Читать книгу Five-Star Trails: Charlotte. Your Guide to the Area's Most Beautiful Hikes онлайн

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Water

How much is enough? Well, one simple physiological fact should convince you to err on the side of excess when deciding how much water to pack: a hiker walking steadily in 90º heat needs to drink approximately 10 quarts of fluid per day. That’s 2.5 gallons. A good rule of thumb is to hydrate before your hike, carry (and drink) 6 ounces of water for every mile you plan to hike, and hydrate again after the hike. For most people, the pleasures of hiking make carrying water a relatively minor price to pay to remain safe and healthy. So pack more water than you anticipate that you’ll need, even for short hikes.

If you’re tempted to drink “found” water, do so with extreme caution. Many ponds and lakes encountered by hikers are fairly stagnant, and the water tastes terrible. Drinking such water presents inherent risks for thirsty trekkers. The intestinal parasite giardia contaminates many water sources and cause the dreaded illness giardiasis, which can last for weeks after onset. For information, visit the Centers for Disease Control website: cdc.gov/parasites/giardia.