Backpacking Science and Privilege: Food

On long-distance backpacking trips we don’t take the same things for granted that we do at home and as a result we can gain some insights into our privilege and how it affects the way we hike our hikes, and pack our packs. In this series of three posts I’m going to talk about how science and privilege influence the way I pack my pack. Using science as my guide, I’m going to break the discussion into three parts (requirements for physiological homeostasis in the wilderness):

1. Food: Our ability to regulate blood sugar levels (glycoregulation).
2. Water: Our ability to regulate water and minerals (osmoregulation).
3. Shelter/Heat: Our ability to regulate body temperature (thermoregulation).