| The more weight that you can eliminate from | | | | other climates. You will lose more water in the |
| your backpack, the more comfortable you will be | | | | desert than in other areas. |
| while you are hiking the trails. | | | | 4. How strenuous will your hike be? Will you be |
| So, where do you cut? From your food? From | | | | gaining a lot of altitude in a short amount of time? |
| your clothes? From your water? From all of these | | | | Are there other factors that will make your hike |
| categories and more. And yes, even from your | | | | more strenuous than normal? The answers to |
| water, hopefully. | | | | these questions must be factored into your |
| But, this doesn't mean to skimp on water. Water | | | | calculations. You will need more water if your hike |
| ranks right up at the top of the list of important | | | | will likely be more strenuous than usual. |
| things to bring on your backpacking trip. Water is | | | | 5. How far do you plan to go during the day? |
| essential for hydration; and proper hydration is | | | | Make sure you calculate the miles, your average |
| essential to keep your body functioning efficiently | | | | hiking speed and the number of hours that you |
| and to keep you healthy. | | | | will be on the trail before you turn in for the night. |
| WATER NEEDS CALCULATIONS | | | | Remember that you will need around 1 quart of |
| So, when you are considering cutting down the | | | | water for every 2 hours of hiking. |
| weight that water adds to your backpack, do | | | | REPLENISHING YOUR WATER SUPPLY |
| some careful calculations. | | | | You can reduce the overall weight that you carry |
| You will need a minimum of 3 quarts of water for | | | | by carrying less water. How can you do that and |
| each day on the trail. This calculation assumes | | | | maintain proper hydration? By replacing some |
| that you will find water to replenish your supply | | | | water that you carry with water that you |
| along the way. So this is a minimum under all | | | | anticipate finding on the trail. |
| conditions. | | | | So, how do you know where you will find water? |
| Plan on taking or finding a little more than 1 quart | | | | Consult your topo map before you start your |
| for every two hours of hiking. | | | | hike and mark all river and stream crossings. |
| Here are some further considerations to take into | | | | Then, give a call to the ranger station or other |
| account in your calculations: | | | | authority to ask about water availability along |
| 1. In what season are you planning to hike? At the | | | | your route. If you have been on the trail for a |
| end of the summer after the snows have melted | | | | while, ask other hikers that you pass along the |
| completely, your chances of finding water along | | | | way about the availability of water up ahead of |
| the way are diminished. | | | | you. |
| 2. How hot is it likely to be during the day? Of | | | | Make sure you have with you a good water filter |
| course, the hotter you expect it to be, the more | | | | and/or water treatment chemicals. Use these |
| water you will need to add to your supply. | | | | items to purify the water that you collect. |
| 3. In what climate are you planning to hike? If you | | | | Follow these suggestions and stay safe and |
| are hiking in a desert climate, your chances of | | | | healthy as you hike lighter. |
| finding water along the way are much less than in | | | | |