Fueling for altitude is a whole different game. Your appetite disappears. Your gut rebels. Your cravings make no sense. We’ve been testing and tweaking for months and wrote about it in partnership with The Feed. But if you want the short version, here’s what we’ve learned (and how we’re carrying it with us to 19,341 feet).
What’s the biggest fueling challenge at altitude?
You stop wanting to eat.
The higher you climb, the more your digestive system slows down—and the less appealing food becomes. It’s not about willpower. It’s about physiology. You need fuel, but nothing sounds good. That’s where planning ahead (and having variety) comes in.
How are you carrying food for a supported FKT?
We’ll cache fuel and gear during our 4-day recon, with drop bags staged at two key checkpoints: Pofu Camp (13,200 ft) and Barranco Camp (12,992 ft). These resupply points are critical for maintaining steady energy and hydration during the FKT push. While we won’t have a crew following us, the ability to access planned drop bags qualifies this as a supported effort. Between checkpoints, we’ll carry everything we need fuel, electrolytes, emergency snacks.
How did The Feed help you prepare?
The Feed let us test a wide range of products in training, not just buy 20 of one gel and hope for the best. We could trial, swap, retry, and figure out what actually worked when things got hard. That kind of flexibility is a game-changer.
Why does fueling matter more than pace?
Because no fuel = no finish.
At altitude, if your energy tanks, your ability to move tanks with it. You can be the most trained athlete out there, but if your body runs out of usable calories, it’s game over. We’re racing the terrain and our physiology. Fueling is the foundation.
What snacks actually work when your stomach turns to stone?
The higher you climb, the more your stomach starts negotiating. Altitude makes food unappealing, but fueling becomes non-negotiable. That’s why we’re going in with variety: gels, real food, electrolytes, and tried and true favorites.
Our lineup includes:
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Carb fuel gels (caffeinated, salted, and regular), SiS Beta Fuel and Isotonic Gels
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Skratch chews, energy bars, Amacx Oat Bars, and Nougat
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PILLAR Performance Triple Magnesium (for pre- and post-summit recovery)
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Gnarly Vegan Golden Milk Protein mixed into oats or a post-climb shake
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Precision Fuel & Hydration products: PF 30 Chews and drink mix
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Broth, coffee, chips, cookies, and sandwiches