Or even better, if you look at the ingredients of the Cliff Gels, it is Brown Rice Syrup. Just buy brown rice syrup, add some salt, put it in one of those squeeze tubes and you have much more econmical energy gel.
Gels are wonderful for summit days. The flasks are by far the best thing you can get for them as those empties suck. Just have to remember to drink plenty of water when you take one otherwise you get a somewhat nasty stomach ache.
Excellent read and great work with the format/outline so that us 'common folk' can follow. It is hard to speak technically and still balance 'too much info' vs. 'essential info'. You nailed it though. Great info on when to eat what! As my ice season kicks off, I can't wait to put in practice. Long hard climbs usaully follow a 2 hr slug through the snow. My routine last year was simply lots of water, a handfull of cliff shots and peanut butter granola bars...can't wait to expand. Thanks! - JW
Hi Scotty,
It's great that you set out to write this article and that you are welcoming feedback.
I personally suffer from gastro-intestinal distress and many times during races or early runs and climbs have to stop and run for the loo if i didn't have time to go before. I know it's not a very uncommon issue and it happens to many people, so it's a topic to be considered.
I mention this because i see you reccommend eating a lot of avocado before a trip to load up on good fats. I would like to add that avocados very high in fiber ( also very high in vitamin C ), which is actually very good, but eating that amount in a single day could cause some problems to some people. Fiber is a non-digestible carb and it helps clean your guts as it passes through your intestines like a brush, but high dosages like that could cause some distress.
Also i would like to recommend to people who have low tolerance to lactose ( a sugar found in milk and dairy ) to try Lact-Aid pills. Lact Aid is lactate, an enzyme that digests this type of sugar found in milk. Some mammals stop producing this enzyme a while after the lactating period ends. Others keep producing some amounts. This is a very helpfull way to enjoy a breakfast of milk and cereals and dim those bad gases that are produced by the undigested sugars.
I can continue on recomending not eating gas producing vegetables like broccoli, but this could go on and is really another interesting topic for those who's belly's sometimes bother...
I'd extend in the hydration section, wich is one of the most important factors in the body fuel. I'd put the problems of drinking too much water, the best temperature of the water for being absorbed...
If follows a logical progression and breaks the overall concepts into easily “digestible” portions.
My method for keeping performance high all day is to ingest a gorp-type trail mix (nuts, raisins, M&Ms, etc) and down copious amounts of my drink mix (powdered Gatorade mixed as directed with 1 package of Kool-Aid [flavor] and a cup of sugar [carbs] added to each half gallon of the Gatorade mixture). I’ve done this for years with excellent results, even on 15+ mile days over some pretty difficult terrain.
I might add, that at only 135 pounds, I drink about 1 gallon of the above mixture per day while in the mountains. I’ve never understood how most people, many much larger than I, manage with so little fluid. But then, at the end of the day, I’m usually in much better shape than they are.
First of all, great article. Because I am on the leaner side of the scale (145 lbs) I pay careful attention to fueling during climbs. I experimented with using my biking nutrition during long climbs and had great success. For gels i use hammergel in a five shot squeeze bottle. For fluids, water with some gatorade usually works. Then I mix perpetuem for my protein/carb mix with some endurolyte powder to ward off the dreaded cramps. Once the activity stops I drink some recoverite right before eating dinner. I climb/hike with guys who I could never keep up with. Now they try to bum stuff off of me. Check out hammernutrition.com. They have great articles on fueling. See you out there.
Travis_ - Oct 27, 2006 1:54 am - Hasn't voted
Re: GelsOr even better, if you look at the ingredients of the Cliff Gels, it is Brown Rice Syrup. Just buy brown rice syrup, add some salt, put it in one of those squeeze tubes and you have much more econmical energy gel.
packet - Oct 30, 2006 1:55 am - Voted 10/10
Re: GelsGels are wonderful for summit days. The flasks are by far the best thing you can get for them as those empties suck. Just have to remember to drink plenty of water when you take one otherwise you get a somewhat nasty stomach ache.
rockrat2 - Nov 1, 2006 1:22 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: GelsGood idea, I hate the sticky packets.
jwclimbs - Oct 26, 2006 6:48 pm - Hasn't voted
Wonderfully Done!Excellent read and great work with the format/outline so that us 'common folk' can follow. It is hard to speak technically and still balance 'too much info' vs. 'essential info'. You nailed it though. Great info on when to eat what! As my ice season kicks off, I can't wait to put in practice. Long hard climbs usaully follow a 2 hr slug through the snow. My routine last year was simply lots of water, a handfull of cliff shots and peanut butter granola bars...can't wait to expand.
Thanks! - JW
egabriel75 - Oct 27, 2006 2:33 am - Hasn't voted
Other TopicHi Scotty,
It's great that you set out to write this article and that you are welcoming feedback.
I personally suffer from gastro-intestinal distress and many times during races or early runs and climbs have to stop and run for the loo if i didn't have time to go before. I know it's not a very uncommon issue and it happens to many people, so it's a topic to be considered.
I mention this because i see you reccommend eating a lot of avocado before a trip to load up on good fats. I would like to add that avocados very high in fiber ( also very high in vitamin C ), which is actually very good, but eating that amount in a single day could cause some problems to some people. Fiber is a non-digestible carb and it helps clean your guts as it passes through your intestines like a brush, but high dosages like that could cause some distress.
Also i would like to recommend to people who have low tolerance to lactose ( a sugar found in milk and dairy ) to try Lact-Aid pills. Lact Aid is lactate, an enzyme that digests this type of sugar found in milk. Some mammals stop producing this enzyme a while after the lactating period ends. Others keep producing some amounts. This is a very helpfull way to enjoy a breakfast of milk and cereals and dim those bad gases that are produced by the undigested sugars.
I can continue on recomending not eating gas producing vegetables like broccoli, but this could go on and is really another interesting topic for those who's belly's sometimes bother...
Travis_ - Oct 30, 2006 1:41 am - Hasn't voted
Inspirationthis article and comments inspired me to write my own on energy gels.
Home Made Power Gels - Energy for Less
thanks,
rockrat2 - Nov 1, 2006 1:23 pm - Voted 10/10
Nice article!Good info and written so that even us slow hillbillies can understand it. Good job!
Diego Sahagún - Nov 6, 2006 1:46 am - Voted 9/10
Good job but...I'd extend in the hydration section, wich is one of the most important factors in the body fuel. I'd put the problems of drinking too much water, the best temperature of the water for being absorbed...
Gracias
marauders - Nov 6, 2006 10:25 pm - Voted 10/10
HelpfulJust wanted to give you a quick "thanks" for writing this article. Very simple and helpful with great information.
Michael Hoyt - Apr 5, 2007 12:31 pm - Voted 10/10
A Well-written ArticleIf follows a logical progression and breaks the overall concepts into easily “digestible” portions.
My method for keeping performance high all day is to ingest a gorp-type trail mix (nuts, raisins, M&Ms, etc) and down copious amounts of my drink mix (powdered Gatorade mixed as directed with 1 package of Kool-Aid [flavor] and a cup of sugar [carbs] added to each half gallon of the Gatorade mixture). I’ve done this for years with excellent results, even on 15+ mile days over some pretty difficult terrain.
I might add, that at only 135 pounds, I drink about 1 gallon of the above mixture per day while in the mountains. I’ve never understood how most people, many much larger than I, manage with so little fluid. But then, at the end of the day, I’m usually in much better shape than they are.
Groundswell - Feb 6, 2008 1:11 am - Hasn't voted
Biker FoodFirst of all, great article. Because I am on the leaner side of the scale (145 lbs) I pay careful attention to fueling during climbs. I experimented with using my biking nutrition during long climbs and had great success. For gels i use hammergel in a five shot squeeze bottle. For fluids, water with some gatorade usually works. Then I mix perpetuem for my protein/carb mix with some endurolyte powder to ward off the dreaded cramps. Once the activity stops I drink some recoverite right before eating dinner. I climb/hike with guys who I could never keep up with. Now they try to bum stuff off of me. Check out hammernutrition.com. They have great articles on fueling. See you out there.