Caloric intakes needs to increase when you out on the trail, especially when it is mostly ups and downs, day in and day out. I discovered this quickly on the first day. I didn't feel hungry throughout the day, and so I didn't eat much. That was a real mistake as in the last couple hours of the hike, I was really drained of energy. Later days, I had to force myself to eat more (this was partially due to the altitude), and felt better as a result.

The snacks you choose to bring along, of course, are greatly dependent on what you like. But when you are selecting snacks, you will want to choose high calorie items that have the ability to give you quick energy.

If you are planning an outdoor adventure, either one that you plan yourself, or on a group, you will need to plan for snacks, just like you do for your regular meals.

Below are my personal choices. Of course, you may not like them, but again, if you haven't tried them, you should give them a try.

Balance Gold Bars

I have tried lots of food bars, and most of them just don't meet my standards of taste. One of the few that due are the Balance Gold bars. These tasty bars include a good balance of nutrients, lots of energy, and good taste. I generally eat two or three a day while on the trail, besides other snacks.

My personal favorites are the Caramel Nut Blast and the Triple Chocolate Chaos. Also available are the Rocky Road and Strawberry Cheesecake.

These bars will melt under warmer temps (80 degrees and above), so I only carry them when the temps are cooler.

Clif Bars

After Balance Gold bars, my next favorite are Clif Bars. Clif Bars come in a lot of choices, with my favorites being Chocolate Brownie, Carrot Cake, and Chocolate Almond Fudge.

These bars also provide a good punch of energy and nutrition, and I like to mix them between Balance Gold bars in order to have more variety.

Clif Bars seem to have a little more heat resistance than Balance Gold bars do, but I don't carry them if it is going to be 85 degrees or warmer.

M&Ms with Peanuts

These are my perennial favorites. While they my not offer the ideal nutrition, they do provide that punch of energy you need. I also like them because they are easy to carry and you can eat as few or as many as you want at a time.

They also do a fairly good job of not melting in you backpack, although I don't generally carry then if it gets to over 90 degrees or so.

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