Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2015 6:35:15 GMT -8
I also use Coco Water Powder. At lunch and the end of the day a batch of coco water is refreshing and full of electrolytes.
Our non mix with water go to electrolyte item is SaltStick pills.
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Post by neneboricua on Dec 9, 2015 7:24:23 GMT -8
Our favorite is Nuun, which has a good Potassium amount, fends off leg cramps. Oh, for me, the blueberry flavor taste bad. Yes, exactly. It's my second favorite and I keep some on hand. Nuun is also my favorite for long training rides. I like the Orange flavor. But since it had no calories I also take Cliff Bars for slow release energy. During races I switch to Gatorade and gel packets because I need easy to digest calories and sugar to get into my bloodstream as fast as possible. Energy bars just take too long to eat in a tense race. Prefer to get calories from drinking, since I'm doing that anyway, and slam a gel every 20 minutes or so. I've found that I tend to drink a lot of water while working out. I've been hesitant about restricting water intake very much while hiking because I've made that mistake on the bike and paid for it. Didn't feel right for a good 3 days. But trying my best to conserve water used for things like cooking, camp cleanup, and other non-essentials, like coffee, might help. Though my wife would probably differ on the coffee. Hehehe.
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desert dweller
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Post by desert dweller on Dec 9, 2015 7:38:42 GMT -8
I've carried up to 3 gallons but it's a rare event. I live in southern Arizona and have always mostly done desert hikes.
As others have said, study the maps. Also, look on-line for recent trip reports from folks who may have done the same hike and see if they have included a report on water availability. If the hike is in National Parks or National Forest, then consult the regional ranger.
On my last long hike (66 miles) I had driven up a week earlier and cached a gallon of water (and 4 cans of beer) about a mile off the trail and marked it with a GPS reading. When at the point on the trail that I knew the cache was nearby, I set off cross-country using the GPS coordinates and went directly to the stash.
Oh, and welcome. There's lots of good information on this site.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2015 8:55:22 GMT -8
The Aqua Tibia Wilderness area, Warner Springs on the PCT, Sutherland Lake area, Cleveland National Forest, San Jacinto Mountians area, San Gorgonio Wilderness area, and the San Gaberial Mountains have numerous sources of flowing water. Your local Sierra Club may offer you a WTC which will expose you to numerous local and not so local backpacking areas, along with equipment, teaching one to use the equipment, and open doorways to expanded outdoor adventures, and a way to meet other like minded individuals.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Dec 9, 2015 9:36:31 GMT -8
Welcome! Sounds like you are already getting the good advice. I'll second the vote to head on up to the Sierra (next summer), where water is not usually a problem even in drought years. We occasionally do dry desert hikes, but admit we limit those to overnight, because carrying water is just too much beyond that. One thing we do when we camp that way is take no-cook food. Usually, that means heavier, compared to dry foods to which we add water and cook. But if you have to carry all the water anyway, it doesn't matter, and if you skip the cooking, you skip the stove, fuel, and pots, so save a little more weight for carrying water As for the coffee: I'm the only coffee drinker in our family. When we dry camp, I carry a can or two of Starbucks espresso shots. It's not hot, but it prevents caffeine withdrawal. I'm wondering if Tarol will chime in here. She's a bit north of San Diego, but knows So Cal like none of the rest of us (even if she is moving to Oregon now). ETA: I'm guessing you've figured this out, but people here use a variety of means to treat the water we get in the backcountry. Many (most?) use filters of one sort or another, others use the Steri-Pen. My family uses treatment tablets or drops, as the most UL, though I'm considering getting a drip system for the better-tasting water. If there isn't already a thread on water treatment in the Gear section, start one and watch the fur fly
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Post by Lamebeaver on Dec 9, 2015 9:38:58 GMT -8
Here's a recipe for a sports drink mix 1/2 of a 1/4 oz Kool Aid or other drink mix in your favorite flavor 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 tsp salt 1/8 tsp salt substitute (potassium chloride) add all above ingredients to 1 quart of water
I approach gear, not by thinking about what I need, but rather what I can do without.
Water is heavy. If none is available, there's not much that you do about that.
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Post by wondermonkey on Dec 9, 2015 11:15:00 GMT -8
I also use Coco Water Powder. At lunch and the end of the day a batch of coco water is refreshing and full of electrolytes. I did take some cocoa mix, one for each evening. That's good to sip and stare at the fire.
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Post by wondermonkey on Dec 9, 2015 11:18:12 GMT -8
I've found that I tend to drink a lot of water while working out. I've been hesitant about restricting water intake very much while hiking because I've made that mistake on the bike and paid for it. Didn't feel right for a good 3 days. It's difficult to make the switch but I'm sure you know that when hiking your internal furnace isn't on as high as when you are biking except for some select hills, etc. As you monitor how you feel, color of urine, etc. you will adjust. I'm a bit opposite in that I don't drink enough when on the bike. I forget to drink. I have to force it and even now it has not become a habit. When I did my last 100 I scheduled the stops to force myself to drink water and ingest a bit of food.
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RumiDude
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Post by RumiDude on Dec 9, 2015 12:20:18 GMT -8
Welcome to the forums! Also welcome to the gear obsession, just remember what the gear is for, enjoying the wilderness more efficiently.
I have no suggestions about water as there have already been lots of good advice.
If you get an opportunity, take a week-long adventure. It might be a good idea to head up to the Sierra where water is not an issue, that way you can concentrate on other aspects of traveling in the backcountry. Also it is nice to get a different perspective than just desert.
Rumi
PS: When you get out a week or longer, that is when the joy of being in the backcountry pushes out the regular daily concerns and just possesses you. Well it does me. Coming back from trips like that are special because the thoughts and feelings stay with you. Even now, I can remember my first week-long canoe adventure as a young teen. Even though we passed under highway bridges and past parks and small towns, the sense of being "out there" was overwhelming and intoxicating. I felt like I was with Lewis and Clark. hahaha
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Dec 9, 2015 13:08:50 GMT -8
When I did my last 100 I scheduled the stops to force myself to drink water and ingest a bit of food. HA! I ride Centuries (the organized kind) just so I can stuff myself with food all day :D Sounds like you two need to join the "road bike thread" in the fitness forum. Though it hasn't been too active--I know I haven't had anything much to post since my last Century, after which I turned back to running and swimming for a while.
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franco
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Post by franco on Dec 9, 2015 13:32:45 GMT -8
I also use Coco Water Powder. At lunch and the end of the day a batch of coco water is refreshing and full of electrolytes. I did take some cocoa mix, one for each evening. That's good to sip and stare at the fire. Coco water from coco nuts not cocoa beans... (it was a funny line though...)
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Post by neneboricua on Dec 10, 2015 10:51:54 GMT -8
The Aqua Tibia Wilderness area, Warner Springs on the PCT, Sutherland Lake area, Cleveland National Forest, San Jacinto Mountians area, San Gorgonio Wilderness area, and the San Gaberial Mountains have numerous sources of flowing water. Your local Sierra Club may offer you a WTC which will expose you to numerous local and not so local backpacking areas, along with equipment, teaching one to use the equipment, and open doorways to expanded outdoor adventures, and a way to meet other like minded individuals. Thanks for all the tips! I've read about some of these places but haven't been able to look deeply into all of them yet. I've hiked and backpacked in a few parts of the Cleveland National Forest and as of a month or so a go, there was no water anywhere. Called up the Rangers while planning the trips and they said that all streams and lakes were dry in the areas I was looking at - the Cuyamaca and Laguna areas. Same story with Mt San Jacinto. Attempted to bag my first peak and while poring over a Tom Harrison map of the area, I tried to find streams or lakes I could get water from. Had planned a tentative route but then called the Ranger to verify that there was water there, but they said the only water available was at the two established campsites and at the Ranger Station at the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tram.
I'll look into the other areas and see if I have better luck. Though thanks to El Niño, California is getting a little more much-needed rain and even some snow up in the mountains. So hopefully water will be less of an issue come early Spring.
That Sierra Club course sounds pretty cool for a newbie like me! I just don't think I can commit to a schedule like that. REI offers a few one-off training courses, so I was thinking of taking those when they fit into my schedule. I'm going to be taking their 3-Season Wilderness Survival Course in a couple of weeks. It's only one day but provides some good hands-on training which I'm hoping will fill in some gaps for me.
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Post by neneboricua on Dec 10, 2015 11:07:24 GMT -8
As for the coffee: I'm the only coffee drinker in our family. When we dry camp, I carry a can or two of Starbucks espresso shots. It's not hot, but it prevents caffeine withdrawal. I could live without coffee but my wife is a different story... hehe. I've heard of those Starbucks Via packets but I guess I'm a bit of a coffee snob and just can't find a good cup of coffee at Starbucks. I was born in Puerto Rico and my family drank coffee from the island all while I was growing up, so that's what I thought all coffee was like. When I tried Starbucks for the first time, honestly, I felt I was drinking dirty water... My wife would be mad at me for saying that since she was born and raised in Seattle, but at this point, she grudgingly admits Starbucks is a last resort. I'm guessing you've figured this out, but people here use a variety of means to treat the water we get in the backcountry. Many (most?) use filters of one sort or another, others use the Steri-Pen. My family uses treatment tablets or drops, as the most UL, though I'm considering getting a drip system for the better-tasting water. If there isn't already a thread on water treatment in the Gear section, start one and watch the fur fly I don't know much about filters yet since I haven't come across any streams or lakes in the field where I could use one, but I did pick one up when I was first putting equipment together without knowing much about them. I've got an MSR Hyperflow as the main filter and Aqua Iodine Tablets as a backup. Maybe as I get more experienced I'll feel the need to switch things up. I'm really enjoying the learning process. It's a lot like cycling, in that what works for one person (in terms of fit, gear, etc...) may not work for someone else. Wish I could figure out from the beginning what will work for ME, without having to experiment, since I'd save a lot of money, but the same thing happens with any kind of endurance activity. Heck, it took me 3 years to find the "perfect" saddle for my bikes but now I feel if the model ever gets discontinued I'll have to buy a dozen of them and keep them in storage!
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Post by neneboricua on Dec 10, 2015 11:10:58 GMT -8
It's difficult to make the switch but I'm sure you know that when hiking your internal furnace isn't on as high as when you are biking except for some select hills, etc. As you monitor how you feel, color of urine, etc. you will adjust. I'm a bit opposite in that I don't drink enough when on the bike. I forget to drink. I have to force it and even now it has not become a habit. When I did my last 100 I scheduled the stops to force myself to drink water and ingest a bit of food. That's true. I've noticed that my heart rate while hiking is nowhere near what it is on the bike even at Coffee Shop Ride pace. It rarely rises above 100bpm while hiking, so maybe that means my water needs are less than I think they are. I'm used to drinking >20oz of water per hour on the bike, but I'm starting to think that's overkill while hiking. Still learning to adapt.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Dec 10, 2015 11:41:15 GMT -8
I've used VitaLyte for quite a long time. Developed by a San Diego runner, Bill Gookin (hence it sued to be called "GookinAide". The lemon is a favorite: www.rei.com/product/520007/vitalyte-drink-mix-80-servingBut at 2 lbs per quart, I REALLY prefer routes where I don't have to carry that load and IMHO the Sierra isn't all that far away for anything like a three day or more route. 4 hours 40 minutes up 395, 293 miles. La Jolla to Lone Pine, for example... For Sierra water I've used a MSR Hyperflow for a number of years now (paired with a Sea to Summit 2 oz folding bucket so I can dip a water supply and then get the hell away from the flying insects along the riparian zone and pump back at my bug-free higher campsite) with Katadyn Micropur tabs as a backup. But I HATE the taste of iodine... www.rei.com/product/695229/katadyn-micropur-purification-tablets-package-of-30
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