[pct-l] New Motivation for the Trail

[reinholdmetzger at cox.net (Reinhold Metzger)]

SWITCHBACK,      THE THOUGHT OF ICE COLD SODA AND BEER, JUICY HAMBURGERS & FRIES & BBQ CHIPS MAKE ME DROOL AT THE CHOPS AFTER A FEW DAYS ON THE TRAIL . BUT I ALSO CRAVE AN ALL YOU CAN EAT SALAD BAR AT THE END OF THE HIKE. ALL THAT MOISTURE IN THE SALAD REALLY SEEMS TO REHYDRATE ME.
OF COURSE YOU MAY ARGUE THAT A PITCHER OF BEER WILL DO THE JOB FASTER

 HHHMMM!!!  I WONDER IF IN LEW OF FOOD AND WATER WE COULD STRAPP A 
BEER KEGG ON OUR PACK AND GO ON A LIQUID DIET.     HHHMMM!!!  LET ME THINK.
THERE ARE A LOT OF CALORIES IN BEER VS NONE IN WATER.   WHEN I DO THE JMT MARATHONS I USUALLY CARRY ABOUT 2LB OF FOOD PER DAY WHICH DELIVERS ABOUT 5000 CALORIES AND STILL LOSE 10-12LB OVER THE 5 DAYS. BUT I ALSO DRINK ABOUT 8 LITERS OF WATER (6 ON THE TRAIL & 2 FOR DINNER, BREAKFAST & MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT HYDRATION).       LET ME FIGURE THIS OUT REAL QUICK.
    8 LITERS WATER X 2.25 = 18LB  &  2LB FOOD = 20LB PER DAY DELIVERING AROUND 5000 CALORIES.    HHHMMM!!!    HOW MUCH BEER WOULD WE HAVE TO CARRY TO DELIVER 5000CALORIES? LETS SEE NOW, REGULAR BEER DELIVERS ABOUT    I40-160  CALORIES PER 12 OZ.    SIERRA NEVADA, HOWEVER  CARRIES 3 EXTRA RICH POWER HOUSES ( PALE ALE 200,  PORTER 200, BIG FOOT 295 ) THAT'S CALORIES PER 12 OZ CONTAINER. SINCE NOTHING BUT THE BEST IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR SWITCHBACK & ME - WE WILL OPT FOR BIG FOOT OFCOURSE.  LETS SEE NOW, AT 295 CAL.PER 12 OZ
THAT'S AROUND 25 CALORIES / OZ.  WE WOULD NEED ONLY 12.5LB OF BEER TO DELIVER 5000 CALORIES VS 20LB OF FOOD & WATER. AND WE WOULD NOT NEED POTS & PANS & STOVES & FUEL. NOR WOULD WE NEED A BEAR CANISTER, WATER FILTER OR PURIFICATION TABS AND WE WOULD NEVER BE AT RISK OF DEHYDRATION.
 BUT BEST OF ALL, WE WOULD BE HAPPIER AND MORE JOVIAL CAMPERS.
YES, SWITCHBACK, I THINK WE'RE ON TO SOMETHING HERE.
        JMT REINHOLD
     YOUR TRAIL COMPANION AND LIGHTER & MORE JOVIAL BACKPACKING INNOVATOR