New Article Up on High Country Hydration

[robby denning]

Check out new article by Brock Akers on doing hydration right in the backcountry.
visit the Tips/Tactics>Backpacking page:
http://www.rokslide.com/2012-01-09-05-12-00/backpacking

 

[fillthefreezer]

solid advice there brock. where were you at for the wifey last year!? haha

back when playing sports, in yakima, in july, coach wouldnt let anyone who didnt pee clear before the game, play.

 

[5MilesBack]

For me, hydration is not a one month out of the year thing. It's always on my mind, and especially every single time I take a leak. That's how I monitor whether I'm getting enough water.......by the frequency and color of my pee. I probably spend more time and effort in hydration preps and planning, and actual hydrating than any other aspect of my outings. Definitely an important subject for any type of exertion, but even more so at altitude. I too do the "power-loading" of high quantities of water starting a few days before I head up. I also drink enough while I'm up there to ensure that I'm up at least once or twice in the middle of the night. Waking up with a splitting headache due to dehydration.......is not a good option. Good article, Brock.......and very timely.

 

[justinspicher]

Does Mountain Dew count, there is water in it.

 

[Brock A]

Does Mountain Dew count, there is water in it.

NO!!! Soda is bad, Justin! Put it down and walk away. Lol

 

[robby denning]

5miles, good advice to back article up.

Mtn Dew makes me swell all up around the midsection...

 

[justinspicher]

But I love mountain dew........

In all honesty I am making an attempt to start drinking more water. I only allow myself one Mt. Dew a day now and shoot for drinking more water. I try to drink 40oz before lunch and 40oz before dinner. Some days are better than others, but it helps with it being much hotter here in Denver than my place in Washington.

 

[JFKinYK]

Decent article but lacking quite a few things, maybe the biggest being absorption rates. Your body can only absorb so much liquid so quickly. You can't just chug a bunch of water when you find a source (I've heard some guys refer to this as "camelling up") and think your body will make up for lost liquid.

Best article I've seen on hydration here, starting on page 22.

http://www.hammernutrition.com/downloads/fuelinghandbook.pdf

 

[Justin Crossley]

I'm amazed at how much better I feel when I drink enough water. I do like some of the other guys, and monitor my hydration level by frequency and color of urine.

One of the things that help me drink more water is using flavoring like Crystal light or similar. I find that I get tired of drinking just plain water and like to mix it up a bit. That is one of the reasons I always carry a water bottle to mix things up in.

 

[MountainTracker]

Whenever I'm out hiking with others guys and we stop I always say, if you ain't peeing you ain't right. By the time you start to notice your getting a little dehydrated it's to late. I sweat a lot, and with it goes a lot of salt, so I'll mix in some sunflower seeds or even a pinch of salt. Without a little salt you can't retain water as well.

 

[ohhiitznik]

I drink so much water while not hiking, that when I hike I'm borderline ridiculous. I sweat like a monster so I need it. I'll chew through three liters of water like nobodies business and be refilling in 2-3 miles. Haha

 

[Warren1726]

So, I usually drink about 70 oz of water a day. Yesterday I stepped it up to 110 oz about. Man I pissed like crazy! It was super clear though, and I wasn't as hungry in the afternoon.

 

[Rizzy]

Does Mountain Dew count, there is water in it.

lol.....Beer would be better, there is enough calories in beer to live off of for a few days And that alcohol soothes sore muscles...

Good article Brock!

 

[Tony Trietch]

Good read Brock!
Never hurts to be reminded. I am going to go fill up my glass...

 

[Jason Snyder]

Electrolyte management is much more than a pinch of salt. Potassium and magnesium levels are very important and require more attention than sodium levels do.

http://www.chiro.org/nutrition/FULL/Essential_Nutrients_for_Endurance_Athletes.shtml

 

[Brock A]

Decent article but lacking quite a few things, maybe the biggest being absorption rates. Your body can only absorb so much liquid so quickly. You can't just chug a bunch of water when you find a source (I've heard some guys refer to this as "camelling up") and think your body will make up for lost liquid.

Best article I've seen on hydration here, starting on page 22.

http://www.hammernutrition.com/downloads/fuelinghandbook.pdf

I started to read this and so far its pretty good. I will finish it soon. Thanks for the feedback JFK.

Brock

 

[MOcluck]

Just wondering, do any of you guys take creatine it helps your body absorbe more water. I take it in the summer it also helps endurance. I'd like to know if it helps on the mountain.

 

[Brock A]

Just wondering, do any of you guys take creatine it helps your body absorbe more water. I take it in the summer it also helps endurance. I'd like to know if it helps on the mountain.

I've never done that.

 

[PJG]

Creatine is good, no doubt about it. However, using creatine when lack of water might be a possibilty is extremely bad. Creatine causes muscles to draw water from the rest of your body. You have to make sure to drink extra water when taking creatine because of this. Also, if you are taking creatine and sweating alot from hiking you really increase the risk of becoming dehydrated. For this alone I avoid taking creatine when I am not sure how available water might be.

Most people that gain weight from creatine is not because they are getting bigger, but because the muscles are holding more water.

Just wondering, do any of you guys take creatine it helps your body absorbe more water. I take it in the summer it also helps endurance. I'd like to know if it helps on the mountain.

 

[JWP58]

Creatine is good, no doubt about it. However, using creatine when lack of water might be a possibilty is extremely bad. Creatine causes muscles to draw water from the rest of your body. You have to make sure to drink extra water when taking creatine because of this. Also, if you are taking creatine and sweating alot from hiking you really increase the risk of becoming dehydrated. For this alone I avoid taking creatine when I am not sure how available water might be.

Most people that gain weight from creatine is not because they are getting bigger, but because the muscles are holding more water.

Creatine monohydrate, yes. The newer versions of Creatine, not so much...like Creatine ethyl ester and Creatine Kre-Alkalyn.

If you're taking creatine to "help your body absorbe (sic) more water", you're probably taking it for the wrong reasons. The only reason to supplement Creatine is to increase the body's production of ATP. Your body does not need any help absorbing water.