This menu is taken from a 1997 trip I led through Mineral King, which is in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of Fresno.Hiking in the sun at high altitude means we need to replenish liquids whenever possible. Every breakfast has a big pot of juice, in addition to coffee and hot chocolate. Similarly, every dinner has a hot soup. Many vegetables can be carried. Most of the items on this menu are bought locally and are dry, but not freeze-dried. We like to travel light, but we like to eat well, too.
On this particular trip, we carried food and equipment for 12 people for nine days (eight full food days). Group gear came out to 16.5 pounds per person, just about two pounds per day per person.
Breakfast Lunch Dinner Extra Day 1
Mosquito Lakes
Uphill, viewsPotluck at cars
JuiceBagels w/ Cream
Cheese
ApplesMiso Soup
Rice
Vegetables
Shrimp
oil/vinegarCookies Day 2
Ansel Lake
Short day, One passHot Choc
Cereal
Fruit
MilkRye Bread
Cheese
MeatMinestrone Soup
Polenta
Jack Cheese
Black Beans
Onions
Celantro
SalsaFruit Day 3
Silver Lake
Long day, One passHot Choc
Oatmeal
Fruit
Cinn. SticksTortillas
Peanut Butter
Honey
FruitTop Ramen
Tuna
Vegetables
Broccoli
OnionsH.H.
JelloDay 4
Laurel Basin
Gravel slog, One passO.J.
Cereal
Fruit
MilkPita Bread
Cheese
Nuts
Hummus spreadTomato/basil soup
Pesto
Pasta
Pine Nuts
Asiago
peanutsMints Day 5
Laurel Basin
LayoverChai Tea
Stovetop Stuff.
Eggs
Bacon
ChilesCrackers
Cheese
Meat
FruitVegetable Soup
Chile
Bacon Bar
Cornbread
Onions
Black Beans
S.D. TomatosCookies Day 6
Bathtub Lake
Short day, One passO.J.
Oatmeal
Fruit
Cinn. SticksRaisin Cookies
Cheese
GORPMiso
Rice
Eggplant
Curry
Zucchinifruit
Choc barDay 7
Rainbow
Short day, Tricky RouteO.J.
Cereal
Fruit
MilkTortillas
Hummus spread
Cucumbers
Lemon
Olive OilOnion Soup
Pesto
Pasta
Asiago
Pine NutsH.H.
Pistachio PuddingDay 8
Amphitheater
Very short moveO.J.
Stovetop Stuff.
Eggs
Bacon
ChilesCrackers
Cheese
Meat
Rasp. NewtonsPotato Leek Soup
Chicken Curry
Rice
Spices
Raisins
CoconutChoc bar Day 9
Mineral King Roadhead
Steep pass, Long descentChai Tea
Wheathearts
Fruit
MilkSpecial Lunch
at Cars
Back to Knapsack Food Page