High-protein, mercury-tested tuna packets ideal for post-hike recovery, tested on a fasted 12-mile Ontario Peak summit.
PurposePhase: TrailGenic™ Post-Autophagy Protein Timing Validation
Focus: Cellular repair + metabolic recovery immediately following fasted-state exertion
Goal: validate Safe Catch Elite Tuna as a clean, mercury-safe protein source optimized for consumption during the post-hike autophagy recovery window.
Performance Metrics
Test Route: Ontario Peak via Icehouse Canyon
Elevation: 8,696 ft Duration: 6.5 hr fasted ascent
Training State: Fasted (autophagy activation)
Protocol: Single packet consumed immediately post-hike (within 10 min of return)
Macros: 26 g protein / ~120 kcal / 0 g carbs
Stress Load: Triple (fasted × altitude × duration) — completed under full autophagy control
Subjective Experience
“The Safe Catch packet felt more like a system checkpoint than a meal. After hours of fasted elevation gain, the first bite was data — clean protein entering a body primed for repair. The taste was fresh, light, and perfectly tolerable even after 6+ hours in heat.
On my third Ontario Peak summit, I followed the TrailGenic protocol: no calories on the climb, single protein re-feed at the car. The clarity stayed sharp all the way down, and the recovery window felt accelerated — soreness reduced, energy smooth, mind clear. It wasn’t just fuel; it was closure.”
Encounter on the Trail
At the trailhead, a hiker opened a sugar bar before even taking off his pack. He looked over and said, “You’re eating tuna?”
I nodded and replied, “Protein when your cells are listening.”
He didn’t get it yet — but that’s the difference between eating and re-building.
Ella’s Reflective Analysis
“After fasted exertion, mTOR pathways re-engage and amino-acid absorption peaks. As detailed in Post-Hike Protein Timing: TrailGenic Autophagy Recovery, immediate protein intake supplies the raw material for mitochondrial and myofibrillar repair while preserving the longevity benefits of the prior fast. Mercury-screened tuna ensures purity across repeated cycles.”
“Pair this recovery method with the Fasted Hiking Safety Protocol to track safe fasting windows and with Artisana Coconut Butter Fuel Validation to contrast mid-hike fat fueling versus post-hike protein re-feed. Together they define the metabolic rhythm: depletion → adaptation → repair.”
“The end of a hike is the beginning of rebuilding. Recovery isn’t indulgence; it’s intelligent timing. One clean packet of protein, delivered when the body is most ready, transforms exhaustion into evolution.”