Total rookie questions, volume III

[Dainon]

The good news is that I received approval from my boss to take off from May 13 through June 14, which should allow me enough time to complete a section hike from Springer to Hot Springs, NC. That said, I have a few more stupid questions and would appreciate any information and advice that you may offer.

1. I've read that some people carry cheese. Is it Velveeta or standard refrigerated cheese (eg. Kraft Chedder)? I'm asking because I'll be hiking in warmer temps and am curious if I should be concerned about it spoiling. It appears that the maximum that I'll be between resupply points is 4 days, and given that, would a block of Kraft Chedder last that time without spoiling?

2. How high to hang a bear bag? Yeah, I know, high enough so they can't get it, but is that 10 feet? 15 feet? In a related vein, do you also have a tuna can above the bag to stop mice from crawling down the line to the bag? If so, then do you carry an empty can permanently threaded through the line so you don't have to rely upon finding one at a shelter?

3. My tentative clothing list is:
-- a FroggTogg jacket
-- pair of convertible pants
-- pair of short pants
-- long sleeve shirt
-- short sleeve shirt
-- pair of hiking socks
-- pair of sock liners
AND the clothes that i'll be wearing at the start.
Is this too much? I've read that many carry a set of clothes exclusively for sleeping in and for towns, and that makes sense to me, thus my reason for carrying the short pants and short sleeve shirt.

4. In regard to cooking gear, right now I have a 1.3L cooking pot. If I've read correctly, some carry ONLY the pot and use it both as a drinking mug AND a cooking pot. However, I'm thinking of carrying another pot (.9L) so that I can drink coffee while cooking or eating. Suggestions?

5. At first I was certain that I'd carry 2 Nalgenes for water, but I've read that quite a few also pack a Platypus 2L bag to haul water from a stream to camp. Is it overkill to carry 2 nalgenes AND the platypus? Is a Platypus worth the weight? I do not intend to carry a filter, and I've read that one benefit of a Platypus is to allow sediment to settle and then pour it through a bandana into the Nalgene. That has a certain appeal, but on the other hand I don't want to consume pack space and add weight unless I have to. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance for any info or advice that you may have.

[squirrel bait]

From one rookie to another, the harder the cheese the longer it lasts. No Velvetta which isn't exactly cheese anyhow. The ability to carry more water when ya want really helps with camping options. Go to the food forum here on this site and all those questions, and some ya probably haven't thought of are answered there. Soda pop 20oz bottles work just as well as the heavier expensive types. All these questions and more are answered, browse around, the wealth of information located within is staggering. And sometimes ya even wake up the locals and they are an endless source of amusement. Remember, everyone started out the same way. Be safe out there.

[Blue Jay]

1) I've had Chedder last a week in hot conditions. It gets a little slimy but cheese is spoiled milk anyway. I've never gone longer because I can never not eat it all past a week. I prefer Gouda but that's hard to find in the south.
2) As for bear bags, a determined bear can get your food no matter how you hang it. What you are doing is delaying it until you can wake up and chase it away. Just do the best you can, as high and away from a tree as conditions allow. I use a Kayak dry bag to not only cut down on the scent given off to attract something, but it also prevents carrying a soaked bag if it rains. Mice are well trained to get around tuna cans.
3-5) Personal preference. It will be hard to know which decision you will prefer until you get out there. Practice overnighters might show you what you are comfortable with.

[MOWGLI]

1. I've read that some people carry cheese. Is it Velveeta or standard refrigerated cheese (eg. Kraft Chedder)?

Blocks of cheese hold up pretty weel for 3-5 days. Smoked cheese tends to do particularly well. I'm fond of smoked gouda.

[max patch]

Regular cheddar cheese is fine and won't spoil. It will get oily, so store it in a ziplock which is then placed in another ziplock. I had cheese every day for lunch on my thru.

You don't need to carry an empty tuna fish can.

I wouldn't take the convertible pants or the long sleeve shirt. I would add fleece as you still may have chilly nights.

I've never heard of anyone drinking coffee out of their cook pot although I suppose its possible. Take a plastic insulated cup with a lip to keep your coffee or hot chocolate hot. Check into a ti cup if money isn't an issue. By the way, after a couple weeks I stopped cooking breakfast as I thought it wasn't worth the hassle. My only hot meal or drink was at supper.

I used 2 water bottles. I mailed my water bag home at Damascus as it wasn't worth the weight or space it took as I rarely used it. Many disagree with me on this.

[Alligator]

2. In reference to the mice, their numbers and ferocity diminish the further you are away from shelters and more established campsites. Mice learn their high wire antics as a result of having the opportunity to do so. I do not have a can permenantly attached to my food rope.

3. Your clothing list is incomplete. There are no warm clothes listed. I also prefer more socks. I prefer 2 prs in pack and 1 worn.

4. I don't like drinking out of a pot. I have a titanium sierra cup, it's very light and let's me make hot drinks and small one serving side dishes, like instant rice, couscous, and mashed potatoes.

5. I would suggest a 3l Platy w/hydration setup. The weight over a 2l is very negligible, but increases capacity immensely. You don't have to fill it all the way up if you don't want to. Two Nalgenes is too much weight. Use either one or a soda bottle and the Platy or none and the Platy. A wide mouth is useful for scooping up water. If the water is low, and you are not filtering, it can be difficult to scoop water with a Platy. A pot will work though.

[chris]

These, of course, are my own personal opinions and not established fact, except in my own mind.

1) Most cheese will last quite a while, even in the heat. Blue veined cheeses do not last much more than a day, though. So, no gorgonzola. Cheddar, swiss, edam (get the wax covered stuff) or gouda have all been in my pack for a week without difficulty. Usually I polish them off, though, by day 3.

2) Hang 10 feet up on a small branch, and at least 4 feet from the trunk. Hang your food at shelters. Do not use mouse hangers, even though most people in the shelter will do so.

3) I think you are carrying too much and not enough. Assuming you are going to hike in shorts and a t-shirt, there is no reason to carry a second pair of shorts and t-shirt. If you are hiking in pants and a t-shirt, there is no reason to carry a second pair of pants and t-shirt. See? You need to add cold weather gear. In the time span you'll be hiking in, I've have extended (i.e, almost three days) of sub freezing temperature. Pack a warm hat, liner gloves (Fox River makes nice ones), and a warm top at the minimum. The hat and gloves are cheap and light. The warm top could be expensive, or not. For example, follow Blue Jay down to the thrift store and buy some used fleece. Or, go to Walmart and get something cheap (just make sure it isn't cotton fleece). Or, you could follow me up to the Feathered Friends store this afternoon and spend $200 on a down jacket. It is probably best to do something thing inbetween. Note that you could probably get away with an expedition weight thermal top and no fleece, but then again you might not. The Frogg Toggs is surprisingly warm, but you'll want something else as well.

4) I carry only my pot now. I found I cannot eat and drink tea at the same time. In the AM on colder trips (like any morning out west in the summer), I boil water for tea and put my various breakfast bars on top of the stove to gooe-fi. Drink tea, eat bars, done. If you are going to bring a cup and you want something sorta insulated, go to your gas station and buy one of their plastic mugs. If you want to go small, follow go to Walmart and buy a little plastic thing.

5) On the AT I would recommend bringing a 1 quart plastic bottle (like an empty Gatorade) and a 5 L platypus water tank. Frequently water is assfar away from shelters. You don't want to make another trip. Water is rarely more than about 8 miles apart. The 1 liter gets me through (rest at 6 miles, drink, walk 2, get more water, etc). You might need more. Alternatively, bring a single 2.4 L platypus and know that you might have to make a second trip to the water source.

Bonus Rant: Keep in mind that you may end up making it to Hot Springs well before June 14. The trail to the north is really nice, including probably the most scenic spot on the AT south of Lehigh Gap. So, in the back of your mind, remember that good, good things are further north and if you have the time, you should consider pushing on.

[BookBurner]

Dainon-

Here are my responses to your questions:

1. I carry cheese on every trip regardless of the weather. In the early summer, I can usually get 3-4 days out of one block. It doesn't spoil, so to speak. The problem is that the oil leaches out of the cheese and it becomes dry, crumbly, and unappetizing. I have much better results with swiss than chedder. Always go with a harder variety when available.

2. Hang a bear bag as high as possible above the ground while still leaving several feet between it and the limb that it hangs from. If all you have is 10 feet, that's all you have. But that ought to be a minimum. Any lower than that and I would just sleep with my food. And yes, mice can climb down your rope, as well as the wire on the permanent food lines you will find at many shelters. You can carry an empty tuna can top to provide a mouse shield but watch out for sharp rusty edges. I would suggest carrying a lightweight aluminum funnel and and pinch-lock instead if you want the extra protection.

3. Definately carry one full set of "camp clothes" that are used exclusively for that purpose. As for hiking clothes, just go with one set (with the exception of maybe an extra pair of socks). Presumbably you would change into an extra set when the first set really started stinking or became wet. Carrying wet, dirty clothes in your pack though is really heavy, space consuming, and they never dry in there. And in no time, your second set will be just as wet and smelly as the first.

4. Two pots will balloon the size of your pack unnecessarily. Carry only the .9L pot. It's plenty big enough for one-person meals. Anything bigger would be overkill. For your coffee, try the snowpeak titanium coffee mug. It holds 2 cups of java and only weighs 2.5 ozs. If $ is an issue, go with something less expensive but slightly heavier. Either way, you will be better of in terms of weight and space savings than if you carry a second pot.

5. I think you need to be able to store 3L of water at night to cover dinner, breakfast, and the hike out in the a.m. So, definately carry a 2L platypus for camp water as the water source at some points on the AT can be .3 or .4 miles away from the trail or shelter. You don't want to make that trip twice. The platypus only weighs one ounce and rolls up to nothing. As for your hiking water, try an empty 1L gatorade bottle or spring water bottle. Nalgenes are really heavy (6 oz.) and that extra weight provides no useful benefits. Sports drink bottles weigh around 1 oz. and provide more than enough durability. As for sediment, don't worry about that. If you are reasonably careful when getting your water, there won't be any noticeable sediment to contend with on your stretch of the trail.

Good luck-

BookBurner

www.enlightenedthruhiker.com (http://www.enlightenedthruhiker.com)

[Kerosene]

1) I concur that a block of hard cheddar will last a week, but will get oily and give off a heady scent, so do double-bag and keep away from your clothes.

2) Bear bag at least 10 feet high, but also make sure that the bag hangs 4-5' away from any tree trunk or major limb. Mice shouldn't be a problem away from a shelter.

3) Don't underestimate how cool it can get in the mountains at night, even in mid-summer. I walk in convertible pants (usually shorts) and CoolMax Alta T-shirt down to about 45 degrees. Below that I might walk in long pants with a long-sleeve CoolMax shirt and below freezing I typically add my microfleece, warm hat and wool socks for my hands (the same wool socks I sleep in and reserve for an emergency pair). In camp I'll put on my dry clothes, long underwear, microfleece, plus my Frogg Toggs if I need another layer. This works well into the 20's for me. I'll sleep in long underwear if I need them.

4) You should be able to get by with a 0.9 to 1.5 liter pot, depending on what you're cooking. Go with a smaller size if you're just boiling water. Go with a cup of some sort (I use an 8-oz plastic cup) for drinking your coffee.

5) I'd make sure that you able to carry at least 2L of water. Personally, I don't like the bladder arrangement (but if you do go that way, go with a 3L CamelBak screw-top). Gatorade or Aquafina 1L bottles should last for a month. I use two 1L flexible plastic (HDPE?) Nalgene-brand wide-mouth bottles, placed in the side pockets of my pack. I've replaced the top of one of these with a Nalgene-made bite-valve and tube that I clip to my hipbelt and drink from (the bottle is placed upside down in the pocket). This has worked very well for me and provides more flexibility than a bladder.

[minnesotasmith]

I'm inclined towards avoiding getting any of the water storage devices that let you drink while walking. My reasoning is:

1) The lines get filmy with bacteria/algae, I've heard, and are hard to clean, esp. outside of towns;

2) I have personally found it no hardship to wait and take my drinks when I take sit-down breaks, which I would take periodically during a hike even if I didn't need to drink water then.

[Alligator]

I'm inclined towards avoiding getting any of the water storage devices that let you drink while walking. My reasoning is:

1) The lines get filmy with bacteria/algae, I've heard, and are hard to clean, esp. outside of towns;

2) I have personally found it no hardship to wait and take my drinks when I take sit-down breaks, which I would take periodically during a hike even if I didn't need to drink water then.1. This has never been a problem for me, for two reasons: I only put water in mine, i.e no sugary drinks, and I use polar pur. I never had any problems when filtering either though. I also without fail bleach them out when I return home. About a capful of bleach per liter is good, which should be obtainable quite easily while in town.

As for 2, there are plenty of other threads on methods of staying hydrated, with the bottom line being, if your urine is clear all is well.

[MisterSweetie]

if your urine is clear all is well.
I drink plenty of water daily (64 ounces every day) and my urine is never clear. Never. I'm 6 foot 2, weigh 178 pounds and am in pretty good shape. I doubt I'm not drinking enough water, so I wonder what gives?

[Alligator]

I drink plenty of water daily (64 ounces every day) and my urine is never clear. Never. I'm 6 foot 2, weigh 178 pounds and am in pretty good shape. I doubt I'm not drinking enough water, so I wonder what gives?One general estimate is 10 eight ounce glasses of water a day. You are short a pint. Otherwise, some items may color your urine, like vitamins, especially B-vitamins.

On this page http://www.hydroxycut.com/WOMEN/CALCULATORS/WATER/index.shtml, a 178 lb person not exercising should have 11 eight ounce glasses of water. So drink up:banana .

[The Solemates]

From my experience,

1. Cheese will last at least 3-4 days, if not longer, during hotter temperatures. Even if it does "melt" it wont hurt you.

2. When not in "bear country" (ie, the AT), I just hang my food in my sleeping bag bag, thus eliminating the need to carry an extra bag. I do not carry rope either. Just sling the draw cord from my bag on the highest branch I can reach/climb to. This has worked fine. If I camp in a shelter, I just use the beams to throw my food around and dont worry about bear baggin it. In "bear country" (ie the West, AK, etc.), I exercise more precautions.

3. You dont need convertible pants AND shorts. You dont need town clothes. You dont need more than one set of ANYTHING other than socks. I took 2 pair of socks on my thru-hike and replaced them every 500 miles or so.

4. Cooking for 2, we take a 1.3L pot/lid combo (Snowpeak) and one cheap mug per person. My wife also takes a lightweight bowl to eat out of.

5. I carry a 900mL plastic saline container salvaged from the hospital. They are lighter than Nalgene, and just as durable. I also carry a 2L platypus for camp. I also carry a filter, which I recommend.

Hope this helps...

[MisterSweetie]

One general estimate is 10 eight ounce glasses of water a day. You are short a pint. Otherwise, some items may color your urine, like vitamins, especially B-vitamins.

On this page http://www.hydroxycut.com/WOMEN/CALCULATORS/WATER/index.shtml, a 178 lb person not exercising should have 11 eight ounce glasses of water. So drink up:banana .
Yes, I knew someone would tell me to drink more. If I drank more, I am sure my bladder would burst. And I'm not really joking about that.

[Alligator]

Yes, I knew someone would tell me to drink more. If I drank more, I am sure my bladder would burst. And I'm not really joking about that.
Consult a urologist. You have chronic signs of dehydration with an inability to correct the condition. I'm not a doctor, perhaps they can stick a balloon in there and expand your bladder, like angioplasty:jump .

[smokymtnsteve]

do ya eat a lot of asparagus?

[kncats]

Drink when you feel thirsty and carry a big enough container to make it between water sources. 99% of what you will hear and read about how much water you "should" be drinking is bunk and not based on any medical studies or facts. Regarding the 8 or 10 eight ounce glasses of water a day nutritionists generally say they have no idea where that came from. Kidney specialists state that an average person with healthy kidneys in a temperate zone needs about a liter of fluid a day to make up for losses. That's about what we get just from eating.

And according to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition in a person who regularly drinks caffeinated beverages there is NO effect of the hydration status among people who are getting all of their fluids from coffee, tea, colas, etc. The only fluid that does cause dehydration is alcohol as your body requires more liquid to process it through the liver than the alcohol contains.

And the theory that if you wait until you feel thirsty it's too late has no basis either. Studies have found that, except amongst athletes and soldiers who are trained to not drink whenever they want, the sensation of thirst preceeds by a considerable amount actually being dehydrated. Naturally, hiking in hot weather is going to increase your fluid needs as you sweat, but that is entirely different than the 8 X 8 glasses of water everyone "knows" you need every day.

[The Solemates]

Interesting...

[steve hiker]

Hydration is something you have to think about while hiking. It's true that if you wait until you're thirsty, you may already have earned some of the effects of dehydration. Headache is a common one.

Drink early, drink often.

[grrickar]

I agree with horse. Drink lots of water, especially the time of year you are hiking. I just got back from a 134 mile section hike and I could not get enough to drink. I carried a 1.5L hydration bladder and a 20oz propel (gatorade) bottle. It wasn't enough to drink and to cook with. I would stop at water sources, filter, chug as much as my stomach would hold, then top off my water and move on. Sometimes I ran out before I got to the next source.

For those that think I was drinking too much, consider this - I only urinated about 3-4 times a day (24 hr period). I usually go that many times in just while I am at work (8 hours). I think I was mildly dehydrated most of the time, and even though the highest temps we encountered were low 70's, I would be soaking wet with sweat most of the time. You will encounter higher temps in the months you will be hiking, so you will be more prone to sweat.

[bobgessner57]

Cheese: You can pick up the small balls of waxed (some smoked) cheeses cheap after the Christmas holidays if you are going to do mail drops. Throw in the freezer or the back of the fridge if you can keep from eating them before your trip. Look for the specially packed holiday deals, small portions and usually several varieties. Good cheese can be hard to find along the trail. I went to a cheese store and got the owners interested in my long trip. They gave me a list of things to try that would have excellent keeping qualities. Each maildrop had something new.

Bladders vs. bottles: I prefer to use a 2.5 L platy with a hose for daytime use. I go through a lot of water and find that sipping works better for me. My hiking style tends to be to involve infrequent stops and I don't like to reach around for bottles and am not comfortable with a bottle on my belt. I do like to use a bottle at camp for drinking and while cooking- the bladder is not very handy that way. Never had problems with the water line getting too nasty. I flush it with bleach water and never put sugary stuff in the bladder.

Pot and cup: I use a beat up old quart pot and a sierra cup. The cup serves as a scoop in shallow water sources and also works as a pot.

Shorts: consider water shorts, pockets and the sewn in liner so no undies. Running or soccer shorts are lighter but no pockets or liner. Convertible pants are nice for chilly weather or brushy trail but you shouldn't have brush problems at that time.

Like Chris said, consider moving on north if you get ahead of schedule. There is always something good around the next bend.

[Pecan]

You need to drink more water with salted roasted pecans than plain ones but boy do they taste gooood.

[HikeLite]

The one time I think I got mildly dehydrated, my symptoms were fatigue, slight dizziness, and feeling hot. I realized what was happening so I stopped (I was alone), drank one liter of water and rested for 30 minutes. Everything went away except the fatigue on that particular day. I commonly get headaches on the trail, in my opinion mostly due to poor sleep and change in sleep habits (early to bed and lying there for nearly twelve hours sometimes). Of course altitude probably is taking its effect also.

[smokymtnsteve]

another cause of headache on the trail is from poorly fitting pack and weight distribution,

[MisterSweetie]

Regarding my previous posts... I found out in the last few days that abnormally high water consumption with increased urination along with other signs are symptoms of diabetes. The reason I found that out is that I found out that diabetes runs in my family.

Moms are just not supposed to get sick. :(

[HikeLite]

The classic triad of diabetes mellitus is polyuria (increased urination), polydipsia (increased thirst), and polyphagia (increased apetite).

http://www.thedoctorsdoctor.com/diseases/diabetes.html

[orangebug]

Just taste the urine and see how sweet it is.

[oldfivetango]

I'm inclined towards avoiding getting any of the water storage devices that let you drink while walking. My reasoning is:

1) The lines get filmy with bacteria/algae, I've heard, and are hard to clean, esp. outside of towns;

2) I have personally found it no hardship to wait and take my drinks when I take sit-down breaks, which I would take periodically during a hike even if I didn't need to drink water then. Yo Ms- you are right on IMHO with the drinking bladders.In my little practice
preps for the big event this spring i was shocked at how unsanitary it got
and how fast it happened.
Here is another thought i have had and some of you scientific types can
jump on this one.I think the whole bite valve idea is unsanitary and could be
where alot of hikers get sick-think about it.The bite valve is dangling around
who knows where and goes in your bacteria laden mouth and is usually picked up by your bacteria laden hand-maybe sometimes after it has cleaned part of your bacteria laden self-nuff said?
The lightweight soda bottle idea sounds good til it freezes or springs a
leak.My widemouth Lexan liter bottle screws right onto me MSR miniworks EX and you can dip it in boiling water from time to time to sanitize it.No- i
aint a germ freak but a little knowledge in these matters can go along way;
with my brother being a food science major dontchaknow.You can get a sipn stop for the liter bottle so it wont run all over you and your clothes when you drink from it;and it is easy to sanitize as it is removable.
Oh-and i went with 2 of the 2L platys so that an old guy won't get cramped
carrying 4 lbs of water on one side-easier to fill both part or all the way to
balance the load on that .5 mile walk from the spring.Pop in some of that 4 hour Micropur and you got a gallon of water to cook,clean,camelup, and your stantdard liter to carry out the next morning when you start.:bse
Cheers to all,
Oldfivetango
PS The only time you got too much water is when you are drowning.

[Tn Bandit]

From my experience,

1. Cheese will last at least 3-4 days, if not longer, during hotter temperatures. Even if it does "melt" it wont hurt you.

2. When not in "bear country" (ie, the AT), I just hang my food in my sleeping bag bag, thus eliminating the need to carry an extra bag. I do not carry rope either. Just sling the draw cord from my bag on the highest branch I can reach/climb to. This has worked fine. If I camp in a shelter, I just use the beams to throw my food around and dont worry about bear baggin it. In "bear country" (ie the West, AK, etc.), I exercise more precautions.

3. You dont need convertible pants AND shorts. You dont need town clothes. You dont need more than one set of ANYTHING other than socks. I took 2 pair of socks on my thru-hike and replaced them every 500 miles or so.

4. Cooking for 2, we take a 1.3L pot/lid combo (Snowpeak) and one cheap mug per person. My wife also takes a lightweight bowl to eat out of.

5. I carry a 900mL plastic saline container salvaged from the hospital. They are lighter than Nalgene, and just as durable. I also carry a 2L platypus for camp. I also carry a filter, which I recommend.

Hope this helps...
Remind me not to share a shelter with you! Last September I shared a shelter with a section hiking couple from Minnesota at Tri Corner Knob. Bear warnings signs in the shelter, new bear cable systems and right before we went to sleep I asked "are you not going to hang your bag?'' as they hung their bag from the "beams"I didn't rest easy with a thought of a bear strolling into the shelter, but the next morning it was mice she was chasing out of her pack! Besides if your going to just throw your bag over a reachable limb just lay it on the ground for easy access.

[Skyline]

Camel-up in the morning--even if you're not especially thirsty, force yourself to drink at least a Nalgene-full of H20. You will then be able to just drink moderately throughout the day, and most days won't be running on a deficit of water, nor need to carry as much water-weight. On days when you sweat more than is usual for you, seek out a good water source for your lunch break and camel-up again.

[SeaJay]

PS The only time you got too much water is when you are drowning.There is a condition known as exercise-related hyponatremia where "overdrinking" causes lowered sodium levels in your body and possibly severe illness. Most instances of this condition have occurred in athletes such as marathon runners or military recruits that are racing/training in hot weather. While this doesn't normally affect people in conditions that are normally experienced on the AT, it is something to be aware of when hiking in hotter climes. Since I grew up in Arizona, this was something that I had to be conscious of when hiking in the Grand Canyon during the warmer months. Here is an article with more information:
http://www.fosters.com/health/articles/2005/january_2005/health_0103_05b.asp

The good news is that this condition can be alleviated by eating salty snacks such as trail mix while hiking. But, as with everything, balance is the key. I will say though that of all the illnesses to get while hiking, I prefer ones that can be solved by eating!

[SGT Rock]

There is a condition known as exercise-related hyponatremia where "overdrinking" causes lowered sodium levels in your body and possibly severe illness. Most instances of this condition have occurred in athletes such as marathon runners or military recruits that are racing/training in hot weather. While this doesn't normally affect people in conditions that are normally experienced on the AT, it is something to be aware of when hiking in hotter climes. Since I grew up in Arizona, this was something that I had to be conscious of when hiking in the Grand Canyon during the warmer months. Here is an article with more information:
http://www.fosters.com/health/articles/2005/january_2005/health_0103_05b.asp

The good news is that this condition can be alleviated by eating salty snacks such as trail mix while hiking. But, as with everything, balance is the key. I will say though that of all the illnesses to get while hiking, I prefer ones that can be solved by eating!


I have seen this. If you eat regular meals you should be able to avoid it.

[UCONNMike]

Camel-up in the morning--even if you're not especially thirsty, force yourself to drink at least a Nalgene-full of H20. You will then be able to just drink moderately throughout the day, and most days won't be running on a deficit of water, nor need to carry as much water-weight. On days when you sweat more than is usual for you, seek out a good water source for your lunch break and camel-up again.
I agree with you Skyline, I've never been a big water drinker and on my section hike this summer i practiced what you mentioned. I would drink a full nalgene with breakfast and carry a half full one with me for the day and drink it at lunch time, then refil at dinner while at the campsite or shelter and drink a full nalgene before bed. But that's just me, in my opinion you just drink when you are feeling thirsty.

[KiloSierra]

One interesting thing that is taught in aviation (Civil Air Patrol in particular) is to make certain to stay hydrated, because as soon as you feel thirsty, your thinking ability has fallen by 25%.

So maybe physical ability isn't affected much at that point, but according to CAP, mental ability takes a significant hit. Might not be so critical when hiking as when doing search & rescue, but for me, I can use all the wattage I can generate. (And are the stats for-sure? Sorry, can't tell you, just repeating what they taught... :)