[Pollster]

What do you eat before a hike? I scarf down a couple bowls of cereal (due to being in a hurry). Drink a 20 oz bottle of water whilst driving to the trailhead. Eat two bananas at the car. Then I'm usually set for several hours. Seems to work as anti-bonk compound quite nicely.

[speedster]

If I'm hiking to Snow Lake, I do that same thing, but I drink the water while in the shower (save's time), eat the cereal while in the car (crumbs fall on floor and blend with pine needles and cones so only vacuum once a year, or shake out carpet at long stoplight), and eat banana on trail [I can throw banana peel into devils club patch to provide nutrients for a few months). Ciao!

[MooseAndSquirrel]

Obviously this is a joke because many of us are getting tired of these endless queries! The only subject not brought up yet is what side of the bed do you exit from in the morning. Well, on hiking mornings it's the left side-okay? Grrrrrrrrrrr...

[jenjen]

1 lb of lard, washed down with 1 gallon of cowboy coffee. Wakes ya up &keeps ya goin fer awhile. Sides, I think them coffee grounds in yer teeth is dern attractive!

[polarbear-]

I think this thread should be moved to the "Seeking Hiking Partners" section. That said, I usually don't do anything different the day of the hike than I do any other day. As far as what side of the bed I get up on it is always the right side. On hike days, the right side is often the same as the wrong side, so then I get up on the other side so I'm not jinxed. As far as there being devil's club on the Snow Lake trail, I think it is a questionable statement? Where is the evidence? If someone bushwacks into Snow Lake and encounters devil's club, and perhaps takes a picture of it, maybe I'll believe. Until then, no. OTOH, there may be sasquatches in the area.

[Slugman]

I prefer the store-bought sandwich, usually from Quick F**k Charlie's. Sometimes I will lower myself to a McDougal's breakfast sandwich or two. I must consume "mass quantities" to stave off unwanted weight loss. If I get below 250 lbs, I feel like I'm wasting away.

[Pollster]

[polarbear-]

pollster, I did not go hiking, but for breakfast I had a bowl of raisin bran, and some juice that tasted strange, and drank some water. This morning it is raining where I am and there are no fires that I can see.

[MooseAndSquirrel]

[Pollster]

Oops, meant to put this in "Saloon" (moved by admin). Darn the luck. Another incredible opportunity for interesting dialogue wasted by one slip of the mouse. Up to the Tomster if he wants to move it. No fires here either. Had eggs for breakfast. Quark just stole my pears from the tree, we both got wet trying to pick 'em in the rain. Went up Huckleberry, then watched Halle Berry, for a Huckle-Halle Berry day double extravaganza extraordinaire. But enough idle chit-chat for a rainy Sunday!

[mgd]

If you have the right attitude, the whole world is a saloon, so in that sense, (and perhaps no other), the thread is right where it belongs.

[Dante]

I eat some carbos, toast, cereal, whatever and hit a gas station for a large electrolyte replacement beverage to drink on the way to the trailhead. I've only deviated from this plan once in recent memory (because Tom forgot his boots) and that's the only time I ever got cramps on a hike. (I'm also out of shape and didn't bring enough water for the climb...but it's still Tom's fault ).

[Steve]

Two aspirin and plenty of water. I'm good until lunch time.

[Stefan]

I eat a bowl of cereal, or a bagel with some stuff on it. OJ or maybe some apple juice. I find that forcibly drinking a quart just before I get moving actually helps me out in the first few hours. I haven't noticed a difference in food intake in my body if I take it before I go.

[christy_E]

I am one of those people who have absolutely No routine in their life... Including meals. I never eat breakfast. Not even before hiking or while backpacking. Coffee does just fine til around noonish. After that.. at home and on the trail I am one of those grazer types. Constantly munching something. Bite of this.. little of that.. pop a few raisins... some baby carrots. Munch Munch Munch. Good thing I don't carry a water bottle in my side pocket.. makes for easy snack access.