[at-l] Diet, Mileage stats from 1989 (from R. Mueser)

[rafeb at speakeasy.net (Raphael Bustin)]

Q: How fast do thru-hikers travel?

Slow:   20%  0.8 to 1.2 mph
Average:  70%  1.3 to 1.7 mph
Fast:  10%  1.8 to 2.1 mph

Q: Average miles per day (based on "successful" thru hikes)

10-12 mpd  6%
13-15 mpd 60%
16-18 mpd 27%
19-21 mpd 5%
22+ mpd  2%

Food:

* average consumption 2.15 lbs/day
* 3:1 favorite trail dinner: Liptons (tuna optional)

Weight Loss - Males

Lightest:  115 lbs @start, 110 lbs @finish
Average:  166 lbs @start, 150 lbs @ finish
Heaviest: 250 lbs @start, 200 lbs @finish

Weight Loss - Females

Lightest:  110 lbs @start, 101 lbs @finish
Average:  140 lbs @start, 130 lbs @ finish
Heaviest: 190 lbs @start, 180 lbs @finish

Caloric consumption (1982 study by Karen Lutz
of six thru hikers; 5 men, 1 woman)

Min 3067 / day
Avg 4306 / day
Max 6137 /day

* "best estimate" for calories / day: 5000
(several other studies concur)
* for long hikes, 2/3 of weight loss occurs
in first 30 days
* no mention of an increase in metabolic
efficiency with the progress of a hike.


(From "Long Distance Hiking/ Lessons from
The Appalachian Trail, by Roland Mueser)


rafe b
aka terrapin


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