Food matters

We're getting into the nitty gritty of food planning and there's so much to consider! Here's what we're tentatively planning and how it will work.

We'll each shoot for 4000 - 5000 calories per day. Probably more in the Sierras where there's more climbing and generally cooler weather, and less in the desert where the temps are really high. In the desert sections hydration will be a major concern, so we'll try to get in a high electrolyte sports drink like eload a couple times per day. 

Each day will start with a high low-glyaemic carbohydrate breakfast, with some protein as well. Something like:

1 cup (dry) oatmeal with dried cranberries and almonds and a whey shake with Progressive VegeGreens and Phytoberry. That will be a nice 700 or so calories to start the day. Lots of carbohydrates to burn throughout the morning, some healthy fats, lots of antioxidants and some quality protein. The breakfast will stay RELATIVELY the same, maybe altering the dried fruit / nut options in the oatmeal and flavour of protein to offer at least a little bit of variety.

We LOOOOOVE Apples!

4 Trays, 4 Apples Each Tray 35 minutes prep time

This will be done about 25 more times. These are being dehydrated as we speak and tomorrow will be vacuum sealed and stored away for when we set up our resupply boxes.

SOOO MUCH FUUUUUUN!

Quote

I kinda like this. Yes, he was found dead of starvation, alone in the wilderness, but he probably LIVED more than most ever do.

"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man, than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun." Christopher McCandless

Summer winds down, prep winds up.

After an insanely busy summer of working at a variety of events all over Ottawa and as far as Toronto, and a season of the usual training and racing, summer is certainly winding down and the feeling of an Ottawa Autumn in in the air. I love this time of year, I love being outside in the fall, enjoying the cooler weather and watching the season change before us.

This also means that we'll have more time to be home and put in some serious prep for next year's hike. We have a TON of food preparation to take care. Dehydrating fruits and veggies will be a massive undertaking, as will planning daily meals / snacks that will offer us the nutrition we are looking for with adequate calories to fuel the long days of hiking. I've really been looking forward to this time, to actually feel like we're making progress towards the ultimate goal.

I've also been looking for sponsorship in the way of product from a variety of brands that we are very fond of. I'm hoping to save on some costs so that we can really make this happen and maximize what we can do for the charities. As we really get into the planning and prep and we have some stuff prepared, I'll start recording some videos for YouTube.

PCT Training

Hiking the 4200km of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is undoubtedly an incredible test of body and mind. One that can't be taken lightly. With this in mind, we'll be training our bodies to withstand the rigors of hiking 30+ kilometers day in and day out, carrying up to 40 pounds or more in gear, water and food.

This will take significant physical fitness, specifically a combination of aerobic endurance, upper body and core strength and flexibility. All of these will help prevent injuries, especially early on, while we adjust to the trail. Many people start the trail with all the motivation in the world, though undertrained and injury prone. They put in too many miles too early and wind up getting injured, taking them off the trail for a few days or even for good.

We already keep pretty fit, but if we  can tailor our training to get us the best shape possible for the challenge we will face, we will be way ahead of the game and really enjoy the first few weeks.

Starting in November, I'll be doing a lot of cycling. Great for aerobic fitness, and great for leg strength and power. At the same time I'll be doing regular kettle bell workouts, which are incredible for core strength and overall conditioning. A few times per week, I'll be doing traditional weight training, which will help me gain upper body strength and build some muscle. I know that I will lose weight on the trail, so I might as well go in with a head start in terms of muscle mass. Finally, we will be consciously stretching (especially Brian) so as to decrease chance of overuse injuries.

On The Daily

We think and talk about the trail daily. We've committed to doing this thing, way over a year in advance and the just makes the whole waiting period that much more painfully long. Every day we're reminded in some way of what we'll be doing a year from now. This weekend, for example, we were staying in downtown Toronto for a couple of days for work. Despite having an incredible view from our hotel room in a classy hotel, I couldn't help but be reminded of how much I look forward to getting away from everything that a busy downtown of a big city is all about. The smell of thick humid air radiating off the concrete and ashphalt and the piles of garbage on sidewalks, and the smells of dumpsters on a hot summer day just make me wish for the the day we start our hike. Everyone in a busy city has their own agenda, their own jam packed schedule that doesn't leave room for common courtesy to a fellow citizen. More and more we become self absorbed in our own lives, living attached to technology, walking and surfing, driving and texting, that we miss out on so much of what the REST of hat life offers. The goal of technology, at the end of the day, is to make life more convenient, to get routine tasks done quicker, to work more efficiently, to communicate easier, to live life at a blistering pace so that we can be more efficient with our time. What's the point, though, if we never use the extra time we save to SLOW down, appreciate the simple things in life that bring joy? I'm rambling, I know that, but this may be the single most important driving force behind our daily motivation to make this hike happen.

Rant over.

The Goods

We recently went on a bit of a tear with buying up our gear. Got some great deals on a number of items, and from the generosity of Aaron Labarre of Popeye's Supplements, we were able to get ALMOST all of the gear we need for the expedition.

From Right to Left:
Top Row:
Red Ram Merino TShirt
MEC Merino Hoodie
Patagonia Down Sweter
MEC Lightweight Rain Jacket
Exoficcio Men's Airstrip Lite

Bottom Row:
Marmot Trail Wind Jacket
Under Armour Underwear
Patagonia Capilene 2
Chlorophylle Raid Pants
Brunton Solar Charger
Spot GPS Unit

From Right to Left:
Top Row:
Patagonia Capilene 2 Long Johns
Moving Comfort Charity Bra
Asics T7 Short
Mec Merino Lightweight Hoodie
Middle Row:
MEC Merino Lightweight 2 S/S Crew
North Face Horizon Spire L/S Shirt
Marmot Trail Wind Hoody
Marmot PreCip Jacket
Patagonia Down Sweater
Bottom Row:
Chlorophylle Impulsion Pants
Outdoor Research Sun Bucket
MEC Thundersnow Toque 
Smith Redline Max Sunglasses