When you are hiking, you need to prepare beforehand by wearing the right clothing, choosing a safe trail, and making sure you have a pack with you and carry the essentials. Part of the essentials are clean water and sustenance. Here are some things to know about the importance of water and nutrition while you are hiking.
You Need Water Regularly
First of all, water is the only way to stay hydrated while on a hike. When you are hiking, you are sweating a lot, so you need to replace those fluids with water. You can drink a few glasses of water before a hike to fill up, then have about 8 ounces for every couple of hours of the hike.
One bottle of water should be enough for a shorter hike, but bring several bottles if you are going on a day-long hike. Everyone on the hike should bring their own water so you aren’t trying to ration it out.
Your Body Needs Fuel to Move
Your body requires a certain amount of fuel in order to keep its strength and move properly. If you don’t eat breakfast, then expect to go on a 10-mile hike with only water, you are going to become ill and find it is very difficult to finish. You need to fuel your body by eating beforehand, then bringing enough sustenance with you so that you can eat something every couple hours while you are walking.
Longer Hikes Require More Snacks
Remember that the snacks you bring should fuel you depending on how long your hike is. So naturally if it is a day-long hike, you need to fill your pack with multiple snacks, as opposed to bring a couple granola bars and some nuts for a hike that will only last a few hours. It is always a good idea to bring more than you think you will need, just in case. Plus this allows you to have extras in case someone else needs a snack.
Bring Non-Perishable Sustenance
Since the food might be in your hot backpack for several hours, you need to bring along only non-perishable sustenance. Think of snacks like granola bars, beef jerky, nuts, and seeds. These are healthy and won’t drag you down by being loaded with sugar, plus they are included in most standard diets when you are trying to lose weight.
