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Embarking on a journey that spans thousands of miles over the next nine months, sustaining my body becomes a meticulous undertaking, marked by something I've never done before—scrupulously counting calories. Hiking over 30 miles per day demands a strategic approach to food, and in my quest to find a happy medium, I've turned to scrutinizing every calorie. In a bid to make every ounce count, my diet predominantly revolves around bean and noodle-centered meals, with a special focus on no-cook options. The decision to avoid cooking for at least two out of my three major daily meals is not just a matter of convenience but a calculated effort to streamline the hiking experience. There will be days where cooking becomes an afterthought, replaced by no-cook meals that require only water and time. The preparation involves constant activity with my trusty Nesco dehydrator, meticulously extracting water from a mix of beans or spaghetti. Once dehydrated, the meals are elevated with the addition of carefully chosen ingredients. Here are a few staples that will grace my menu in the coming months: 1. Dehydrated Spaghetti with Parmesan Cheese and TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein): A concoction that adds both calories and protein without compromising on weight. 2. Seasoned Beans with Chips: Rehydrated beans meet the satisfying crunch of chips, transforming the initially slimy mix into a textured delight. 3. Hummus with Pita Chips: Hummus, a reliable spread, rehydrates easily and packs the necessary calories per ounce, though I anticipate a hummus overload by the journey's end. 4. Mashed Potatoes with Multiple Additions: Basic mashed potatoes become a hearty meal with the addition of whole milk powder, gravy packets, and further enhancements like TVP, couscous, or jerky. 5. Bean-Based Meals: Dehydrated beans, spiced and combined with various grains, TVP, noodles, bulgur, or other calorie-rich carbohydrate additives. These meals, while sustaining, are bound to wear on my palate over time. However, the anticipation of enjoying diverse meals in towns along the trail serves as a beacon of culinary relief. As the journey unfolds, each calorie meticulously counted becomes a vital building block for the challenges and triumphs that lie ahead.

With nearly 8,000 miles of hiking ahead of me and multiple logistical details still up in the air, I figured it was time to give a little bit more of an insight into my tentative plan for accomplishing the Triple Crown in one year. As many know and some may not, when you are living on the same items that fit in a backpack day after day, problems occur, and adversity is very common. This causes details, plans, and logistics to be destroyed in a hurry. Luckily I have dealt with my deal of this and am well versed in the art of repair and maintenance. I am an expert craftsman with a needle and floss. I once sewed up an entire backpack with floss and cross the Sierra Nevada mountain range. What follows a basic updated plan on how I plan to tackle these three long trails: > February 1st I fly to Atlanta to begin the 2,100 mile Appalachian trail on February 2nd. It will be a cold and amazing two-and-a-half-month hike up to Maine. From Maine, where I finish, I fly out to walk up the West coast on the Pacific Crest Trail. >Mid April I arrive in San Diego and make my way to the Mexican border to begin the 2,650-mile hike North to Canada. If all goes well, I will be able to attend the PCT kickoff event. The plan is to swap packs and sleeping bags for the Pacific Crest Trail in San Diego as the weather should be warmer than the Appalachian Trail in the winter. More on the gear in subsequent posts. Once I reach Canada and finish the PCT, the task of finding my way to Glacier National park begins. >Late July By some method of transportation (hopefully other than walking) I end up in Glacier National Park at the Canadian border and start walking back to Mexico. If everything has worked right up until this point and I am on schedule, this timing should be perfect. The weather in Glacier National Park in Montana should be at its peak, and I should be able to beat the snow in the Rocky Mountains down to Mexico. Once I reach Mexico, I should be so skinny and tired of dehydrated food that I will be glad to be able to take a break from the travel lifestyle and maybe even shave my beard. I hope you all enjoy the journey! Emails or notes of encouragement while I am on the trail, will most definitely be appreciated! Hiking the Calendar Year Triple Crown