This past week was Teacher Appreciation Week. A community church near our high school sent over several baskets of goodies to thank teachers; sort of like trail magic! It so happens that these baskets included a variety of Clif Bars. While most teachers were enjoying the candy bars and chips, I was lucky to snag several unwanted Clif Bars. Teacher Appreciation magic turned into an unexpected opportunity to try out potential trail foods. During my marathon days, I consumed several Power Bars as a pre-race breakfast. I was never really a fan of the sticky, semi-tasteless, often hard Power Bars. But they were a decent fuel prior to a race that wouldn’t sit like a brick or glob in your stomach. I am sure I ate a few Clif Bars back in those days too, but they don’t stick out in my memory as much as Power Bars. I am fairly certain I want nothing to do with Power Bars on a future hike, but also recognize that energy bars are a convenient staple to have in one’s food bag. Enter Clif Bars as the first contender. I have seen Clif Bars in local gas station convenience stores and supermarkets; so, I expect they will be seen in AT re-supply points from time to time. So far, I’ve eaten “Peanut Butter Banana with Dark Chocolate” and “Peanut Butter & Honey with Sea Salt.” Texture is as expected (sort of a sticky chewable, semi-solid oatmeal); the taste of these peanut butter flavored bars was just average. As a teacher, I’d give them a B/C+ grade. I still have “Chocolate Chunk with Sea Salt,” “Spiced Pumpkin Pie,” and “White Chocolate Macadamia Nut” left to taste test. At 108 calories/ounce, Clif Bars are a viable addition to the food bag. I envision energy bars as an addition to the first (cooked) breakfast of the day and the centerpiece of a second breakfast along the trail. That means two bars per day. Energy bars also could easily become the sole element of first breakfast on rainy days or when I want to break camp quickly. But comments from hiking forums and trail journals forewarn that the taste/texture of energy bars quickly becomes monotonous on the trail. Having worked through college at a Pizza Hut where we could eat all the pizza we wanted, I can tell you that even our favorite foods quickly become monotonous. So, Clif Bars appear to be an approved option for my eventual thru-hike. Of course, this option still needs trail-tested, but pre-hike “test” Number One (despite being extremely minor) is complete!
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Quiet Man
I don't have a bucket list. At 61 years old, I have already had the adventures of a lifetime, especially after a 30-year Army career, five years of teaching high school, and a 37 year marriage still going strong. But I still have this deep desire to complete the Appalachian Trial. Archives
February 2022
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