Affordable, plant-based backpacking food: Breakfast, coffee
Sarah Siegel/Staff
You know what they say about breakfast: It’s the most important meal of the day. That’s as true out on the trail as it is in your day-to-day life. Getting out of your warm sleeping bag to face another brutal day of hiking is tough, but a nice breakfast makes it easier. Here’s what I recommend.
Instant oatmeal and energy bars
Two words: instant oatmeal. Don’t overcomplicate this. If you’re bringing a stove, oatmeal is the way to go. It’s quick, filling and has a great calorie-to-weight ratio. There’s a lot of flavor variety, so you won’t get sick of it too easily. But if oatmeal isn’t your thing or you’re not bringing a stove, find some granola or protein bars. Variety is key, so find two to three bars and rotate. GoMacro, Lara Bar and Cliff Bars are a few energy-dense and plant-based options.
She chose one of Oregon’s most grueling challenges.
In the early morning darkness of Aug. 1, the 35-year-old Eugene resident laced up her shoes at the Oregon-California border and stepped onto the Pacific Crest Trail.
Then she started running.
Over the next week, Halnon ran up mountains and down river valleys, through a frigid thunderstorm and boiling temperatures, felt her shins ache and feet swell up on 17-hour days in remote wilderness.
When she reached the Washington border on Aug. 9, Halnon had set a new speed record for the Oregon section of the PCT: 455 miles in 7 days, 19 hours and 23 minutes.