Planner inputs: Food and carry
These inputs strongly affect route and day cost, especially early in the trip when load is highest.
Food consumption rate
This field asks:
How much food weight will I actually consume per day on this trip?
Use the rate that reflects the trip you are planning.
Do not use a nutrition target that you do not actually carry.
Food density
This field asks:
How calorie-dense is the food I am really bringing?
Use the food density that matches the food you are actually bringing.
Planned kcal/day
This is computed from your food rate and food density.
Use it as a sanity check, not as something to tune directly.
Base weight
Use the non-food carried weight that represents the trip.
In this version, include trip-averaged fuel and water with base weight.
Decision rule
Ask:
Is this what I would actually start the trip carrying, not what I wish I carried?
If the answer is no, adjust the input before trusting the outputs.
Where users go wrong
The most common mistake is entering idealized pack and food assumptions, then concluding that the route is easier than it really is.