Grand Canyon Hiking : staying hydrated

Guest Author - Jill Florio

2/27/03 - Any day romp in the Big Ditch - AKA, the Grand Canyon - is a major
undertaking. If you go, plan accordingly! Park literature warns that more than 70% of rescue operations are performed for unwary (and sometimes simply foolish) day hikers. Nowadays in the canyon, you end up footing your own bill for a rescue. Nobody likes having an epic, and it's so easy to avoid one, if you know a few things before you go!

Here my tips on getting prepared: Part One, this week, focuses on the importance of carrying - and drinking - enough water to keep you from getting sick!

Concern Number One: hydrate or die!

Carrying lots of water is a good start. For example, from the top of the
popular South Kaibab trail, there are nine miles of desert hiking before
reliable water is available. I drank two and a half liters (quarts) before
refilling at Indian Springs, and one a half liters on the five-mile ascent
up the Bright Angel Trail (which was shaded in the late afternoon). So
that's a gallon of water for the day - on a relatively cool one. On a
hotter day I would've drank more. For the cooler seasons (late fall and
early spring), I'd recommend lugging three liters down to Indian Gardens,
and refilling two liters at Indian Springs. In hot weather (early fall and
late spring), carry four down and three up.

Remember that one gallon of water weighs eight pounds. In the summer, don't even try this hike! It can be 120 F degrees along the Tonto Plateau when
it's in the 90's on the Rim. (This would be a death hike...)

Never treat the Canyon lightly. Since people die in the Canyon every year,
and many more get heat exhaustion, or worse - heat stroke - do NOT be
stingy on the water. Carry more than you think you will need.

Accept the extra weight as emergency rations and drink before you feel
thirsty. Thirst is not an adequate indicator of your body's need to stay
hydrated, especially at elevation in an arid climate.

I hike with a bike bottle in my hand and take a sip whenever I think about it. Carrying the lightweight bottle also keeps my fingers from swelling, since having to grip something keeps the blood circulating (not pooling) in my fingers. At each rest stop, I refill my bike bottle from the two-liter bottle I carry in my day pack.

A Camelbak, Platypus, or similar reservoir is even better for staying
hydrated. Keep the sipping tube close to your mouth and drink, drink,
drink!

Next week, we'll talk about a topic everyone loves - food! And you can eat lots and lots of it in the Canyon, so enjoy!