BLOG #15 HYDRATION

                                                                                           HYDRATION
Water is as essential to life as oxygen.
This BLOG will explain what you need to know, so you can plan ahead.
There is a rule of thumb, that states:
We can last 3 minutes without air.
Three days without water.
And three weeks without food. Depending on size
As long as I can remember, there has been public arguments about how much water you should be drunk per day.
In the sports we do, drinking enough water is paramount to sustaining our ability to preform. A good rule of thumb is to drink enough water not to experience thirst. 
If you do experience thirst, it’s already too late. 
Stop and rehydrate thoroughly before continuing.  
But do not over drink. Water toxicity can be as dangerous as not enough water.
When you pee, notice the color of your urine. 
If your pee is a bright yellow, you could be dehydrated.
If it’s clear, you may be out of danger. Examine your next pee and act accordingly.
Purify water as you hydrate, so you can stay hydrated 
Our blood gets thicker as we get drier. And that’s not good. 
I realize that carrying enough water is heavy, so I carry a light weight purifier like Sawyer Mini Filter.
The whole kit is only 5 ounces. They claim 100,000 gallon lifetime, with proper care.
It has a 16oz. collapsible flask that can be filled in a hurry, so you can continue on.
​I use an empty pop bottle that will screw into the filter.
I always have at least two bottles of water with me. One is a pop bottle.
I also feel that if you have to dig for, or have someone get you your water bottle out, you may not be hydrating often enough.
Find a water bottle holder so it’s always within reach.
Keep an eye on your hiking partners.
If they are not drinking enough water, they may be in trouble. 
It is your responsibility to keep your self hydrated, and watch over your hiking partners.
Drinking too much in a short time, can reduce your electrolytes to dangerous levels.
Last year while leading a hike to Two Mouth Lakes in the American Selkirks, I started to crash. 
One of the hikers is a fitness instructor and recognized my condition.
Another hiker gave me an electrolyte packet, that brought me back in minutes.


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Chic Burge       David Crafton