Munchies Along The Track. What Did You Take Or What Did You Wish You

[Fluppy]

I am kind of stuck on what to take here (other than glucose jelly beans). I am looking at space saving snacks and snacks that are light, but give me a bit of extra energy/nutrition to get me to the next stop until our major meals (so no Baked Beans – as these come in cans and therefore add extra weight). Also no snacks like chips/crisps etc as these make you thirsty.

Here's what I am thinking of so far (not that any of these particularly take my fancy – I'm not really a snack-type person)

Muesli bars? Fruit bars? Those little sultana/nut packs (the kind that go into kid's lunchboxes)?
Hubby wants space food sticks (yuk!), Le-snacks? Biscuits – although these might go soggy with the humidity…

I am stuck because I am primarily a major fruit person. I am not a lolly person and chocolate is no good in the heat as it will melt and go everywhere. I have read that you are not allowed to take fruit into Papua New Guinea. Does dried fruit (eg – apple slices/apricots etc) in a packet count?

I have tried those protein energy bars and won't be doing them again as I found them revolting!

So…any ideas??

fluppy

[petedowling]

hi fluppy
I took some jelly babies and jelly snakes in about six mini plastic seal bags. not a lot probably about 300 grams. As we went through each village fresh fruit was plentiful and we would each put in about 5 kina and you had more fruit than you could imagine. and also the odd can of coca cola was able to be bought . meals were good and water was plentiful supplemented with some gatorade or staminade so whilst the odd lolly snack was appreciated after peaking a long climb you could easily survive without them.Also in buying fruit from the locals you felt it was a fair exchange and you were not simply doling out a handout. enjoy the training and soak up every minute on the track even the tough bits. regards pete

[peterh13]

you should contact your trekking company and see what they issue in their daily ration packs.
KTL rat packs had so much food as well as snacks that we couldnt eat it all and didnt need all the extras we took.

[Brian]

Hi Fluppy

I took some snacks 75% of which I gave away as there was really no need at all to have brought them with me.

If you are going with KTL you will get plenty to eat including a Snacks/Lollies etc. I eat well even then I could not eat all that KTL supplied.

When I go again all I will be taking is Gateraid and some Barley sugars or similar nothing more.

Whilst I drink both I prefer tea over coffee I did take a few tea bags with me although I did swap a few coffee bags for tea bags of the others on our trek.

Make sure that you carry, in dry place, some 5 kina notes with you for as others have already mentioned you can buy more fresh fruit than you can eat along the track each day and you will want a 5kina note for each purchase do not rely on the locals having change for large notes.

For your info I did not carry my tickets, passport or Aussie money etc with me as I stayed at the Gateway both before and after the trek I left these in the Safe Deposit box available for guests and clothes for my return in their safe storage area.

Keep that weight down what ever you do.

Brian

[Fluppy]

Thanks guys. Once again, you have all been so helpful.

With 5 weeks to go (this also being my very first o'seas trip), I am getting excited Nervous, but excited. Also, when should you register with Smart Traveller.gov.au? Should I do it now or wait another week or so?

[Rocky]

Hi Fluppy,

I agree the advice given by others here. The only thing I'd add is that I took individually wrapped barley sugar type lollies and found the bloody wrappers would stick to the lollies. If I was desparate enough I'd chew the lolly and spit out the wrapper as the only way to get at it. Personally, I'd go for the little packets of snakes, etc. Also those little tins of hard lollies were good – though more weight / space if that's an issue for you.

[MTV]

Re smarttraveller.org, register whenever is convenient for you. I've made plenty of OS trips and they really only want to know the dates that you will be out of the country and which country/countries you will be travelling to so that they can find you in case of an emergency. So you can register 12 months out, or the day before. Whatever works for you.

Also, big fan of the glucose jelly beans. They're a great pick me up when you hit a low and when eaten in hot / humid conditions they become a lot easier to chew. Unlike Skittles, which I can't stress enough are a bad idea to take as they will make your jaw sore if you need a fair few of them to get you through the day!

[yowieshane]

Snacks – I took snakes- for odd casual scoff, energy bars – for after particularly hard hills or at major breaks and also nuts – great for a casual scoff as well as a salt top up. But I would suggest to take what YOU like to snack on. Nothing like a quick snake to boost your energy and morale for me.

On drinking water I took both Endura and Gatorade powder to mix in. The Endura has magnesium in it to prevent muscle cramping but it is alot more expensive than gatorade or staminade. You can purchase it from cycle shops or fitness centres. But make sure you train with what you will drink on the track.

The fruit you can buy in the villages is fantastic and there is nothing like a can of coke to pick you up quickly. I have never drunk as much of the stuff as I did on the track. Be aware prices vary along the track form 5-7 kina for a bunch bananas/ can of coke.

Several people from my trek took in dried fruit without a problem. Customs was a breeze at that end as they recognise trekkers and pretty much flick you through.

You can get 5 Kina notes to use on the track at the currency exchange in the baggage area but get in quick as they don't usually have many. Also make sure you have the correct Kina for your visa on arrival. You can get teh Visa before you go but if you are travelling with a group like I was there was no point as we had to wait for everyone anyway. Got off track there but hope that helps

[Brian]

Hi Fluppy

I see mention of Visa in the previous post if it is at all possible get your visa before you leave as some have been known to wait well over an hour as long as two hours depending on how long the queues are to get theirs in Morseby.

If you do not have the Kina available you have to queue to get it then queue again for the visa.

I got my visa here and walked straight through in Morseby whilst others were still waiting in the queue to get their visa.

Brian

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