Participants must supply all their own food for the entire course. Food is a huge part of any expedition and deserves careful planning. Beyond providing the fuel to propel you down the trail during the day and keep you warm at night, well prepared meals mean the difference between being at home in the backcountry and just "toughing it out" until you can get to a good restaurant in town. The ability to create nutritious, tasty dishes under any conditions is a sure sign of an experienced traveler. We will, of course, share cooking tips and recipe ideas in camp, but come prepared with your own food and the means to prepare it. (Note: the Institute can provide lightweight backpacking stoves and fuel. See the section on equipment.)

We won't attempt to address all the elements of selecting, packaging, and preparing food here. Instead, we will again refer you to the existing literature and make a few general suggestions. If you are looking for help, we highly recommend the NOLS Cookery (see "Suggested Reading"). In addition to its many recipes, it provides good, practical information on nutritional needs, staying healthy, packaging your food, backcountry hygiene, and dozens of other topics.

•Anticipate a big appetite. Depending upon your metabolism you can easily burn 3000 - 5000 calories a day hiking at these elevations. If we experience cold weather your caloric needs may be even higher.
This is not the time to "drop a few pounds". The low-fat diet we strive for at home might not cut it here. Make sure you're getting the right kinds of fats and that you've got a proper ratio of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Think of food as fuel.

•Avoid meals that are messy or time-consuming to prepare.

•Avoid foods with strong odors that might attract animals.

•Pick ingredients that will carry and keep well, but don't rule out all fresh foods. Tortillas, bagels, some fruits, carrots, onion, garlic, and most cheeses do just fine for the few days we will be out.

•Think about weight. Food can be a big part of your overall pack weight. Even including a few fresh foods, you should be able to put together a varied and healthy ration that weighs in around two pounds per person per day.