Nutritional adjustments during and after multiday hikes

gottorow

I've gotten into backpacking this winter. Seven to ten miles a day over difficult terrain is typical for an overnight or multiday hike. I walked 170 miles last fall plus did some strenuous 6-12 mile day hikes to get ready for my first multi-day backpack experience after Christmas (four days, 30 miles). I've done a day hike and a couple more overnights since.

I have not been logging calories, but my hike food has consisted of:
Breakfast - multigrain english muffin, cream cheese, 2-3 dried dates, small v-8
Lunch - peanut butter or deviled ham or pouch tuna sandwich, corn chips, apple,
Supper - freeze dried instant dinner, or pouch chicken chunks and instant mashed potatoes
Snacks - nuts, dried fruit, candy bars, famous amos cookies, protein bars, beef or turkey jerky
Drinking about 2-3 liters water per day, air temps ranging 25-50 degrees.

After two or more days on the trail, it seems my body wants 3,000 calories a day for up to a week afterwards before I'm able to drop back down to my regular 2,000 calories. I usually lose a pound or two at that point after getting rehydrated and all the salt out of my system. The first two days or so after I am also really stiff if I take a break from walking and just lounge.

What am I doing right and what do I need to maybe work on? Any suggestions on how to prepare for a 2-4 days hike and then get back to a timely, regular regime afterwards?

Thanks for any feeback!!!