Any vegetarians ever hiked the AT? I’ve noticed a distinct lack of veggie dishes in the prepackaged foods. That leads me to think I am going to have to sort a lot of that out on my own.
I would really appreciate any tips from experienced vegetarian hikers…
Thanks!
Jack Stitt
Lots of vegetarians have hiked the trail - even some vegans. Our diet while we are on the trail is basically vegetarian - we eat Liptons, cheese sandwiches, peanut butter, etc. The hard part is in town, when us meat eaters go for Pizza and hamburgers and the vegetarians/vegans are eating their same old trail food because there is nothing in the restaurant they can eat. Some of the towns are very small and even fresh vegetables can be hard to find.
Spirit Walker
I use to be a vegetarian, but its so hard to be one on a day to day basis. I now consider myself a ‘sometimes vegeterian’. (LOL :lol) I would think it would be very difficult to hike the AT in its entirity w/o using some meat source. Although, Im sure there are those whove done it. I believe ‘werewolf’ who hiked it in 2002 was a vegetarian and kept the diet. One thing Ive heard of is TVP which is textured vegetable protein that can be found in health food stores. You would need to include this in mail drops as you wont find it in many trail towns… unless they have a health food store. Like Spririt Walker said, some of these small towns are not big on vegetarian diets, especially in the southern states. Personally, I would be a vegeterian on the trail and indulge in town.
guru
Yes I’m quite familiar with TVP! I like it (depending on what it’s prepared with, of course) Looks like I will be doing a maildrops instead of “foraging for myself” along the trail towns. Seems like it would be rather a gamble regardless of vegetarian preferences (ie, you never know what you’ll be able to stock up on) … of course, that is all speculation considering I have never been on the AT itself.
Jack Stitt
I met very few people along the way that actually stuck with a vegeterian diet. Many of the folks I hiked with started off with a strict veggie diet, but most quit or were forced to change. I’m not saying that it doesn’t happen though. I actually ate very very little meat while backpacking, it’s when you go to town that you’re able to store some extra calories away for the next day or so of strong hiking. This is just my experience:cheers L-Passo
LPasso
I asked a similar question on here a few weeks ago, and got the same advice, not to count on being able to forage and to maildrop/bounce staples to myself. However, I think I’m currently leaning towards planning fairly minimal maildrops and revising that if I can’t find food that meets my needs along the way.
I’m not clear from your question how much backpacking experience you have. It’s definitely possible to eat GREAT and vegetarian on the trail if you can pick your supplies ahead of time. I really like powdered hummus mix and dehydrated black beans & refried beans. The Sierra Club has a vegetarian backpacking cookbook which I’ve gotten some useful ideas out of. I tend to mix up meals ahead of time out of dehydrated staples, and I think I eat better than 90% of lightweight hikers.
Keep us posted on your experience – I’m planning for the AT in '05, and knowing what the food situation is like for you the year before will be very helpful!
Bunchberry
Jack- One thing youve said has me a little worried. You mentioned you havent hiked the AT before. I would suggest you do some sections of 3-4 days before you part on the big trip next year. Several thousand people attempt the AT each year, but only a couple hundred finish. The reason most people say for dropping out is ‘it wasnt what i expected’. Ive been hiking for 10 years. Most of that time has been doing overnighters, etc. In the last 2 years Ive spent a lot of time on the AT usually on 3-4 day trips. Its a whole different experience being out longer and on more depanding terrain. After getting the gear you need for the AT, you may want to go out for a week or so… just to get the feel for it. I would even have my trip go through a little trail town just to get the feel of the whole thing.
guru
guru,
You are correct in assuming that I have never hiked long distances before. A few weekenders and a single one-week trip is the extent of my experience. In addition, I have never hiked in extreme weather. During those hikes, I was not particularly concerned with pack weight and was carrying lots of JUNK (an electric shaver springs to mind). Obviously I am trying to prepare for a hike that is much more difficult, in both physical and psychological terms. As such, I am grateful for this resource, the people who DO have vastly more experience, and other web sites, trail journals, and so on. I am educating myself as much as possible and part of that education is a couple more week-long hikes before I go on leave. This AT hike to me is a great adventure, something that I have been dreaming of, something that is potentially life-changing, and so I am entering into preparations with enthusiasm, and self-admitted niaevety. I clearly am not an expert but some of the negative things I am expecting are: tough terrain, missing the comforts of “normal” life, blisters, strains, misjudgements, feeling like giving up, etc. I do realize that it is quite possible that I could jump on the trail, hate it entirely, and jump right back off. If that is the case, then so be it. For now though… I’m very excited!
As for my vegetarianism, it is not strict by any means. I don’t do it for any moral, social, animal, or other reason except that I prefer it. I do eat chicken occasionally and turkey on Thanksgiving 
and lots of fish.
Jack Stitt