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Food & Resupply

Typical Carry Strategy

Standard Food Carry Range

3 to 5 days of food

This is the dominant norm across the entire trail.

By Section

Early Trail (Georgia through Southern NC)

  • Common carry: 3-4 days
  • Frequent road crossings, hostels close together

Mid-Trail and Later

  • Common carry: 4-5 days
  • Rhythm stabilizes

Long Carries (6-7+ Days)

Exceptions only. Primarily the 100-Mile Wilderness in Maine.

Trail Food Staples

Breakfast

  • Instant oatmeal packets
  • Pop-Tarts
  • Granola or cereal
  • Carnation Breakfast Essentials

Lunch & All-Day Carry

  • Tortillas (won’t crush like bread)
  • Peanut butter or Nutella
  • Summer sausage
  • Hard cheese
  • Tuna or chicken foil packets

Dinner (One-Pot Meals)

  • Instant ramen noodles
  • Knorr Pasta or Rice Sides
  • Instant mashed potatoes
  • Couscous or instant rice

Snacks

  • Snickers (unofficial AT currency)
  • M&Ms, Reese’s
  • Trail mix
  • Jerky
  • Energy bars

Food Storage & Bear Protection

The Three Problems

  1. Bears — Strong, smart, food-conditioned in many AT areas
  2. Mice / Rodents — Everywhere shelters exist. Silent. Chew gear, not just food.
  3. Humans — Tired, lazy at night, cut corners. Cause most failures.

PCT Bear Hang (Gold Standard)

Required Geometry (Non-Negotiable)

  • Branch height: 18-20 feet
  • Bag height: ~12 feet off ground
  • Distance from trunk: ~6 feet
  • Distance below branch: ~6 feet

Step-by-Step

  1. Choose single strong horizontal branch
  2. Throw line over branch (use throw bag)
  3. Clip food bag to one end with carabiner
  4. Hoist bag to proper height
  5. Insert stick toggle into carabiner
  6. Slowly lower rope until toggle jams
  7. Let free end hang loose

Nothing is tied to the tree.

Simple Decision Rule

  • Bear box available? → Use it
  • Bear cables or poles? → Use them
  • No system + tenting/shelter? → PCT hang
  • Sleeping in shelter (no bear system)? → Mouse line + odor control

Mouse Lines (Shelter Use)

What They Are

  • Rope or wire hanging from rafters with hooks or carabiners
  • Purpose: Rodents only (mice, chipmunks, squirrels)
  • NOT for bears

How to Use Correctly

  • One bag per hook
  • Bag hangs 12–18 inches below the line
  • Bag is 12+ inches away from walls, beams, or other bags
  • No loose knots or dangling loops
  • Smooth-sided bag only

Common Mouse Failures

  • Bag touching wall
  • Bags touching each other
  • Knots and loops as ladders
  • Food left out “for a minute”

Food Bag Setup (Bag Inside a Bag)

Why This Matters

Bears follow scent plumes. Odor reduction reduces investigation time.

Correct Storage Stack (inside → out)

Layer 1: Individual food packaging
Layer 2: Odor-resistant liner (all smellables together)
Layer 3: Outer bear hang sack (slick, strong)
Layer 4: Rope + carabiner + toggle

What Counts as “Smellables”

  • Food
  • Trash
  • Wrappers
  • Toothpaste
  • Chapstick
  • Flavored drink mixes

All of it goes inside the liner.

What NOT to Do

  • ❌ Crumbs floating free
  • ❌ Trash outside liner
  • ❌ Toothpaste in side pockets
  • ❌ Open wrappers in the bag

Loose = odor leaks faster.

Early NOBO Reality Check

  • Georgia → NC: More bear attention near shelters
  • Great Smoky Mountains: Cables are mandatory
  • Shelters: Mice guaranteed
  • Winter: Boxes may freeze, cables preferred

Ramen Cooking Guide

Trail/Fuel-Saving Method

  1. Bring 2-2½ cups water to rolling boil
  2. Turn stove OFF
  3. Add noodles
  4. Cover cup immediately with lid
  5. Let sit 5-7 minutes (7-8 minutes below freezing)
  6. Add seasoning packet
  7. Stir thoroughly
  8. Eat immediately

Key Rule: Seasoning goes in AFTER soaking, not before.

Peanut Butter Ramen

Chicken broth + peanut butter does NOT taste good.

Best Method: Noodles + Peanut Butter Only

  1. Cook noodles using trail method
  2. Drain most water
  3. Add 1-2 tablespoons peanut butter
  4. Stir until fully coated
  5. Optional: Add pinch of seasoning for salt