End of Year Updates + Top 10 Nutrition Question for the Trail

Several updates (and announcements!) for 2025!

Plus: A final bonus episode to wrap up '25 based on hiking questions for the trail.  See the list below. 

Check out Valley to Peak Resources Here. 

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• Hiking is my excuse to be able to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich 😀 What snacks offer some good energy? I have often heard that gummy bears are good but what quantity? How much is too much? Fresh fruit if available or dried fruit? No difference?
  
  

• I struggle to eat on longer hikes, how often should I eat, quantity etc I find I get really fatigued then eat something small to keep going
  
  

• On long hikes, I strive to eat every hour on the trail. I typically consume carbs. Should I also be eating protein?
  
  

• Is there anything we should prioritize to aid our recovery for hiking again the following day? I sometimes feel like I'm trying to get in a good meal at the end of the day, which means I might not sleep as well as I could, which makes the next day harder ... so I eat less and then have less energy than I want. Any tips?
  
  

• Options for protein and meal options when you can’t eat the commercial dehydrated meals! They don’t agree with my stomach…:(
  
  

• Since undergoing a couple of surgeries which involved bowel resections I have been advised to avoid nuts, seeds and skins to lessen the risk of an obstruction. I have always munched on nuts for a quick fix of protein. What snacks should I eat for a high intake of protein.
  
  

• I sweat way more than my husband and feel like I need to drink a lot more water. Is there a way to calculate how much salt/electrolytes to consume to stay balanced? Or is it just trial and error?
  
  

• I always have problems with salt/electrolyte tabs and powders. I prefer to simply drink water because the addition of supplements to the water makes me feel nauseous after drinking. I don't know if it's the key nutrients/minerals that bother me or the fact that I strongly dislike sweet drinks. Is there another way to replace lost salt/minerals during a long, hot hike?
  
  

• Are LMNT salts superior to over the counter electrolytes that I might be able to buy here or in Europe? Also, years ago you had to mix the exact ratio of water to an electrolyte packet to get the right ratio. Is this still a thing? Looking at the back of an LMNT packet online, there doesn't seem to be a quantity of water stated. Was that a myth?