Water! Drink It!

[limbs]

My best friend nearly passed out today. He was getting really dehydrated. We had just set out to hike too. When I asked how much watter he had drank today he said one glass in the morning! Just a reminder, it is getting hot! Time to hike is here! Do not forget to drink water!

[Michael]

I always take a drink before a hike, bring at least a liter of water, and have a liter waiting in the car. If it's hot out, I'll bring two liters in bottles or three in the hydration bladder. Being thirsty sucks, and it can be prevented with a little planning.

[wvbreamfisherman]

I've got a GI web belt/ suspender combo with two 1-qt canteens and a few pouches to carry stuff. It's great for a short hike or a little fishing trip up a stream. I like it better thn a day pack for really hot weather since it doesn't cover my back and lets things brethe back there.
I also carry disinfecting drops to replenish the water from local sources if the weather's really hot. The metal canteens let you heat the water up on a fire, too.

[oldmangunner]

This is a great reminder. I also have a hydration pack and love it. Preventing dehydration is easy, but once you are to the point where you feel sick it takes much longer to bounce back.

[Refrigerator]

General rule is one liter of water every hour when your backpacking and mix this up with electrolytes to replace all those nutrients your loosing.

[Judy Ann]

Originally Posted by Refrigerator

General rule is one liter of water every hour when your backpacking and mix this up with electrolytes to replace all those nutrients your loosing.

My 3rd and last attempt backpacking with 7 liters H2O for 24 hours wore me out and I didn't reach my goal of basecamp for the night. While I reached my elevation goal, the weight of fluids exceded my level of total endurance for the trip. Are you suggesting that we should be prepared to carry 24 liters when hiking in a dry environment for 24 hours?!!!

[Refrigerator]

Not 24 liters Judy Ann. All of my long distance trips are planned with water sources. North Fork trail is one of the very few that has no water source along it's route. When it's hot and humid and your backpacking the general rule of thumb is a liter every hour. For me I draw 1/2 that and at a water source I tank up with longer breaks and a cool off period.

This years trip was very unusually hot and humid making conditions very challenging. With my 2 dogs they have there own water bladders built into there packs.

I'll be sending you some pics via e mail soon.

[Judy Ann]

Gotta say, I have tremendous respect for how grueling a sport backpacking can be especially when in hot, arid conditions. Makes me appreciate our troops even more for all that they go through on a daily basis protecting our freedom.

[Camoguy]

I can understand. The temps where we live have been in the 90's for the last few days and it's usually in the 80's. It makes it hard on everyone when that happens. I usually take some type of electrolyte replacement with me when I'm sweating big time.

[Refrigerator]

camoguy your right about electrolyte replacement. This is sound advice.