Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Energy Bars/Drinks/Powder

Fellow Travelers:

In preparation for my summit trip in July (3 hiking days from Horseshoe Meadow), I am putting together a "menu". I am planning on having a "trail mix" made up of cashews, peanuts, raisins, dried blueberries, and M&M's, as snack food/energy mix. I intend to have some "Zip Fizz" from Costco as an additive to water for a PM pick-me-up, and some Clif bars to exercise my jaw muscles when I haven't got anything better to do.

What do some others do, and why?

The Water Guy

A 30-pack of BEER! Because it tastes good! Just kidding.

Gookinade, peanut M&Ms, Reese's Pieces, Payday. Tried the mini-Snickers but they melt.

i give myself a poptart a day as a pick me up, after 10 hrs of hiking it's amazing the effect it has. Cliffbars don't quite pack the same punch : ) But i pack a couple of those along too.

Frosted animal crackers for dessert, grapenuts as my primary calorie source, apple cider if someone is bring a stove.

-lance

Speaking of Costco, prior to my last climbing trip I purchased a bag of "Fruit and Nut Medley". I found it QUITE good, but my son would not touch it as he finds walnuts too bitter. We also enjoyed many packets of the Kirkland "Fruit Snacks". Lastly, as a tradition my son and I eat a hand full of red vines on each summit that we make.

Have a great trip!!

I like dry granola bars, peanut m&ms, dried pineapple, the occasional Snickers Almond bar, and maybe an Apricot Clif bar (the only flavor of Clif that I can stomach). I have also recently discovered something that I really like at elevation - the Hoody's Cinnamon Toasted Almonds. I get them at Walmart. Sometimes I will have club crackers with foil pack salmon.

I have a friend who actually eats instant oatmeal straight out of the little packets, which just seems like it would turn into a hideous paste that would be hard to swallow. He swears by it, but I would rather have a donut!

I really love to roast tiny yellow potatoes in olive oil and garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper. Let 'em cool, toss them into a ziplock and eat them cold. They don't last more than a day without refrigeration, but they are good.

Cliff has a new product called "Shot Bloks". These are little gelatin cubes which they call energy chews. There are 6 little cubes in a bag for about $2.00. There are about 5 different flavors. They tast good and are not as dry as the regular Cliff Bars.

Take a close look at the ingredients of all those "energy Bars" and you will see that they are all garbage. Sure you need to eat on the way but it is your hard work and determination that will get you to the top. Whatever taste good and is filling will work just fine. Just be sure to stay well hydrated, that is no. 1. Oh by the way, a P B & J sandwich and a can of fruit cocktail works for me and I start the morning with a short stack of pancakes and too much coffee......

Jack Link's Beef Steak Nuggets, Trail Mix Bars, powdered milk.

I'd pass on the trail mix, it tends to be a little heavy. If you need something to chew or snack on, get licorice. It's high in calories and has zero fat. It also tastes good!

I went up a couple weeks ago and also brought oatmeal for breakfast. It's nice and light and high in fiber.

Also consider some gel shots. Power Bar and Cliff both make versions of the energy gel shots. They provide a nice boost of energy if you're feeling exhausted.

I wrote a four-part series on preparing for Whitney. You could check it out here.

http://www.squeezeoc.com/squeezeoc/livingitup/hobbiesoutdoors/article_1689355.php

I've taken Clif bars, Power Bars etc. but come to the conclusion that they really don't help, and most don't taste that good. For me, the sweet'n'salty bars (Nature Valley etc.) work out the best, and there's some semblance of nutrition with the nuts. Gatorade type drinks make a nice change from straight water, and I like the carbonated water with a twist of lime or lemon also, not the sugared stuff.

Peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat is tops for lunch for me (and I see I'm not alone). Last Half Dome trip, some wanted lunchmeat, so I took a roast beef/cheese sandwich instead, and kicked myself almost back down to the trailhead...it didn't even taste good, all I could think of was how good the PB&J would have tasted if I'd brought it 8^). Never again.

I also always take an apple or two (nice ripe Fuji preferably)...easy to carry and they taste great.

Try a 4 oz Sapporo on the end of a stick dangling from the front of your hat

It works almost every time except when there's lightning

I might have 4 day hike passes for July 16 if you're interested BYOB I'll supply the permits

In preparation for my summit trip in July (3 hiking days from Horseshoe Meadow), I am putting together a "menu". I am planning on having a "trail mix" made up of cashews, peanuts, raisins, dried blueberries, and M&M's, as snack food/energy mix. I intend to have some "Zip Fizz" from Costco as an additive to water for a PM pick-me-up, and some Clif bars to exercise my jaw muscles when I haven't got anything better to do.

What do some others do, and why?

Look into Hammer products...I would recommend a few of their products for Whitney or any other long distance endeavor. Perpetuim is a powder...mix with water to 2-4 times the recommended strength...create a paste and carry in a flask...this will give you all of the important nutrition your body demands during prolonged workouts. Try to avoid simple sugars...i.e. anything the ends in "ose"...these will give you too many highs and lows and what you need during this hike is consistent energy. Also try their goop, electrolyte capsules, and finish off your hike with a dose of Recoverite. Check out their web site www.hammernutrition.com for other scientific data regarding their products and you will properly educate yourself on the correct method of fueling your body. Once you try thier products you will be hooked!
Ed

There is nothing magical about a Mt. Whitney trip when it comes to food. Just take what you normally take for a backpacking trip and you will be just fine.

Normal breakfast, tried and true lunches and trail foods; run of the mill dinners with copious amounts of alcohol to deal with the pain of 16 mile days.

Since Bob R probably spends more time above 10k than below, I'm surprised he doesn't have a top sirloin in that picture For those of us who don't have much of an appetite at altitude, I have to second the recommendation for Hammer products. I used them last year on a Whitney overnight, with a few trial runs beforehand to make sure there were no adverse reactions, and I felt better than on any previous trips coming from the east or the west. Been using them ever since and have recommended them to others who also find them to be very effective.

I've pretty much gone the "normal food" route now too. This weekend we went hiking in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and for the first time ever we had Pizza Hut for our lunch the first day (left over from the night before). Wow..it was good. Snicker bars are great...Subway sandwich wrapped up. Dinty Moore.

If weight is a concern for a multi-day trip..well..heck..I just carry the extra weight and enjoy my food these days.. A little extra work to have tacos the other night was worth it..

Chris

I echo what someone said about Cliff blocks. I did the cola flavor which have some caffiene which was well needed. The only problem is that they get sticky in the heat and come in bags of 6 when 3 are a good serving size, leaving you carrying 3 sticky blocks around so wrap them good.

I also use Solo bars which are low Glycemic Index bars which I find give you a steady stream of energy instead of a surge. I like the Chocolate Crunch flavor.

However, none of these are very "satisfying" - they just give you the energy you need. Next time I would bring a PB&J for the summit as a reward.

If you are sweating a lot, electrolyte replacement is a good thing to do (hard, but not impossible to do with just foods) - some of the performance drinks/powders/gels do a good job with these and some don't. Most people I know have a hard time digesting fats at high altitude, so higher carbs (preferably complex carbs) and lower fats are generally good - pasta, rice and the like. If you look at BobR's picture, you will see a high carb "meal" with what looks like an electrolyte replacement drink.

from my experience in cycling races I highly reccomend using a sport drink such as cytomax(my favorite) they have alot more goods than the normal powerade/gatorade, and taste better in my opinion.