Lamson Adventures Home
Packing List
Direction Finding
Water Requirements
Winter Injuries
~ Hikes & Photos ~
Garden of the Gods
Peak View Trail, Mueller S.P
Elk Meadow, Mueller S.P.
Columbine Trail, N. Cheyenne Canyon
Palmer Lake Reservior
Bear Creek Regional Park
Spruce Mountain
Rampart Range Road
Cheyenne Canyon Rd Loop
~ Useful Links ~
Colorado State Parks
GOOGLE Maps/kmz's for Colorado Trails
GOOGLE KMZ for Rampart Range
Colorado CDOT WX Info
When Hiking, How Much Water is Enough Water
It has been said that a hiker can live a month without food but will perish in several days without water. I am winter hiking and have my burner and pot with me. I still carry a camel back as back-up water. If you are lucky and there is clean snow, you can heat it and drink it. Remember though, don't eat ice or snow as it reduces the body core temp. It actually take more energy to burn the snow than the energy gained from eating it in the first place.
Minimum Requirments
Average person need 2 to 3 quarts of water per day. If it's extremely cold or you're preforming some type of hard physical activity, you need increases to 4 to 6 quarts per day. I was speaking with an Military Survival school person. They said that when in training, they actually set the watch to remind them to stop and drink. If you are not drinking enough to have clear pee, you are probably not drinking enough. If you are are not peeing, you ARE NOT drinking enough.
Salt Requirement
If you are sweating a lot, use salt tablets. As a general rule, 2 grams of salt per 1 quart of water is adequate.
Drinking from the River, Steam, or Pond?
Unfortunately, Colorado water ways are known to have Giardia in them. Giardia infection is an intestinal infection marked by stomach cramps, bloating, nausea and bouts of watery diarrhea. Giardia infection is caused by the parasite Giardia intestinalis (also called Giardia lamblia). The parasite is found worldwide but is especially prevalent in countries with poor sanitation and unsafe water, where it's responsible for most cases of childhood diarrhea. Symptoms can last up to 6 weeks.
Dehydration Symptoms
It's important to recognize dehydration symptoms early. Untreated, dehydration can develop into shock. The signs and symptoms of dehydration include: