May

Are you fit for Adventure?

Mark Pawlak Category

Aqua, the source of life

Some sports help you get fit, while others demand you are already fit. Take running for example: Anyone who is physically able can start running – they just run short distances and build on their fitness. But when it comes to adventure travel and extreme sports, where you have to be prepared to survive in the harshest of climates, or push your body to its limits, fitness is essential.

In the first in a series, we look at what the body needs to survive when it is being worked hard. This week: Water

Water makes up 70 per cent of the planet’s surface, but very little of this is fresh water (2.5 per cent) and less than one per cent can be used as drinking water.

And we need it. We need it to maintain everyday body functions, such as converting food into energy and for the good health of our joints. During exercise the body sweats to help cool skin surfaces and finds it difficult to replace water at the rate we sometimes use it up.

So whether we are sailing on it, diving under it, or just trying to navigate to it, it is vital for our survival. No wonder we like it so much!

It's everywhere, but take care...

Thirst is the body’s way of stimulating us to get some fluid on, but the smart athletes pre-drink and maintain good hydration levels as they exercise.

Even just a week without water is enough to bring a very quick end to the great adventure we call life; but its certainly not all doom and gloom. Water is everywhere – it’s just hard to source the good stuff.

So, as we need so much, and given it’s not the easiest thing to find, what are the options? How do we stay hydrated during our travels?

Option 1: Carry more – Easy to dismiss, however, you should never leave without enough supplies, and you should always carry a significant reserve.

(Problem: it’s damn heavy. Living out of a rucksack and off the beaten track, you’ll be pushed to carry enough water to last more than 36hrs.)

Option2: Plan better – All journeys benefit from meticulous planning, so take your time and plot vital resources before you head out – even when you are taking a vehicle.

Option3: Purify water: Explorers on longer trips have no choice but to take water purification equipment with them.

How did you manage to keep hydrated on your adventures? Are there any tips you picked up along the way?

About the author

Mark Pawlak wrote 194 articles on this blog.

Editor at Adventure Sports Holidays, Mark's love affair with travel and the challenges of adventure sports continues... "You could save all year for a two-week, all-inclusive, doss by the pool, booze and buffet binge. Or, with a little planning and some good equipment, get off your arse and plan an adventure!"

Lucy May 29, 2010 at 8:24 am
Lucy’s water-guide for complete idiots…

After 5 weeks in the Arctic, carrying half my own bodyweight on my back, I realised that if wasn’t well hydrated, I was miserable. Muscles ache, head hurts, energy vanishes…

1. The first thing I realised was that ice melts! Sounds stupid but it took me a day or two of desperately filling up at low-level streams and lugging litres of water up a mountain to cotton onto the fact that if you’re in an icy/snowy area you’re surrounded by water all the time (but steer clear of the yellow stuff!).

2. The second thing I realised was that the more you drink, the lighter it is to carry. Again, ‘the words of a child’ I hear you say but somehow I insisted on heaving two full water bottles from water source to water source for a few days until I realised that, so long as you can guarantee that water’s up ahead, gulping it down is the way to go!
Vic Howie May 30, 2010 at 3:18 pm
On my first long distance whitewater kayak trip, I came up short on water at the end when I needed it the most. I underestimated my perspiration rate due to extra layers we had to wear and wound up drinking the river water, knowing full well that I’d probably get giardia – and did. After that, I outfitted my kayak with two more holding straps for larger reserve water bottles that could be used on long distance trips. It adds weight for the majority of the trip but has been well worth it. I have also now added additional bottle holders on my bike in like fashion.
Mark Pawlak May 31, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Lucy,

Yes, it’s an undiscovered technique – storing water on board! People always think that they have to take just small sips. Well, when it comes to making sure you have enough water for the day ahead: use the stomach bag!

Top Tip: Pack a couple of sachets of Dioralyte. It’s used for treating D&V, but a sachet just before bed, sets you back on track. Also good to drop into your last 200ml when the going gets tough, and the vultures are circling…

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100000800.html

VIc,

Thanks. Anyone who has suffered from dehydration will tell you – you feel like it is all about to end! When it comes to packing and carrying water, take as much as you can. Giardia – ooh!

I have just been approached by Steri-PEN to trial one of their new UV sterilisation pens, so watch out for that one.

Cheers,

Mp
Luke June 1, 2010 at 4:40 pm
While trekking in Tasmania I ran out of fresh water when approaching Lake St Clair with the best part of a day to go. We had gone from snow on Cradle Mountain to 20+ degrees in a few days and I just got through it much quicker than planned – not helped by losing one bottle..

I took the ‘this stream looks clean’ route and ended up with Giardia. It was not pleasant hitch hiking back to Launceston I can tell you!!!

Since then I have always carried an extra bottle as empty it weighs nothing and you can fill it up if needed when at a clean source. Plus I now always do a ‘water bottles’ check when setting off after a stop.
Russell January 16, 2011 at 8:41 am
The majority of our physical make up is water. It is so important to hydrate appropriately with good water.
A product I have been using for some time is vivatap which is designed to ensure you drink pure fresh water wherever you go.

Vivatap® water purifying sachets gives you safe purified drinking water for travelling by removing bacteria, contaminants E.coli and Chlorine from tap water, adds vitamins and minerals and raises the PH level to normal for healthy drinking. Drink fresh. Enjoy

Are you fit for Adventure?

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