Hiking Hydration

There are several philosophies on hiking hydration.

As an "old school" hiker (in my 5th decade, in other words), I am fine with stopping for quick water breaks. Typically, this involves handing my trail buddy his/her water bottle while waiting for mine to be handed to me.

I keep my pack on, I don't sit down, and I take only a few sips and savor them on my tongue before swallowing.

Too much water hitting my empty stomach quickly makes me feel nauseated, and has led to cramping.

Taking off my pack is like taking the leash out of the closet and showing it to the dog: time for play?? Uh, sorry to be a spoil sport, but not quite yet...

Other hikers vehemently support the "hydration system" approach to hiking hydration.

A water "bladder", carried in the pack, allows constant access to water via a drinking tube. At least that's the stripped down explanation.

It can get pretty fancy (and expensive), if you look into these hydration systems.

I freely admit that I've never tried one, so I can't comment, beyond wondering about the necessity of adding a slime inhibitor.

But regardless of the delivery system, you need water while you hike, and before and after you hike.

With every breath, you are losing water molecules from your body.

I don't know about you, but I tend to go into open-mouthed breathing when I'm hiking uphill, so I lose even more water during that phase of each hike.

One more consideration: If you consumed dehydrating beverages recently (morning coffee or tea on the drive to the trailhead? last night's beer or carbonated drink?), you are starting off with a water deficit.

Here's an easy way to monitor your water level, other than your thirst: Keep an eye on how much, and what, you are urinating.

Scant amounts of darkly colored urine are an indication that your kidneys are reclaiming most available water molecules and putting them back into your bloodstream. Drink more water immediately until your urine becomes abundant and straw colored. This is especially important if you feel light headed.

Another clue: a dehydration headache. Mine tend to throb around my temples and pull at my eyes. I sometimes have to drink a quart or two of water before it goes away.

I always make time to sit quietly and drink at least a quart of water after a strenuous hike, headache or no headache. If I don't need the water, no harm done - my kidneys will produce abundant clear urine and my cells will be properly hydrated. Kidneys are very wise organs!

Perspiring during a hike is a GOOD thing. That might go against what you've been taught in terms of personal hygiene.

Full disclosure: I don't wear antiperspirant or deodorant when I hike, because I want to capitalize on the ability of my sweat to carry away impurities and toxins and to clean out my pores. Working up a good sweat is an age old cleansing technique!

An additional benefit of your muscular contractions during a hike: it gets the lymphatic system moving, another way to purify the blood and allow toxins to flow out of the skin pores where they can be flushed away when you shower or swim.

Are you offended by the idea of body odor?

Sweat won't smell bad until bacteria have had a chance to start metabolizing it, so on a day hike, what you are smelling is that person's characteristic "signature" odor. A garlic eater will have different odor than a curry eater.

As long as you shower or bathe after a hike, the odor won't be much of a problem.

How much sweat is "too much"? Don't ask me. I always have a soaked shirt by the time I've reached my destination.

I carry a clean, dry shirt to change into at turn-around time if the weather is cool. I just dry off in the sun during the summer - a perfect excuse for an after-lunch siesta.

Can you tell that I'm a big fan of perspiration? It's Mother Nature's way of keeping me cool and clean, inside and out. And it's the perfect excuse to fill up my water bottle with cool, clean water as part of my hiking hydration strategy.

An aside: if you are hiking with someone you are romantically involved with, or want to be involved with, the pheromones in his/her sweat can be a huge turn-on.

Or not.

A lot of human reproduction/romance is tied up in smell. Really!! If you don't believe me, ask the perfume manufacturers. They make a fortune on the sense of smell.

As far as what to put in your water bottle or hydration system, there are many opinions about hiking hydration.

And play it safe with your drinking water. Waterborne hiking illness is no joke. Hiking hydration means keeping the water you put into your body where it belongs: in your body!

Hiking hydration all taken care of? Return to hiking techniques.