What are some light-weight, high-calorie foods for a multi-day backpacking trip?

Question

I need something that's lightweight and is more than a snack, a meal.

Answer 1

Energy bars, like PowerBar, are always useful and help fill me up when I'm going on long and strenuous hikes.  They also can be pretty high in calories considering the amount of protein in them and are very lightweight. Just try to get the right kind since they do have a lot of diet energy bars that just don't do the trick.

Answer 2

It depends on how many days. You figure 18 ozs. of rum per person per day plus beer, plus cigarettes ( generic )  plus nacho making supplies, by the time you add all this up you may as well invest in a good 7500 watt generator to operate the big-screen the  sound equipment, and the air-conditioner. That would be too much trouble for me. I would rather go to Holiday Inn.

Answer 3

Once, for fun, I tried to develop a nutritionally-adequate ration for cavers, who sometimes spend days underground mapping and exploring. I assumed that water was available but that weight was a limiting factor. I managed to keep the weight down to one pound per person per day. Much to my surprise, the problem was not providing the necessary vitamins and minerals but in providing enough calories. Caving is vigorous exercise. Eventually, I managed to load the calories in with non-defatted beef liver, which is not only calorie-dense but also nutrient-dense. The National Speleological Society published the article and I got a bit of feedback on it. If you are not "into" liver, your best bet is to make pemmican, a block of dried meat, fat, and fruit. A relatively small block can keep you doing for a long time.

Answer 4

if you can get boiling water and a pot and bowl, then instant oatmeal...also granola, chocolate bars, salmon jerky, pita bread and hummus, rocky road mix, dried fruit, chopped carrots, etc.

Answer 5

Bisquik (or mix of choice), sugar, dried fruit and nuts, oatmeal, peanut butter (and/or dried beans), jerky, cheese, dried vegetables, and fresh herbs in freezer baggies (most herbs will last a few days). These are the basics of many good camping meals. They provide protein and starches plus many of the viatmins and minerals you need. You might also carry a bottle of multivitamins but if it's just for a few days then you can skip that too. Invest in a few recipes for these ingredients.

Pancakes can be used just like bread and one of my favorite sandwiches is the peanut butter and fluffernutter between two fresh, warm pancakes or waffles (try some strawberry preserves with it at home). You want this to be gooey so make sure the sandwich is warm :@) This is a high protein/high complex carb sandwich that won't weigh you down.