem to finish an oatmeal so this year I am gonna try mountain house granola with powdered milk for breakfast. Have cliff bars for snacks + waxed covered cheese and reisens chocolate covered carmels and a mountain house for dinner. That about rounds out my daily menu.

 

[Bowhuntr64]

I add more creative trail mix ingredients, from a place like Whole Foods: chocolate covered espresso beans, dried fruit, yogurt raisins, etc. I make a crazy mix and then parcel it out into 500 calorie bags to much on throughout the day.

I also get a big box of those 100 calorie gummy packs, that are full of Vitamin C.

And I take a bunch of different kinds of bars, to keep it fresh: Cliff Bars, ALT Bars, and a few others from REI.

 

[IanF.]

Squeeze tube of cheese whiz, some hit sauce, Tonys seasoning and soy can make all taste better!

 

[Dirtbag]

If you can live off 2235 in the backcountry your list should be fine. I carry over 3000 calories a day because I feel so much better day after day when my body is getting plenty of fuel and calories to recover from such extreme physical exertion. If I cant carry over 3000 calories I'm carrying something else I dont need. If you want another high calorie food alternative look at Met RX big Collassal bars. They are fairly light and jammed with over 400 calaries per bar. Or Pop tarts they are packed with calories and are light(smash easy though) and who doesnt love Pop tarts? idiots, thats who.

 

[rhendrix]

Haha...I love pop tarts, so I guess I'm not in the idiot bracket.

I probably ate around 2100-2300 calories every day last year and felt fine. I lost some weight, but I wasn't starving at all. This is only my second year spiking out. So I'm trying to walk that fine line between just right and too much.

 

[2ski]

Your pb crackers don't wind up smashed to bits. That was my experience last year.

Will look into some dried fruit and jerky.

I've never heard of probars, don't think I could get them without ordering them online.

If you're near an REI, they carry them. Otherwise you can order a box of them from Camofire from time to time. I think there are 12 in a box. Not the best way to try them individually. If you want to try them, call camofire and they might be able to do some for you even though they aren't a current deal.

 

[RyanC]

I definately need more calories in the backcountry than 2200. I don't know your metabolic needs but you may want to try increasing your calories. My rule of thumb when packing food for a backcountry hunt is to stay around 120cal/oz. Looking at your meal plan I see some areas you can increase your calories.
1. Substitute granola for oatmeal- Granola has more calories/oz and you can eat it hot just like oatmeal. I make servings in ziplock freezer quart bags and add some protein powder to get a good source of protein in the morning. Otherwise my body burns through those carbs quickly!
2. Trade your granola bars and power bars for some higher calorie more nutritous bars- Some examples are Probar, Detour Oatmeal bars, Zero Impact Bars, Supreme Protein bars, etc.
3. Justins Peanut Butter/Almond Butter packets are great little calorie boosters- 200cal/oz
4. Adding a couple teaspoons of olive oil to your Mt. House at night will give you a boost of calories as well. I carry a little bottle on long backcountry hunts when I know I will be burning a lot of calories.
5. Trail mix- I make my own as someone else suggested, that way I can get what I want and can usually get more calories/oz that way.

Food research can be one of the most time intensive parts of any backcountry hunt. It will definately be the heaviest thing you put in your pack. For me I know I need about 2lbs of food per day to get the calories needed. I hope this helps and good luck this fall to everyone!!

Ryan

 

[brewer427]

2 things that I am adding to my list this year are KIND granola bars. These things are amazing, I get the Blueberry nut and the Coconut almond.

Also I get to craving some fruits and veggies after a couple days so I am adding Del Monte fruit burst squeezers. They don't need to be refrigerated and after stealing one from my girlfriend's nephew last week I tried it and thought right away I'm adding it to my 10 day hunt.

 

[jmez]

Mine don't get smashed up too badly. Even when they do I just dump the crumbs into my mouth. They taste the same.

I also put a scoop of protein powder in my oatmeal. I take two packs of instant oatmeal or cream of wheat, add a scoop of protein powder and then vacuum seal in a bag.

 

[Jason Snyder]

I second the granola as an option. Add some powdered milk and chopped dates, figs, almonds, etc to it to increase the calories. Eat hot or cold.

I take string cheese and crackers to go with jerky. Cliff bars and chocolate covered almonds are also staples.

 

[MNScrambler]

What kind of powdered milk do you use for granola or cold cereal? The stuff I tried tasted like baby formula.

 

[Eric Bailey]

Mountain house makes a blueberry granola that already has milk in it. I love it. Good enough to eat over and over. Especially if you use hot water.

 

[Jason Snyder]

What kind of powdered milk do you use for granola or cold cereal? The stuff I tried tasted like baby formula.

Carnation.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Carnation.

What's the calories/oz. on this? I was trying to find some earlier tonight to check this but my ol lady used it up I guess.