Good discussion. Just catching up as I've been away for awhile.

WalMart's 'Great Value' line produces a number of drink mixes, some of which are labelled 'Hydration' which contain electrolytes, and some labelled 'Energy', which contain caffeine & B vitamins. I carry ample quantities of both kinds. I keep them in my shirt pockets in a ziplock, so they are handy. They go into the food pack at night. If hydration is an issue, I will use 2-3 packets (depending on severity) per qt. Sometimes I will mix them (it takes 2 packets per qt), to have a little caffeine along with electrolytes. This seems to work well for me and it is the most economical way to go. I avoid sugared sports beverages, as I have diabetic issues to watch.

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    Better to be pissed off than pissed on
Speaking of dehydration/ muscle cramping, did anyone see that video of Pro Tennis player Rafael Nidal suffering a Charley Horse at the post game interview
Just shows that even a professional athlete with all their support can find themselves the victim of dehydration.
Fortunately he probably had off camera help to massage his cramp out. Anyone that has ever had a leg cramp while alone, knows how difficult and painful is to relieve. Imagine that happening on the trail solo, it could put you in a real bad way.
I've had a few calf cramps in middle of night that left me struggling to stretch out.
I even keep a old leather belt in a loop hanging on my bedpost to loop over toe area and stretch the cramp out if needed.
I drink a lot but sometimes even that isn't enough.

Hey ST - Absolutely no offense intended but last few years, when I take a wizz in the Q ... I sometimes think of you.

It's good advice! Yet at times we'd rather push-on a little further than filter and re-hydrate. That's life. Not old enough for a dedicated tent bottle.

As a kid I worked in canning factories. It was a hot, steamy job. One job in particular, I had a desk between two cookers. On hot days the nurse would come around with salt pills. A number of us (including her) would go out drinking at night so sometimes she'd stand there and watch us take 'em. I always thought that the little old ladies upstairs were adding little drops of goodness into everything we canned and the guy who mixed the brine could cut back a little. Timing is everything.

Magicpaddler wrote on Aug 17^th, 2011 at 12:10am:

I guess that's why every re-hydration/electolyte drink (or powder) I've come across has salt in it.  I suspect the sugar content is to get it into your system faster.

dd

A little embarrassed now.  First let me give my excuses.  My dad was under doctor’s orders to consume as little salt as he could.  Every one knows salt is bad for you and we all get too much.  Just to be healthy I have always used little salt and avoid salty snacks.
Now for the confession.  I tried adding more salt to food just for a test.  90% of my cramps are gone.  I think if adding salt gets rid of cramps my health can stand a little more salt. 

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I think that's a very good point and sound advice.
If you look at many peoples liquid intake in the evening, you can see the potential for problems the next day if the conditions are right.
It's no secret that as we age ( especially men) we need to urinate more often, but in smaller amounts. Many campers both young and old, dread the midnight P-call, especially in the buggy season.
Consciously or not, people tend to restrict their fluid intake before bedtime.
We also might have some evening cocktails. Alcohol dehydrates you and even a few after dinner cups of coffee with or with or without booze in them adds to the dehydration, caffeine being a diuretic as well.
Even in winter we dehydrate overnight, even more so in warm weather.
It's very common to have your morning urine dark, a sure sign of dehydration. Then many of us have a cup or two of morning Joe, and we make a bad situation worse.
I always have at least a liter of water before/immediately leaving morning camp, even though I know the coffee I had will make me pee a lot at least until it's flushed from my body.
Medications can change urine color, so those who take them, might find the urine color test insufficient for their hydration assessment.
For the majority of us, peeing as clear as possible and consuming enough fluids to keep it that way 24/7 will go a long way in avoiding dehydration.
Still with the brutal heat and humidity were facing this year, there comes a time when you have to know when to get off the water and stay off it. Start at first light and quit by noon. If you need to travel more, you can always start again late in the day. This is where those built-in camp days come in handy

My advice is common knowledge among the backpacking crowd but I'll put it on the table for folk who perhaps have never heard this concise and helpful saying.............."Clear and Copius"

Yup......watch your urine stream and if your yellow it's time to increase your intake of fluids. Copius refers to intervals. You should be evacuating often and it should be fairly clear. My bailer (obviously mis-named) sees plenty of use early in the day as it is common for me to drink a litre or more of water before shoving off. Then it is a simple matter of keeping a close watch. Your stream tells the tale. Dark golden yellow and your pushin the limits. Expect a headache brought on by dehydration soon thereafter.

solotripper wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2011 at 8:46pm:

That was my first reaction too - marathoners call it "hitting the wall" for a reason !

You gotta be proactive on both fuel and water.

solotripper wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2011 at 8:46pm:

Lets just say that skipping lunch was not by choice.  At that point I was pretty much certain that anything going down was coming back up.

So, I drank water and rested.

dd

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I'll bet that low blood sugar might have played a hand in your crashing? I sweat like you do and have found that a combination of heat/humidity effects my appetite. I bet if you would of eaten a few handfuls of Gorp you might not of crashed the way you did.
Still might of been pooped and rightly so considering the conditions, but that sudden drop in energy to me is a sign that your blood sugar might of dropped to low.

My current " job" consists of working 3-12 hour shifts in what they call the Glass Bonding area. We attach the metal components of auto sunroofs to the raw glass with commercial urethane that needs moisture ( humidity) to cure.
Minimum humidity has to be 35% plus and room temp is in the high 80+. The have misters on the roof to keep it that way, and are work area is encased in plastic panels like you see on commercial loading docks.
On a average shift I handle 600+ sun roof sub assemblies that weigh between 30-40 lbs. That and all the racking/gaging and water tests they're respective programs call for.
In 2 years I've gone from last in seniority to 3rd, because people can't take the heat and humidity and the physical strain.
Considering that I'm 30+ years older than the next oldest person, keeping hydrated and eating right is the only way I can do my job.
The " kids" all laugh at " Old School" ( my work nickname), but when they see me work and thrive while most of them wilt, they soon change their tune
Of course I eat healthy, drink the right stuff ( water) and get at least 6-8 hours sleep the days work.
The kids live on junk food, Red Bull/ Monster energy drinks and try to get their rest on the job
You really are what you eat and drink, never so true than when your in the bush and the load is all on you