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Food on the track

Hi folks I am in need of some more information about end to enders I will be leaving in May and need some advice.

I am 5 foot 5 and weigh around 56/58 kilos

I would like some advice on

1 Food prep / how much to carry should I replenish on the way or pre pack and mail gear.

2 Water / How much to carry are the tanks reliable

3 Hygiene / Pommy was or carry a mini shower pack(sea to summit)

4 Poles or no poles

5 Sleeping bag / acrylic or Down

6 How much weight should I carry

thanks in advance I am walking on my own and plan to carry a phone and a small camera also.

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Permalink Reply by Alex Williams on February 2, 2014 at 7:58am

Good morning Deborah.

You are about the same size as my wife so some of the comment will be based on her.

Food prep and what to carry is fairly up to your taste. I generally carry dehyds for the evening meal. If commercial I use a two serve supplemented with rice or pasta for 2. The rice I precook and dehydrate. So evening meal will be, cuppa soup, main with rice or pasta and maybe some chocolate or nuts.

Breakfast is generally rolled oats or simply breakfast bars with a cup of T. Oats can be spiced up with some dried fruit.

Lunch will be some form of crisp dry biscuit such as ryevita with salami and cheese or simply a small can of fish with the bix.

Supplementary food is a trail mix. Make your own as it saves you a heap over those foods labeled as trail mix or hiker's blend and so forth.

You could never carry all your food to EE. There are not a lot of places to resupply with lighter supplies on the way so you need to research this if you wish to use that method.

I can provide a food drop service south of Northcliffe if you need assistance.

The tanks are pretty reliable particularly south of Pemberton but you need to keep an eye on April and May rains to be sure they have been replenished. There is always the risk that a tank has emptied with a stuck tap or the water being contaminated one way or the other. There are very limited alternative sources of water. I was caught at Gardner Shelter a few years ago and only saved by a trickle from the nearby creek (in May). "Track conditions" sometimes has this information or it may be posted on trail talk if people have the opportunity to get on-line during their trip. If you would normally consume 1 litre during a days (20km) walk I would carry 2 litres. It may also pay to carry a "steripen".

If bathing at Shelters use a folding bucket or the like and a sponge in case the tanks are not at capacity.

There are other opportunities along the way with rivers or dams and on the south coast the ocean and inlets. Just remember there is no shark cull down this way and there can be strong rips so restrict yourself to thigh deep.

I think poles are a very personal thing and the only debate that is valid against them is they can cause erosion and can help spread dieback depending on the tip/end. I bought my wife a pair several years ago and she used them once. They are handy as poles for your backup shelter. I don't use them, if I want other things in my hand I will go skiing.

Sleeping bag..... The big advantage of down is they pack smaller and are warmer for a given weight. The advantage of synthetic is they still work when they are wet. May can be getting cool in the inland southern region. Use silk liner as they are light and will dry quickly if you have the opportunity to wash them along the way.

With respect to weight, again there are varying views that the maximum should not exceed either 25 or 30% of your body weight. If you do exceed this it turns a walk into a slog.

Don't rely on your phone as a safety device, carry a PLB (epirb, personal locator beacon) get a GPS equipped one and you may be found.