In this guide
Quick answer
For a day trek in the Sahyadris from Pune, carry about 100 to 150 g of dry fruit trail mix per person, with three or four dates for a quick lift on the steep sections. Pack it in small zip bags, keep it away from rain, and leave anything coated in chocolate at home.
That is the short answer. The rest depends on the season, because a monsoon trek up to a fort and a February one are very different days out.
Why trail mix works on a Sahyadri day hike
Most Pune weekend treks are day trips: an early start, a climb to a fort such as Sinhagad, Rajgad, Torna or Lohagad, and back by evening. You are on your feet for four to eight hours, often on steep rock steps, and you do not want a heavy meal in your stomach on the way up.
Dry fruits suit that well. They are light for the energy they carry, they need no cooking, and you can eat a small handful while walking. Badam and kaju are around 550 to 600 kcal per 100 g, raisins and dates around 280 to 320 kcal per 100 g, so a small bag goes a long way.
How much to carry per person
| Trek length | Trail mix | Dates | Water (suggested) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short, 2 to 4 hours | 50 to 80 g | 2 to 3 | 1.5 to 2 litres |
| Full day, 5 to 8 hours | 100 to 150 g | 4 to 6 | 2 to 3 litres |
| Night trek plus sunrise | 150 g | 4 to 6 | 2 to 3 litres |
Treat the trail mix as a top-up between meals, not a replacement for lunch. Carry proper food as well, and split the mix into two or three small bags so you eat a little at every rest stop rather than all of it at the top.
A simple mix you can make yourself
You can buy a ready mix, or build one. For 500 g, enough for three or four trekkers on a full day:
- 125 g badam
- 100 g kaju
- 75 g kishmish or black raisins
- 50 g walnut pieces
- 50 g pumpkin seeds
- 50 g sunflower seeds
- 50 g dried cranberries or chopped apricot
- A pinch of rock salt, if you sweat a lot
If you would rather not mix your own, our Trial Mix with 12 Nuts & Dry Fruits is ready to divide into bags, and Trial Mix Fruit is the one to pick if your group likes it sweeter. Pumpkin Seeds and Sunflower Seeds from our seeds shelf are cheap ways to add bulk and crunch.
Dates for the steep parts
Dates are the fastest thing in the bag. They are mostly natural sugar and easy to eat without stopping. Three or four soft dates such as Kimia Black Dates fit in a shirt pocket. Wrap them in a small box, not loose, because they get sticky in the heat. Our guide on how to judge a good khajur explains which kinds stay soft.
Dry chuara is the other option. It is hard, never sticky, and lasts in a bag for weeks, but it is tough to chew on the move.
What melts, and what goes soggy
The Sahyadri trekking year has two problems: rain from June to September, and heat from March to May.
- Chocolate and chocolate-coated nuts melt in summer and smear over everything. Leave them out.
- Roasted and masala nuts go soft in the monsoon once the bag has been opened in wet air. Take only what you will eat that day.
- Dried berries and dates stick together in the heat. Keep them in a separate bag from the nuts.
- Paper and thin plastic tear in the rain. Use zip bags, and put those inside a larger dry bag or a plastic box.
- Nuts stay fine in any season, provided the bag stays closed and dry.
Water matters more than food
On most Sahyadri trails you cannot count on water along the way, and fort tanks are not safe to drink from unless purified. Carry all you need from the base. In the hot months, carry more than you think you will drink. Salty nuts make you thirstier, so on a hot day go easy on the masala kaju and add a pinch of salt to the water instead, if that is your habit.
If you are ordering for a group, orders over ₹1,000 ship free, and parcels reach the city in about 2 to 4 days, so order on a Monday for a weekend trek. See today’s dry fruit prices in Pune.
Questions people ask
Is trail mix enough food for a Sahyadri trek?
No. It is a snack between meals. Carry a proper packed lunch or breakfast as well, and eat the mix in small amounts at rest stops.
What is the best dry fruit to eat during a trek?
Dates for a quick lift, and a mix of nuts and raisins for the long walk. Most trekkers carry both.
How do I stop my trail mix going soggy in the monsoon?
Divide it into small zip bags and open one at a time. Keep all of them inside a waterproof bag or a plastic box.
How much water should I carry for a day trek?
Plan on at least two to three litres per person for a full day, and more in the hot months. Carry it all from the base.
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Written at our counter, where these questions get asked every week.
