[pct-l] Water Consumption - desert

[Brandon McGinnity]

I also drink my wash water (never use soap), and people have looked at me
funny. Don't know why, it's the same thing you *just ate* mere minutes ago.

Also, keeping one's electrolytes up is an important point. You can really
screw your body up by drinking too much water, sort of like diluting your
body. Eat some salty snacks: it will also help you retain water, rather than
pissing it away. Not that peeing is bad, don't let it turn dark or cloudy...
should be clear, and either colorless or light in color. Sorry to bring that
up, but it's a good indicator.
On Sun, Apr 3, 2011 at 12:47 PM, Ken Powers <ken at gottawalk.com> wrote:

> For what its worth,  here are our guidelines for water usage for 2 of us:
> Dinner (rehydrating food plus a hot drink, plus cleanup) - 4 cups
> breakfast (hot drink) - 2 cups
> overnight  - several sips
>
> The rest of the day - about 1 gallon.
>
> We waste no water. We drink any water used to clean dishes and use (and
> reuse) moist towellettes to wipe our faces and legs.
>
> We have hiked several times in HOT desert conditions (CA, AZ, UT, NV, WY.
> ID) with temps of  100 - 115 degrees.
>
> On our ADT hike we cached 2-3 gallons per 20 miles in UT & NV.  We found 2
> gallons/day we could survive on, but 3 gallons/day was more comfortable.
> Our
> mileage tended to be greater than 20 miles/day so in a couple of places we
> had extra water. Less experienced hikers who hiked the ADT the next year
> told us they needed more water.
>
> Desert Survivors, desert hiking group, say to plan for 1 gallon/day/person.
> I think our water usage is lower than almost everyone else's, so YMMV.
>
> Ken
> www.GottaWalk.com <http://www.gottawalk.com/>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <dnielsen at djmurphycompany.com>
> To: <Pct-l at backcountry.net>
>  Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2011 8:51 PM
> Subject: [pct-l] Water Consumption - desert
>
>
> I live in the desert but have never really measured how much water I drink,
> I always just have lots of it and try to not get thirsty and camp at water.
>
>
>
>
> Today's test:
>
>
>
> 85 degrees at start and 90 degrees at finish.
>
> Mixed terrain, good trail, moderate to easy elevation changes.
>
> 35 lb pack at start less water weight at finish
>
> 47 years old
>
> Well hydrated at start
>
> 3 hours hiking
>
> 15 minutes resting
>
> 8.5 miles hiked
>
> 2.83 mph
>
> Water consumed 71 oz.
>
> 8.35 oz per mile
>
> 21.8 oz per hour
>
> 2/3 of this was water and 1/3 was diluted Gatorade.
>
>
>
> I had no problems related to hydration. I was intentionally pushing the
> fluid as usual and was never really thirsty.
>
>
>
> The next number would be water consumed in camp to get a 24 hour
> hiking/resting/camping total.
>
>
>
> I would like to end up with a number for 24 hours, 15 miles, 90 degrees.
>  My
> guess is 2 gallons.
>
>
>
> 15 mi x 8.35 per mile = 125 oz
>
> Camp = 32 oz
>
> Dinner = 32 oz
>
> Night - 16 oz
>
> Breakfast/Pre hike hydration 32 oz
>
> Total 237oz = 7.4 quarts
>
> Est = 8 quarts or 2 gallons.
>
>
>
> I don't know if anyone else has any good data but I would be interested if
> you do.  Of course this can vary by individual and many other things.
>
>
>
> Ps. It was 66 degrees and overcast at mile 26 of the PCT at 9:00 a.m today
>
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-- 
~ Moccasin