Our jobs in Grand Junction ended in April, Nolan’s a week before mine. He went home to Nebraska and then I went home to Illinois. He made a trip to my hometown mid-April to meet the family and scoop me up. That left us about two weeks in Nebraska to get our shit together and figure out the food resupply situation. 

“Soooo, how does this work? Do you, like, carry all of the food you will need with you the whole time?” my mom asked.

The answer to that question is a big, fat no.

We made one trip to Sam’s Club and bought all the snacks. What are we eating while on trail, you ask?  

Here’s the list: 

Goldfish, Cheez-Its, chickpeas, beef jerky, deer jerky (thanks, Chris), crackers, cheese, tuna and salmon packets, nut butters, tortillas, trail mix, oatmeal, protein bars, fig bars, fruit snacks, fruit leather, dehydrated fruits, breakfast essential drink mix, Snickers, Peanut M&Ms, and an assortment of dehydrated dinners both store-bought and made at home.  

We spent time helping Nolan’s mom dehydrate various foods and trying them out prior to taking off. We attempted to determine calorie needs but quickly became overwhelmed. Multiple mornings were spent with me being an anxious mess and Nolan calming me down. We didn’t prepare any boxes in advance like we had planned. We tried leaving the foodstuff as organized as possible so his mom can prepare and send boxes for us on an as needed basis.

So our strategy is basically this: resupply in towns when needed and notify Nolan’s mom a week or two in advance of when and where we want packages sent. We are hoping for the best. ?? 

Prayers are welcomed. Extra packages with more things we will have to carry are not.

American Beauty, hiker edition