As a mental exercise, since we seem to be so, if you set out to get as far as you could down the AT or some other trail without resupply, how would you go about it, and how far do you think you would get? In terms of preparation it would help to get your weight down so you could carry more food, but it wouldn't hurt to leave some on for burning on the trail. Similarly extra leg muscle bulk to start with would probably help, and it could be turned into lean endurance muscle during the trip. The first week would probably be most critical in terms of whether way too much is way too much. Once you survived that it would become an issue of finding the right pace to trade off energy efficiency against basal metabolism. The gear tradeoffs would be interesting also.

So I see 4 stages in terms of strategy and planning:

0. Preparation - weight loss & training.
Best training is hiking of course, with lots of hills. Start off without extra weight and just enjoy the weight loss. Towards the train and test with the weight to see what is doable. I'm thinking 90# of food and 30# of further weight loss might be doable. That would be on a 180# frame in very good shape for carrying 100#, and capable of finishing such a trip in something closer to marathon running shape at 150#. Probably means a rather heavy pack, and hiking boots. For training you would definitely need to work up to 90# of food. I think the optimal pace would make for about a 40 day trip, which is a nice round number, even biblical. Of course I am only mental enough to think about such things, so far. Your mileage may vary. For now I am content to remain in stage 0, and maybe skip to stage 3 this summer. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

1. First 10 days - Surviving a 90# pack.
I think the first 10 days would be about avoiding injury.
Probably a steady slow pace, with frequent stops. Lots of sleep.
Perhaps you might only cover 2/3 the distance of the trip average.
Body weight still at 180# hopefully. Food only down to 70# maybe.

2. Middle 20 days - Easier Going. Pack getting lighter.
I think the middle 20 days might be the easiest, at least physically. Still a steady slow pace to burn mostly fat, but increasingly longer days and longers strides, as the pack gets lighter. The challenge might be to avoid overdoing it. I'm not sure if rest days are needed but 1/2 days now and then maybe. I think the key thing on this part of the trip might be to enjoy the scenery. You might cover the trip average during this period, but more each day. Body weight down to 160# now. Food down to 25# maybe.

3. Last 10 days - Endurance. Pain. But Ultralight.
I think the last 10 days would be the longest, so injury again likely. Still a very steady pace, but very long days are increasingly optimal. with night-time travel included more often, if the body permits. Pace and time depend alot on whether the body holds out as long as the food does. If the body does hold out the 10 days might be stretched out to 15 for more distance. Total distance is probably dependant on how much damage you wish to do before stopping. You might cover about 4/3 of the average each day during this period, perhaps more. When the body weight is down to 150#, or the food runs out, you should probably stop.