how much water and other gear questions

[SkaredShtles]

In an effort to bring this thread back on-topic, here's a trick I learned the hard way after a miserable experience on Little Bear's Southwest Ridge (read: seeing imaginary snakes in the talus because I was bonking so hard):

I'll pack two one-quart Gatorade bottles when starting the hike, bring them somewhere up near treeline and stash them in nearest stream along the way. Sip water while summitting and coming back down, then I'll find my stash of Gatorade on the way out and pound one of them completely. Pack the other (now ice-cold) bottle down and enjoy it at camp / in the car.

I've found that just when I'm really starting to crash after a big exertion day, that burst of electrolytes and sugar makes the slog back to the trailhead much more enjoyable and gives me the energy I need to drive back home safely.

Not a terrible idea. Taken further - just get an electrolyte-drink powder you like and keep it with you at all times - then you'd have the option of getting the shot of "go-juice" at any point in your journey.

[TallGrass]

Perhaps you take a wrong turn on your descent extending your hike for 2-3 hours?

Stop to filter more. If you can't, it's not a matter when you drink, but if you have enough to begin with.

I'll pack two one-quart Gatorade bottles when starting the hike, bring them somewhere up near treeline and stash them in nearest stream along the way. ... I've found that just when I'm really starting to crash after a big exertion day, that burst of electrolytes and sugar makes the slog back to the trailhead much more enjoyable ...

+1 To a sports/sugar drink giving a boost. I'll do it a little differently and pack powder sports drink or something like pink lemonade so that I only have to add filtered water, and I don't have to double back nor find it later (nice if you're doing a loop). Many routes start in a valley then go slope, ridge, summit, so there's often a place to source water on the way down the slope or gully -- just look at how many route parallel creeks, rivers, and snowmelt run-off paths.

You dehydrate by leaving it in your pack

Wtf are you talking about? Please just admit that you and Spiderman offered bad advice and stop cluttering up this thread with nonsense. You will gain more respect that way.

Attention Please: Bradradical is TROLL ACCOUNT (see history, or lack thereof).

if you are thirsty enough at the summit to drink 0.5L of water, and you have 0.5L of water remaining, then you should drink it, rather than letting it sit there and staying thirsty. I agree with this

Who exactly were you trying to agree with? Who said this?

Mr. Brad TROLL, JaredJohnson said it. We agree that if you're thirsty, "drink it if you got it." And many here advocate hydrating before leaving the TH, so doing so before leaving the summit is it's counterpart.

[Trotter]

Drink a liter before you start, bring 1.5L on the hike, finish it on the summit. No need for water on the descent.

I'm not sure telling newbies to have no water on the descent is the best advice.

Why not? Are you going to pack your water all the way back to the TH and dehydrate yourself just to say "I still have water!" You have to water along so you can drink it (hydrate), and Spidey says to drink it. So what are you using it for? Ballast?

Good job Tallgrass, arguing for the sake of arguing, as usual. You've proven how smart you are online, as usual.

Where am I advocating that they purposely carry water all the way back to the TH? I'm not.

I'm pretty sure a wildly smart guy as yourself surely knew I was meant planning for having water on the descent. As in bringing enough water.

[TallGrass]

Good job Tallgrass, arguing for the sake of arguing, as usual. You've proven how smart you are online, as usual. Where am I advocating that they purposely carry water all the way back to the TH? I'm not. I'm pretty sure a wildly smart guy as yourself surely knew I was meant planning for having water on the descent. As in bringing enough water.

Trotter, sure you're not doing some projection there? Instead of offering bickering, why not stay objective and discuss the respective merits, and add more detail to your position when it's clear it is needed?

More simply, say we're both on the summit. Why shouldn't I finish off my bottle of water there instead of farther down the trail? Not unlike those who take ibuprofen at the summit so it's in their system prior to the onset of knee pain, why not hydrate in advance to stave off thirst? It also allows you to have a lighter pack when pounding downhill (think shoulder straps), and going down is much less demanding than going up which lessens hydration demands.

[Marmot96]

Trotter, sure you're not doing some projection there? Instead of offering bickering, why not stay objective and discuss the respective merits, and add more detail to your position when it's clear it is needed?

More simply, say we're both on the summit. Why shouldn't I finish off my bottle of water there instead of farther down the trail? Not unlike those who take ibuprofen at the summit so it's in their system prior to the onset of knee pain, why not hydrate in advance to stave off thirst? It also allows you to have a lighter pack when pounding downhill (think shoulder straps), and going down is much less demanding than going up which lessens hydration demands.

I think the point people are trying to make is that after you finish that bottle on the summit, it is smart to have some extra as a safety net when you are coming back down.

Alternatively, carry purification tablets or a filter and know where potential water sources are.

[TallGrass]

I think the point people are trying to make is that after you finish that bottle on the summit, it is smart to have some extra as a safety net when you are coming back down.

Safety net? For what? Do you hold off putting on the last squirt of sunscreen thinking "hey, I might need that later" and get sunburnt in the interim? How do you have "some extra" if you "finish that bottle"?

How many 14ers have routes that get harder as you go down? The ones I've done only get easier. If you're going to run low or out, I'd much rather do so on lower, easier, sometimes shaded trail than to go through self-induced dehydration up high on the harder stuff.

[Marmot96]

Safety net? For what? Do you hold off putting on the last squirt of sunscreen thinking "hey, I might need that later" and get sunburnt in the interim?

How many 14ers have routes that get harder as you go down? The ones I've done only get easier. If you're going to run low or out, I'd much rather do so on lower, easier, sometimes shaded trail than to go through self-induced dehydration up high on the harder stuff.

Ever done any C3/4 routes? I'm sure you have and know they are time consuming and most people agree that in general, scrambling is much more difficult going down than up.

I'd hate to run out of water halfway back to the TH in the blistering heat we have been having lately. Since when did it ever hurt anyone to carry an extra liter anyways? Its just 2.2 pounds - you won't even notice its there.

I'd also prefer to stay well hydrated from start to finish, since many of my peaks are part of a multiple day trip or backpacking.

[highpilgrim]

I'll bet it's really nice to walk back to the trailhead from the summit without water to rinse your mouth once in awhile. Walking half a hike without water to drink in order to keep your pack weight down seems...kinda misguided.

I think I'll carry enough water to get me back to my car.

[polar]

You guys are trying to use reason and logic with the LongWeed? Ha, good luck. I think you'll have a better chance fixing our congress. The LongWeed knows so much about hiking and scrambling, he even wrote a book on how to walk on uneven terrain.

[TallGrass]

Safety net? For what? Do you hold off putting on the last squirt of sunscreen thinking "hey, I might need that later" and get sunburnt in the interim?

How many 14ers have routes that get harder as you go down? The ones I've done only get easier. If you're going to run low or out, I'd much rather do so on lower, easier, sometimes shaded trail than to go through self-induced dehydration up high on the harder stuff.

Ever done any C3/4 routes? I'm sure you have and know they are time consuming and most people agree that in general, scrambling is much more difficult going down than up.

I'd hate to run out of water halfway back to the TH in the blistering heat we have been having lately. Since when did it ever hurt anyone to carry an extra liter anyways? Its just 2.2 pounds - you won't even notice its there.

I'd also prefer to stay well hydrated from start to finish, since many of my peaks are part of a multiple day trip or backpacking.

The issue was when to drink -- how much water to take is a different one. Have I done C3/4 routes? Uh, yeah, that was my point -- better to keep hydrated and tip top downclimbing that stuff as it's comparatively safer to grind it out on C1/2 trail than C3/4 route. Why would you want to risk letting your blood chemistry slip (dehydrating thickens the blood, makes the heart work harder) when you have the water to keep you in the green?

[Marmot96]

The issue was when to drink -- how much water to take is a different one. Have I done C3/4 routes? Uh, yeah, that was my point -- better to keep hydrated and tip top downclimbing that stuff as it's comparatively safer to grind it out on C1/2 trail than C3/4 route. Why would you want to risk letting your blood chemistry slip (dehydrating thickens the blood, makes the heart work harder) when you have the water to keep you in the green?

spiderman wrote:
Drink a liter before you start, bring 1.5L on the hike, finish it on the summit. No need for water on the descent.

TallGrass wrote:
Why not? Are you going to pack your water all the way back to the TH and dehydrate yourself just to say "I still have water!" You have to water along so you can drink it (hydrate), and Spidey says to drink it. So what are you using it for? Ballast?


Seems like the issue was how much water to bring. Of course you should be hydrated for the downclimb, so drink water at the summit. That doesn't mean you can't have extra water for the hike out.

[powhound]

A good reason not to consume all your water too early ... first aid. It's nice to have a little to flush out a wound that's imbedded with dirt and grit, before treating and bandaging.