On warm weather trips I'll bit the bullet and take a big ol' bag of powdered Gatoraid. It's BIG and HEAVY but it seems to be worth the extra effort for the really sweaty days. I do feel better and have experimented a bit 'cause it's WAY BIGGER and HEAVIER that good ol' pre sweetened Kool-Aid.

When my calves do to try to cramp up is usually in my bag in the early mornings following somewhat dehydration prone days. If I stretch 'em out as soon as I feel it starting they pass quickly. Since I'm then wide awake, I'll want coffee. I don't buy into the coffee, soda, alcohol makes things worse mantra. If that were actual reality, I'd of dried up and blown away years ago. My kid already has more freaken water bottles than I've ever had in my whole life. "Gotta stay hydrated dad!" Well yeah OK fine but when did the word 'hydrated' enter our vocabularies anyway? Marketing creates another need for impressionable minds?



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I'm 2/3 thirds of the way done with this tough physical trip...not sure I'm enjoying it that much.

That sucks. Would you do it again?


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Not sure I'll ever do that Death March again without the boys or a partner.

Now you totally lost me. Misery loves company? I can understand wonder, necessity, challenges and pride. Known misery? I try to avoid misery whenever possible and would never wish to share it unless begged and dragged to do so by the fully warned. And I would hope the conditions were far better the second time. ;)

Ain't nothing wrong with getting to a camp early in the day (or late in the day) and just sitting there for a while. That's what I often do. Take time to look around, take stock and think - re-hydrate if you want to call it that or try just to remember what day it is. You may even look at a map and the sky and decide you want to press on and do it all over again later!