How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Bushwalking topics that are not location specific.
Forum rules
The place for bushwalking topics that are not location specific.

How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby JohnStrider » Tue 27 Jan, 2015 9:46 pm

Hello people,

Am looking for advice from those who have done multi day hikes (most on here I would assume), but more specifically those who have done 8-10 day hikes.

- What sort of physical preparation did you do for it? Or was it just a matter of doing several multi-day hikes prior to it to slowly build your body and mind up to the task?
- How many days food did you carry at any one time? I was told by a relatively seasoned hiker that carrying anymore than 7 days worth of food can get a bit much.
- If possible, would it be worth carrying say 4-5 days food, but mailing a box of food over to a post office at a nearby location on the track for the rest of the trip?
- How difficult was it to prepare food for said trek? (Tipping using a hydrator and Zpacks might be a popular response here)
- How did you come to the final decision on your gear that you were taking?
- *for those of you who did 8-10 hikes or thereabouts* What was the maximum amount of kms you did in one day? How many kms is pushing the envelope too far?

Thanks in advance for any tips/advice/suggestions you may have. I understand some, if not all of these questions, may come across as a little broad and could provide multiple answers, but any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

JS
JohnStrider
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 380
Joined: Fri 12 Dec, 2014 12:34 pm
Location: Melbourne
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby DanShell » Tue 27 Jan, 2015 10:30 pm

JS I have never done a 8-10 day hike so I am not qualified to be too specific but I can offer some advice based on my preparation to do shorter multi day hikes.

My physical preparation is to get out there as often as I can now. I have found that the more I am out hiking the easier I am coping. It is amazing how much fitter or how much muscle memory I seem to have now. For instance when I first started (which wasn't really that long ago) I found 10 kays or so a comfortable limit in a day on rough terrain. Now I am comfortably doing 20 kays on rough terrain if its needed. Well not necessarily comfortable but I am doing it and if it wasn't for a foot issue I have id be fine. Sure I feel it in my knees on those last days especially descending but thats part and parcel of it I guess when your not a spring chicken anymore.

So to sum that up, yes getting out there and doing as many 2-3-4 day hikes as you can will be the only way you can gauge your own fitness and what you feel is a comfortable amount of kays in a day. 20 kays gaining elevation or on rough tracks or being off track is certainly not 20 kays on nice easy tracks, but I guess you would already realise this!

As for food, once again I am not qualified beyond perhaps 4-5 days but I just use dehydrated meals and have my own little plans that suit me. Salami, chocolate, soups etc everyone is different, the more you do it, the more you will work out what works for you. I am sure those experienced in longer trips will give better advice than that though ;)

The final decision on what gear to take is always going to be dictated by the conditions to be safe. In Tassie its easy usually because I nearly always take the same gear if I am up on the Plateau. However I recently did a coastal hike that was quite mild so I dropped some of my warmer gear and as it turned out I only just scraped in for warmth. We had one day that had a very cold wind.

It may help if you mention where the hike is that your planning then those that have done it should be able to assist a lot more.
User avatar
DanShell
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1200
Joined: Mon 18 Mar, 2013 11:23 am
Location: Central
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby north-north-west » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 5:59 am

A lot of this - such as the physical preparation - is dependent on the person and the circumstances. People who have been doing multi-day walks for a significant time often find it easier to get back into the groove after a break with little or no walking. But what Dan has said about walking being the best preparation for walking is spot on. While any sort of physical activity that maintains aerobic fitness and muscle tone is good, nothing is better suited to getting ready for a long walk with a heavy pack than going for as long a walk as possible with a heavy pack.

1) So, plenty of day walks carrying more than usual weight. Then overnight walks carrying more than you need. Try to get as much varied terrain as you can, so you're used to carrying the pack over all the different types of ground you might encounter on your target walk. Do lots of steeper uphills and downhills as they're often the hardest to adjust to.

2) I've carried 14 days food a few times, 10 - 12 days worth maybe 20 times. Longer outings like that I try to be more careful about what I take, to ensure greatest possible efficiency in my personal fuel supply. On the other hand, it's amazing how your body can adjust to periods of more intense activity on relatively low rations. My first jaunt up the Overland (ten days, including the Lakeside track and every sidetrip I could find) was done on instant noodles, cup-a-soups, cereal and a carefully rationed supply of scroggin (mostly chocolate & nuts). *&%$#! difficult to keep my pants on by the end of that.

3) Food drops are a good idea if you're concerned about how much weight you're going to be carrying. It's standard procedure on walks like the AAWT and the Larapinta, and there's no reason you can't do it for something a little shorter.

4) Commercially available food is adequate, hydrating your own is overall cheaper and can give greater variety and control over servings.

5) Standard overnight gear will mostly work for longer walks although there are some things that require a little more consideration. In Tassie I take a smaller and lighter tent for the longer and harder walks, which is about volume as much as weight. Make sure what you take can cope with the terrain and ANY weather conditions, because you can never be sure what Hughey might chuck down at you. Spare socks aren't necessary for two or three days, but after a week are sheer bliss.
Be logical about it, make sure you have what you need, but don't let fear lead you into taking too much. And be ruthless about eliminating the unnecessary. Personal toiletries, for instance, are a luxury - the wombats don't care about your BO.

6) It's not just about distance. I've done over 30km in a single day on a long walk without trouble, yet been knackered at the end of 8km on another because the terrain was so difficult. Pace yourself. Don't try to walk as fast as possible, find a speed you're comfortable with and do what works for you. It's more efficient to keep going at a lower speed than to race and rest all the time.
'Too much' is when your body can't cope. It's okay to be tired at the end of every day. It's okay to be exhausted at the end of some. It's not okay to be at the point of collapse every day because you're trying to push yourself too hard and too far.
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
User avatar
north-north-west
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 15493
Joined: Thu 14 May, 2009 7:36 pm
Location: The Asylum
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: Social Misfits Anonymous
Region: Tasmania

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby stry » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 6:56 am

Excellent advice.

I would add only two things. Trekking poles become even more helpful with a heavier pack.

If you can include hills in your training walks, that will be helpful. The steeper the better. Stairs in the workplace are a great opportunity.

NNW - many thanks for the tip regarding increased libido after intense activity on low rations. The flow of useful info on this site knows no bounds :lol: :lol: :lol:
stry
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1429
Joined: Mon 10 Jun, 2013 6:28 pm
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby neilmny » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 7:19 am

stry wrote:.......NNW - many thanks for the tip regarding increased libido after intense activity on low rations. The flow of useful info on this site knows no bounds :lol: :lol: :lol:


Errr I think she meant her waist had shrunk a lot :lol:
User avatar
neilmny
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 2576
Joined: Fri 03 Aug, 2012 11:19 am
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby Moondog55 » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 7:25 am

As an addition to NNWs excellent advice. sometimes it is in the walk planning itself, I often do these walks [ or used to when younger] with little or minimal training beforehand and found that I needed to do the first days at a slower pace and much shorter distances so I started to plan for that.
Also on long walks you do need to plan a rest day every so often and the biblical advice is as good as any, rest on the 7th day.
I once carried a pack that weighed over 45 kilos at the start of doing the Bogong to Hotham section of the AAWT in winter and I do not recommend it but if using supermarket rations the weight will drop by over a kilo each day.
BTW that was over 25 years ago and the gear these days would be 10 kilos lighter but the ski boots and skis are heavier and over 4 days it is the weight of the food and fuel that adds up and you have to take adequate gear.
Ve are too soon old und too late schmart
Moondog55
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 11172
Joined: Thu 03 Dec, 2009 4:15 pm
Location: Norlane Geelong Victoria Australia
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby SteveJ » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 7:35 am

Give up your vices a few months before your trip, i.e. your daily double shot espressos, booze etc. I give up drinking alcohol for two months before long trips. I often see my 'addicted' mates suffer the loss of their daily stimulants, one gave up smoking whilst on a long trip once.... he was not fun to be with :-)

I make up daily ration packs of food, aiming for 900 grams/ 10 - 12,000 kj, include lots of variety and treats. I also make use of electrolytes to keep me hydrated and to help boost energy levels on long days or up big hills.

I am pretty unfit but find two months of increased exercise (bike riding, walking and swimming) get me up to speed (albeit a slow and steady speed). I try to drop some body weight also over the two month training as it is easier to drop 10 kgs off my gut than out of my pack. Don't try to go too hard, you are out there to enjoy the walk not break speed records, I avoid time critical activities and people and find I enjoy life a bit more.
SteveJ
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 342
Joined: Mon 10 Nov, 2008 1:09 pm

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby Moondog55 » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 7:40 am

Stevej * Some of us deliberately add some extra fat around the waist-line and then skimp on the food carried as the body can utilise that extra fat easily although perhaps 10kg is a touch too much to lose in a week-end
Good advice on the addictions but I'll continue to carry coffee and sugar
Ve are too soon old und too late schmart
Moondog55
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 11172
Joined: Thu 03 Dec, 2009 4:15 pm
Location: Norlane Geelong Victoria Australia
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby north-north-west » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 7:42 am

stry wrote:NNW - many thanks for the tip regarding increased libido after intense activity on low rations.

It may just have been one of those personal things. Or maybe it was seeing all those fit young blokes on the track . . .
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
User avatar
north-north-west
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 15493
Joined: Thu 14 May, 2009 7:36 pm
Location: The Asylum
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: Social Misfits Anonymous
Region: Tasmania

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby photohiker » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 7:45 am

My last 14 day hike, I increased my daily training by adding extra steep uphill sections to the route. I Also used up some of my healthcare allowances and visited a physio. From there, I was enrolled in a Pilates class twice a week. Never have I finished a long hike feeling so well!

If you are not sure of your physical readiness, I can recommend a visit to your physio.
Michael
User avatar
photohiker
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 3097
Joined: Sun 17 May, 2009 12:31 pm
Location: Adelaide, dreaming up where to go next.

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby GBW » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 10:07 am

Most of what I'd suggest has already been said.

1. Dont start off too hard and burn yourself out the first few days.
2. Do a few 2/3/4 day walks in various environments to familiarise yourself with the gear you need and your food requirements
3. Try and keep your pack weight down (say 15kg or less) if possible.
4. Have a rest day to coincide with a food drop if possible.

My missus and I just completed our first long (17 days/180k) walk along the AAWT which included a rest day at each of 2 food drops, so I basically treated it as 3 x 5 day walks. We took our time and didn't need to break any speed records so in the end it was pretty easy.

As for training...we did none. If you have a reasonable level of fitness and get used to carrying a pack you should be right.

Food drops are a great way to reduce the load and break the walk up into manageable chunks.

Now I'm no expert but this is what worked for us.

Good luck.
"If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe"
User avatar
GBW
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1175
Joined: Fri 02 May, 2014 9:03 am
Location: Melbourne
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby Tortoise » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 10:28 am

I agree - lots of great advice here.

I've done several 14 - 21 day walks, and lots of 6 - 7 days. The most I've carried is 9 days' food/fuel. Now that I've got my pack weight at least somewhat lower, I could probably do more.

Part of that is changing from 'cooking' to 'rehydrating', which uses so much less fuel.

+1 more for the rest day. After our first 14 day walk, we always factored in at least one 'rest' day for each 7 days ish. That gave us leeway for filthy weather, injuries, lost time finding the route/track, plenty of unforeseen circumstances etc, and meant we didn't put unnecessary pressure on ourselves. In addition, if we had excellent walking conditions, we sometimes did an extra half to one day's walk, so we had a bit more time up our sleeves later on. We sometimes planned the rest day around a food drop, so we didn't have to carry the WHOLE next week's food. Most times, it was planned for a place where there were interesting side trips, for those who wanted to do more.

Re number of kms: +1 to above. 25kms on good track without too much up and down can be vastly easier than e.g. 6 kms elsewhere.

Re food: In the olden days, and before the dehydrator, getting enough light weight protein on the long walks was a challenge. Plenty of supermarket/health food shop options now, from protein powders to besan (chick pea flour), soy grits etc. A very simple meal is cuppa soups with besan flour stirred in for thickness/nutrition.

If you're somewhere where water is not a problem, I'd take extra protein powder and less scroggin - that's the heaviest part of my food.
I used to buy into the 1kg/person/day thing. I know that being smaller, I don't need as much food as some, but i'm comfortably now carrying 500-600gm/day. I don't need all the spreads I used to carry, or the desserts. I ration my scroggin on the easy days so I have extra for the more demanding days etc etc. I carry the lightest meals I can - hence no longer have couscous and other heavier carbs. Rice vermicelli (white or wholemeal), given a burst in the blender to reduce bulk, is much lighter than raw rice, and saves the cooking/dehydrating/rehydrating I used to do with rice.

Re physical prep: +1 for the walking. If you haven't done a long walk before, I'd advise doing at least one strenuous daywalk with a full pack, with your actual gear and e.g. kg packets of rice etc. That way your pack should carry in a similar way to the real thing, without having to have all your food organised. That should give you an idea of how much more physical prep you might need.

I have friends who tried to prepare for a longer walk, but never carried as much as they would need to on day 1, and never as long/hard as the first day. Without outside help, they may well have had to abort the walk.

Re gear: So much depends on where you're walking, time of year and forecasts. Do you have a particular walk in mind?
User avatar
Tortoise
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 5343
Joined: Sat 28 Jan, 2012 9:31 pm
Location: NW Tasmania
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Female

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby JohnStrider » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 11:52 am

All brilliant advice, guys, and I really appreciate it all.

I've been on about seven hikes since December. Some with gear/weight plates in the back of my backpack, some with just my hydro day pack. My first few hikes were about 8kgs, then I extended out to 16kgs (did 30kms in 5 hours that day from Wantirna to the Dandenong transmission towers; came back with two massive blisters but have since corrected that with proper footwear) and more recently I did 20kgs walking up to the look out point at Mt St Leonard in Healesville (that was pretty much uphill all the way). That track, and most of the tracks I have done, have had lots of hills so the legs are getting a decent work out. I've also been at the gym focusing on strength training too, but i do like the idea of having a chat to a physio. I think I have the initial training (doing day hikes with weights in my back pack) down pat. Now I think the next part of my training is going on multi day hikes and getting used to camping and what works best for me.

I think once I have worked out the amount of food I can carry on a 2-3 day hike, I can then determine how much, if any, I will need to mail forward prior to leaving.

30kms is probably the most I would be willing to do, and seeing as I did that in 5 hours, there is scope to stretch that 30kms out over a longer period while incorporating rests every so often. I also like the idea of a rest day and may use a day where I'm not covering as many kms as that day. What would be the ideal weight to carry on a 30km day? Or is that also a case of personal preference?

I'm planning on doing Matamata to Tongariro over the new year period this year with 2 of my cousins that I have been training with. Probably leave late Xmas day and start walking on the 27th. Hope to get to Tongariro National Park in 8-9 days i.e. somewhere around the 3rd/4th of Jan 2016.
JohnStrider
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 380
Joined: Fri 12 Dec, 2014 12:34 pm
Location: Melbourne
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby DanShell » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 12:01 pm

JohnStrider wrote:All brilliant advice, guys, and I really appreciate it all.

What would be the ideal weight to carry on a 30km day? Or is that also a case of personal preference?


My ideal weight to walk 30 klm's is light as possible! :wink:
User avatar
DanShell
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1200
Joined: Mon 18 Mar, 2013 11:23 am
Location: Central
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby JohnStrider » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 12:18 pm

Haha sorry should have been a bit clearer with that question. What would be the most comfortable weight to carry before it starts to become a hindrance and injuries start occurring.

Will be investing in trekking poles at some point.
JohnStrider
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 380
Joined: Fri 12 Dec, 2014 12:34 pm
Location: Melbourne
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby Moondog55 » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 12:36 pm

JohnStrider wrote:
Will be investing in trekking poles at some point.

Old ski poles are often cheap or free and would allow the testing phase without spending too much money, don't pay more than $5- for old ski poles tho
Ve are too soon old und too late schmart
Moondog55
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 11172
Joined: Thu 03 Dec, 2009 4:15 pm
Location: Norlane Geelong Victoria Australia
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby Moondog55 » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 12:40 pm

JohnStrider wrote:Haha sorry should have been a bit clearer with that question. What would be the most comfortable weight to carry before it starts to become a hindrance and injuries start occurring.

Will be investing in trekking poles at some point.


Old ski poles are often cheap or free and would allow the testing phase without spending too much money, don't pay more than $5- for old ski poles tho
For me 1/3 of my body weight is about my limit now but I could do more for short bursts like the slog form FC village to PV hut; that was 135 kilos divided into 3 trips
Ve are too soon old und too late schmart
Moondog55
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 11172
Joined: Thu 03 Dec, 2009 4:15 pm
Location: Norlane Geelong Victoria Australia
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby JohnStrider » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 12:55 pm

Moondog55 wrote:
JohnStrider wrote:
Will be investing in trekking poles at some point.

Old ski poles are often cheap or free and would allow the testing phase without spending too much money, don't pay more than $5- for old ski poles tho


That I did not think of. Have been scouring ebay for trekking poles recently. Will keep this in mind on my next search.
JohnStrider
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 380
Joined: Fri 12 Dec, 2014 12:34 pm
Location: Melbourne
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby Moondog55 » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 1:19 pm

Op-Shops are your best friend for cheap ski poles
Ve are too soon old und too late schmart
Moondog55
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 11172
Joined: Thu 03 Dec, 2009 4:15 pm
Location: Norlane Geelong Victoria Australia
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby DarrenM » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 1:51 pm

SteveJ wrote: I give up drinking alcohol for two months before long trips.
I usually take up drinking on long trips. Maybe I'm doing it wrong :)



Two weeks for two people...Lotta food! I still lost 7 kgs

Image
DarrenM
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 465
Joined: Tue 19 Oct, 2010 7:10 pm
Location: Sydney
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby north-north-west » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 2:19 pm

That would do me for at least eight weeks.
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
User avatar
north-north-west
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 15493
Joined: Thu 14 May, 2009 7:36 pm
Location: The Asylum
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: Social Misfits Anonymous
Region: Tasmania

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby DarrenM » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 3:24 pm

I have a big appetite NNW! :)

I have started using less of the dehy meals and am back to simple noodles etc as the price is so cheap and the calories are the same or more in most cases. How do you go with eating the same thing over and over NNW? I can eat almost anything day in day out but see other struggle. You're right about the body adapting over time to the work load and it usually takes me a week to settle in to the routine.
DarrenM
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 465
Joined: Tue 19 Oct, 2010 7:10 pm
Location: Sydney
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby wayno » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 6:20 pm

people have been carrying around two weeks worth of food on their back long before ultralight gear was invented... no point using an ultralight pack if it's not comfortable holding all the weight you need.. sometimes having something build more for comfort is the answer. once you've worked out what the weight of everything you'll be carrying is make sure the pack you're going to carry it in is going to be comfortable with the weight in it.
some companies will rate their packs according to the weights it can carry
make sure you can tolerate carrying that weight on your back for a few days over similar terrain as your goal trip without major problems. perfect world recommendations are to aim to carry not much more than 25% of your body weight.
dont take any food on the trip you havent tried out before... nothing worse than not being able to stomach what you're eating. or have it upset your stomach...
from the land of the long white clouds...
User avatar
wayno
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 8685
Joined: Sun 19 Jun, 2011 7:26 am
Location: NZ
Region: New Zealand
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby north-north-west » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 7:57 pm

DarrenM wrote: How do you go with eating the same thing over and over NNW?

I've never been one to obsess over food. As long as there's enough chocolate in my system I can cope with almost anything.
Noodles are cheap and light and with a few sauces for variety it's not that bad. Although these days I do tend to pamper myself a bit more. My body seems to insist on more protein to get through the same workload than it did 10 or 15 years ago.
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
User avatar
north-north-west
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 15493
Joined: Thu 14 May, 2009 7:36 pm
Location: The Asylum
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: Social Misfits Anonymous
Region: Tasmania

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby Happy Pirate » Wed 28 Jan, 2015 9:07 pm

John,
I recently returned from a 6 day solo hike having had no physical preparation at all (a year of back and hip problems) and no overnight hike for a year and a half. My only positive trait was a certain stubbornness and a naive belief in my own ability.
I always carry 1-2 days extra food for emergencies and side tracks.
I walk solo - you didn't mention if someone will be sharing your load.
Whilst I took a lot of fresh food for lunches - mountain bread, a punnet of Cherry Tomatoes, avocado paste, Laughing Cow cheese, tuna sachets, mushrooms, a punnet of sprouts (all this stretched for 5 days in the NSW Alps) I also relied a lot on those James Herriot packet cous cous. They were my dinner staples (and extra day emergency food) with left over tuna from lunch and a squeeze of tomato-Italian paste from a sachet and some parmesan cheese. I also carried 3 boil-able chocolate puddings (luxury extra).
On hindsight I could have been a bit lighter on the food.

I've done an 11 day solo hike in the Vic Alps previously with all my food and a full large format camera kit and tripod. It hurt a bit and I avoided the harder climbs but I was young and keen and I did around 12km a day - plenty of photo stops along the way.
I don't see any reason to limit yourself to shorter walks between post offices if you are reasonably fit, experienced and the rest of your gear is decent.
Depends on how stubborn you are; but please be sensible about your abilities and experience...
best of luck
Steve
With a Glass Eye & 3 Wooden Legs:
http://www.glasseyephoto.com.au
User avatar
Happy Pirate
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 489
Joined: Fri 02 Mar, 2012 2:32 pm
Location: Hobart
Region: Australia
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby wayno » Thu 29 Jan, 2015 3:30 am

lentils. cook a lot faster than beans.. plenty of protein, carbs vitamins and minerals
from the land of the long white clouds...
User avatar
wayno
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 8685
Joined: Sun 19 Jun, 2011 7:26 am
Location: NZ
Region: New Zealand
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby stry » Thu 29 Jan, 2015 7:19 am

The weight loss figures in this thread are pretty startling. If I lost 10kg, particularly on a walk, my physical and probably mental, capabilities, would be severely reduced. I think even 7kg would be too much for me. I have certainly experienced "loose waistband syndrome" on occasions, but this has only been a couple of kg.

Do we have a lot of overweight people here, or am I just scrawny ?

Not keen on relying heavily on noodles. Although the Trident brand have a bit more fat in them and are a bit more filling, most are nothing more than empty carbohydrate.

The longer the walk, the more important it is to try and keep some nutritional benefit and balance in your food.

Second the lentils, although I use them only as a meal extender, adding them to single serve BackCountry meals.
stry
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1429
Joined: Mon 10 Jun, 2013 6:28 pm
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby JohnStrider » Thu 29 Jan, 2015 8:02 am

Hi Happy Pirate,

Yeah I'll be walking with a few of my cousins, so we'll be able to share the tent and cooking utensils.
JohnStrider
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 380
Joined: Fri 12 Dec, 2014 12:34 pm
Location: Melbourne
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby wayno » Thu 29 Jan, 2015 9:11 am

some of that weight loss can be simple dehydration that can account for a couple of kilos sometimes. if you don't get enough minerals like sodium and ptassium back in, you cant hold enough water in your body, that often only happens with time after you've stopped walking.
from the land of the long white clouds...
User avatar
wayno
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 8685
Joined: Sun 19 Jun, 2011 7:26 am
Location: NZ
Region: New Zealand
Gender: Male

Re: How To Prepare for an 8-10 day hike

Postby JohnStrider » Thu 29 Jan, 2015 12:24 pm

As it stands my essentials are:

Tent: D-M-H Hike-Lite Series 2 Person Dome Tent (Huon)
Sleeping Mat: Mountain Designs Air Mat 7.5 Standard (the rating isn't suitable for NZ weather, so I will be updating at some point)
Sleeping bag: EE Quilt 20F Long/Wide
Pack: One Planet Ned 70L (so far so good when it comes to durability)

At the moment food and the distance I am physically able to walk are my concerns. With adequate rest during each day, I'm confident I could do up to 30kms. That would be my ceiling though. Chuck in a few shorter days and I have calculated it out to averaging around 25kms a day. I think that is doable if I plan ahead and ship some boxes over (one to a post office and one to our final destination in Tongariro; assuming that is doable).

Heading out on Saturday morning into Warrandyte to do 15kms and am planning on putting 15kgs on my back.
JohnStrider
Athrotaxis cupressoides
Athrotaxis cupressoides
 
Posts: 380
Joined: Fri 12 Dec, 2014 12:34 pm
Location: Melbourne
Region: Victoria
Gender: Male

Next

Return to Bushwalking Discussion

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 40 guests