Appalachian Trail Food

One of the most critical elements of prepping for the Appalachian Trail? The food.

We had to estimate and pack all of the food we’d need for four days, since we had no intentions of getting off trail for food.

Because I love lists, here’s a breakdown of the food we ate on the trail by each day:

Day One: 4 sandwiches (perishable, so we had to eat these the first day)
– ciabatta bread with pepperoni, avocado, mozzarella, artichokes packed inside

Trail mix: 2 assorted bags that contained banana chips, dates, raisins, craisins, and apple slices
peanut butter granola bars
strawberry fruit strips
homemade coffee biscotti (a trail GODSEND)

nachos, olives, and cheese

Day Two: coffee, 1 c. oatmeal, homemade coffee biscotti
Trail mix: 2 assorted bags with dried strawberries, cashews, almond slivers, raisins, banana chips
peanut butter granola bars
strawberry fruit strips

Day Three: coffee, 1 c. oatmeal
Trail mix: 3 assorted bags with banana chips, pecans, cashews, apple slices, craisins, dates

strawberry fruit strips
1 c. mixed rice and dehydrated broccoli

Day Four: coffee, 1 c. oatmeal
Trai mix: 2 assorted bags with almonds, dates, craisins, pecans

I measured everything into one serving portions, which became so helpful on the trail–all we had to do was reach into the food bag and grab something and it was ready to go.

We had a little bit of food leftover – 1 c. rice and 1 c. quinoa. Plus I packed too much coffee. But other than that, we did a great job measuring what we’d need for the trek. The assorted trail mix was the absolute best (other than the biscotti which was the perfect amount of sugar and caffeine needed on those 10+ mile days).

I was most excited for campfire coffee each morning. There’s nothing I love more than waking up on a cool forest morning, starting a fire, and sipping a delicious hazelnut coffee over the fire.

The food Shane most excited to eat? Chicken of the woods! Also known as sulfur shelf, this is a bright orange mushroom that grows on a dying/decomposing tree. We found a ton of it and had it for two meals

Our first off-trail meal? Hamburgers with all the fixin’s. So delicious after 41 miles.

Shane even got an ice cream cone treat after dinner.

Things I’d definitely pack again:
biscotti
coffee
oatmeal
trail mix in easily accessible portions
sandwiches for the first day

Things I’d probably not pack again:
tortilla shells and chips
cheese
granola bars