Planner inputs: Food and carry

These inputs strongly affect how hard the route feels, 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 your real trip style.

Do not use a nutritional ideal that you do not actually carry.

Food density

This field asks:

How calorie-dense is the food I am really bringing?

If your food is bulky and lower density, use that honestly.

If your food is very compact and high density, reflect that too.

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 best represents the trip.

In this version, include trip-averaged fuel and water with base weight.

Good decision rule

Ask:

Is this what I would actually start the trip carrying, not what I wish I carried?

If the answer is no, the input probably needs to be more honest.

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.