This menu is taken from a 1997 trip I led through Mineral King, which is in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of Fresno.

Hiking in the sun at high altitude means we need to replenish liquids whenever possible. Every breakfast has a big pot of juice, in addition to coffee and hot chocolate. Similarly, every dinner has a hot soup. Many vegetables can be carried. Most of the items on this menu are bought locally and are dry, but not freeze-dried. We like to travel light, but we like to eat well, too.

On this particular trip, we carried food and equipment for 12 people for nine days (eight full food days). Group gear came out to 16.5 pounds per person, just about two pounds per day per person.

BreakfastLunchDinnerExtra
Day 1
Mosquito Lakes
Uphill, views
Potluck at cars
Juice
Bagels w/ Cream
Cheese
Apples
Miso Soup
Rice
Vegetables
Shrimp
oil/vinegar
Cookies
Day 2
Ansel Lake
Short day, One pass
Hot Choc
Cereal
Fruit
Milk
Rye Bread
Cheese
Meat
Minestrone Soup
Polenta
Jack Cheese
Black Beans
Onions
Celantro
Salsa
Fruit
Day 3
Silver Lake
Long day, One pass
Hot Choc
Oatmeal
Fruit
Cinn. Sticks
Tortillas
Peanut Butter
Honey
Fruit
Top Ramen
Tuna
Vegetables
Broccoli
Onions
H.H.
Jello
Day 4
Laurel Basin
Gravel slog, One pass
O.J.
Cereal
Fruit
Milk
Pita Bread
Cheese
Nuts
Hummus spread
Tomato/basil soup
Pesto
Pasta
Pine Nuts
Asiago
peanuts
Mints
Day 5
Laurel Basin
Layover
Chai Tea
Stovetop Stuff.
Eggs
Bacon
Chiles
Crackers
Cheese
Meat
Fruit
Vegetable Soup
Chile
Bacon Bar
Cornbread
Onions
Black Beans
S.D. Tomatos
Cookies
Day 6
Bathtub Lake
Short day, One pass
O.J.
Oatmeal
Fruit
Cinn. Sticks
Raisin Cookies
Cheese
GORP
Miso
Rice
Eggplant
Curry
Zucchini
fruit
Choc bar
Day 7
Rainbow
Short day, Tricky Route
O.J.
Cereal
Fruit
Milk
Tortillas
Hummus spread
Cucumbers
Lemon
Olive Oil
Onion Soup
Pesto
Pasta
Asiago
Pine Nuts
H.H.
Pistachio Pudding
Day 8
Amphitheater
Very short move
O.J.
Stovetop Stuff.
Eggs
Bacon
Chiles
Crackers
Cheese
Meat
Rasp. Newtons
Potato Leek Soup
Chicken Curry
Rice
Spices
Raisins
Coconut
Choc bar
Day 9
Mineral King Roadhead
Steep pass, Long descent
Chai Tea
Wheathearts
Fruit
Milk
Special Lunch
at Cars
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