Are You Drinking Your Water?

5/31/2013

" There is an art of finding one's direction in the lower regions by the memory of what one saw higher up." - René Daumal

It was only fitting that our sunset was as great a show as sunrise. Yesterday was a perfect day for getting out and exploring what this mountain top has to offer. The crew enjoyed playing in their back yard. The high was a comfortable 69º with a low of 47º. Chris took these photos of sunset to share with you all.

I want to add one thing to this blog entry. We are starting to experience warmer weather which brings out more hikers. Please remember, no matter what the conditions, it is extremely important to bring water with you. Not only bring it, drink it. We see more cases of dehydration on this mountain then any other medical emergency. Even if you are not thirsty, make yourself drink. I am not talking about caring a soda up the mountain or an energy drink. I mean water or some sort of sport drink that will help to rehydrate you. We have treated water at the top that you can refill your bottles with. I suggest drinking about 2 liters, if not more, during the hike up. Remember folks, drink your water. It can make for a much more pleasurable hike.

Al S.Mississippi

5/31/2013 01:16:57 am

A good comment from Allison. The more water you drink on the way up to the lodge, the lighter your load gets. Happy trails!

Debi

5/31/2013 01:35:49 am

Good advice Allyson! Chris is becoming quite the picture taker. I will have to change my screen saver twice today. Can't pick which one I want to put on.

tomk in SC

5/31/2013 02:02:39 am

This time of year two liters is a bit light, especially if you are hiking Boulevard or Brushy Mountain. Allyson is absolutely right in that folks should drink before they are thirsty. The body can only absorb about a liter/hour, so if you hike an hour and sweat out a quart and THEN start drinking, you will not have a chance of catching up during the hike.
Further, electrolytes are important and failure to take on salts increases the odds of muscle cramps at the top. A few years back, some of the folks in our group were extolling the virtues of tonic water as a response to cramps. They say it works, but better to prevent muscle cramps in the first place. ALL of the folks that were dealing with muscle cramps had taken on ZERO electrolytes along the way. Consider making at least half of your hydration Gatorade or a similar electrolyte based sports drink.

Ryan--La

5/31/2013 04:39:42 am

Morning all, I always start hydrating the day before, and on the way up 1 liter of H2o and 1liter of Gatorade. It's like Allyson said you can fill your bottles up top.

Rob

5/31/2013 11:39:11 am

Ryan is correct.. hydrating the day before is the best idea, Notice the color of your urine.. if it is yellow, you haven't hydrated enough. Better start drinking.

doug y

5/31/2013 06:25:36 am

The addition of my own experiences and comments with water, and / or a lack thereof will not contribute much to the comments above and the advice that Allyson provided, which is always good. In fact, it has caused me to reevaluate my own plans because I had been gradually reducing the quantities of water that I carry. I should know better. I've not had any difficulties, luckily, but I want to make sure that I do not. yes, water is the heaviest item in one's pack, but it's one of the most important items on the list ! thanks to all for the excellent advice.
Debnfl: left you a reply on yesterday's page.........

Mike Clark

5/31/2013 06:30:03 am

I've been disconnected from the Internet for the last 6 or 7 weeks, but "doug y", I see you haven't learned brevity yet. Dang, your long winded and yet you don't say anything.

Brevity

5/31/2013 06:52:30 am

And it's been a nice quiet 6 or 7 weeks.

George in GA

5/31/2013 07:03:09 am

Mike, we are all entitled to our opinions, but like "Thumper" from the Disney movie "Bambi": "If you can't say nothin' nice, then don't say nothin' at all." Also, the choice of the word "your" is incorect. It should have been, "you're long winded..." Here's wishing you the kind of day you're happy with. (And, yes, I ended the sentence with a preposition...)

Tony Ga

5/31/2013 07:48:54 am

The first picture reminds me of a scene from the movie 300. Scary.

jeaan d

5/31/2013 09:16:21 am

Doug y, I enjoy your comments, to each his own I guess.

Mary F

5/31/2013 09:17:07 am

One of the beauties of this website is the posting person's name appears before their post. If someone's posts bother you, don't read them. As for me I love the wisdom of many of the people on this blog, of course Allyson and Nathan, and the regulars like Doug also. Great photos as always!

Ron Adams

5/31/2013 09:26:18 am

Hey, don't pick on Doug Y; I enjoy what he writes, and he usually has interesting things to say. And like someone else here said, if you don't want to read it, don't read it; reading a post is optional.

I usually carry lots of water, and my thinking is, as you head up the mountain, your pack will become lighter and lighter. And I still use the old-fashioned LL Bean stainless steel water bottles. When I drink water on the trail, I usually have to make a complete stop to drink. And this is good. I get a rest plus water. What's the old trail adage...........drink before you are thirsty, and rest before you are tired.

Keep writing, Doug Y. I enjoy what you offer us.............

Donnie R.

5/31/2013 09:32:01 am

I'm not one for long posts, so I just skip by most (no big deal aye ??)As for Doug's post today...long ?...don't think so myself ! Nice post Doug ;) Happt Trails All !!

Connie Houk

5/31/2013 10:10:08 am

Wow...really? I try to take with me what I like and leave behind what I don't care for. My love of the mountains overrules any negativity posted on here. Love to all and happy hiking!

5/31/2013 11:42:29 am

Kumbaya my lord Kumbaya, can't we all just get along. Wish I was heading up right now so in the morning I would be starring at those mouth watering biscuits. I've got the itch for Leconte so bad right now, I would rather be sitting in the pivee at the lodge than in the AC at the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Steve D

5/31/2013 12:23:28 pm

Ryan--La-Come on up! Those biscuits would be good wouldn't they?
Doug Y-Geez Loueez! Keep coming back-your experience and heart for the mountains are why I enjoy your posts.
Connie Houk-very well said....
Tony Ga-good to hear from you again-any hikes planned?

5/31/2013 01:23:47 pm

doug y keep posting my friend keep posting!
Steve D, I'm in the middle of building a Pergola, so my weekends will be tied up for a while. You and Doug need to get a Facebook account so you can see this beautiful Pergola we are building LOL.
Hope everybody has a good weekend....even the haters.

5/31/2013 12:48:27 pm

Thanks everyone. I'll certainly keep writing. I only try to help others and occasionally inject a bit of humor. I hope everyone has a good weekend.

jean d

5/31/2013 01:14:22 pm

Good for you doug y.
As I stated earlier - enjoy your comments....
Thought I'd also add that my view of the mountains (LeConte, Guyot, Clingmans Dome, -- most of the Nat'l Park) from my home in North Knox county has been obscured this week by the haze/smog between here and there. Wish we, those of us who love the mountains, could find a way to have cleaner air so our beloved Smokies were more visible from here. In the 50s they were visible more often. Would also wish to clear up the acid rain that is killing so many of the fir trees and spruce trees. Several of the trees shown in Allysons pictures on the daily posts are obviously dead. That is a new feature in the last fifteen or 20 years . Our beloved mountains are still the most beautiful part of our wonderful country and I'm so glad to live here. Happy hiking everyone.

Kent

5/31/2013 01:39:04 pm

The loss of trees on the short trek to the Clingman's Dome observation tower from when I first hike it in the early seventies as a kid to when I first nearly 30 years later was quite shocking,

Seemed like more of a walk through the woods when I was ten.

5/31/2013 02:04:31 pm

Tony Ga-haha-had to look that word pergola up-hate to sound ignorant but I never heard an arbor called that before I don't think anyway....
How big is it? We have a small one about 4-5 wide.

6/1/2013 12:40:01 am

LOL! I didn't know it was called that either till I started building one. It's 10 X 10 and we're building next to our fish pond. Facebook, Facebook, Facebook.

Eddie & Cathy

5/31/2013 01:37:22 pm

Had a great hike up wed. drunk two bottels of power aid on the way up and felt great when we got to top, are forth time up and 4.5 hour hike, at 59 thought it was pretty good. got to meet some good people from VA. and evensville In. hope bill lived did'nt see his name in the paper.LOL!

Mark

6/1/2013 04:10:24 pm

On a cool spring day our group hiked Blanket Mountain. The cool day turned very hot, and with no leaves yet, we soon became very warm. My one bottle of water was soon gone, and I was never so thirsty. Big mistake..which I never made again.
Drink up!

Bryan BeIndy

6/1/2013 08:17:08 pm

Bryan Be from Indy

6/1/2013 08:23:59 pm

Acid rain and pollution suck but the vast majority of the firs have been lost to the affects of the Balsam Wooly Adelgid.
From what I read, acid rain and ozone levels have been dropping in GSMNP for the last decade. Let's hope that continues...

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Are You Drinking Your Water?

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