Hiking, Backpacking Drink Mixes

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Hiking, Backpacking Drink Mixes

Nov 26 2010 5:00:00 pm EST

Topics: Backpacking, Cycle Touring, Food,

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Drink mixes insure proper electrolytic balance, helping maintain energy levels and reduce the chance of cramping during prolonged exertion. With the addition of vitamins and minerals, drink mixes replenish essential nutrients, assisting in recovery and stress response.

I use a combination of Gatorade powder and Emergen-C vitamin packets in my Nalgene water bottles. I find that this helps keep me from crashing during a hike, especially if my food supply is running short. During backpacking trips, above all else, I make sure I have an adequate supply of Gatorade and Emergen-C. Don’t be surprised if you fill a Ziploc bag full of Gatorade powder on multi-day trips

Through a long series of hikes and backpacking trips, I’ve established that in summer and winter, I consume between one and three 32 ounce bottles of fluids a hike. That is, while traveling from point A to point B. I am not including fluid consumption while at camp, as this depends on many factors.

I always start my day with two full 32 ounce Nalgene bottles. Each contains five tablespoons of Gatorade powder, and one packet of Emergen-C.

If I drink this mix multiple days, sometimes my body becomes averse to it, and I require one full Nalgene bottle of plain water. I then reduce the concentration of powders on my next batch, and I am balanced again.

A few important considerations:

Always make sure to properly filter and treat water used for drinking. Also, thoroughly clean and sterilize water bottles regularly with boiling water or detergents.

Once used for drink mixes, containers become scented, and may attract animals. At the end of the day, consider keeping these drinking containers away from camp in bear proof storage.

Dates:

2011

2010

2008

2007